Come to Alabama where we consistently play for national championships.

How does a 17-year-old recruit, with his athletic future in mind, say no to that?

Few teams in the nation can use Alabama’s recruiting pitch with credibility, an advantage the Crimson Tide has over several other on the recruiting trail. Following another historic class, considered by some services to be the nation’s top haul for fifth straight season, the rich have gotten richer in Tuscaloosa and top-flight recruiters are the primary reason.

Mario Cristobal, the SEC’s top recruiter for the 2015 cycle, is credited with landing 10 players including half of Alabama’s six five-stars. Only USC wide receivers coach Tee Martin, Tennessee’s former quarterback, brought in as many five-stars during this recruiting season.

One of Nick Saban’s top assistants, Cristobal secured the nation’s top receiver Calvin Ridley and four-star athlete Shawn Burgess-Becker out of Pompano Beach, Fla., through his ties to the area as a Miami native and former (assistant) coach with the Hurricanes and head coach at Florida International.

During his six-year stint at FIU, Cristobal established long-lasting relationships with prep coaches in the state which have in turn created a pipeline leading back to Alabama since he came on board in 2013.

He was instrumental in bringing in five-star cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick out of New Jersey to help solidify Alabama’s secondary. Cristobal spent three seasons on Rutgers’ staff in the early 2000s and has many contacts who likely played a factor in Fitzpatrick’s decision.

Cristobal’s final five-star signee was defensive tackle Daron Payne, luring the state of Alabama’s top-ranked player from nearby Birmingham in a heated battle with Will Muschamp and Auburn.

SEC’s top recruiters in 2015 cycle

  • Mario Cristobal, Alabama
  • Frank Wilson, LSU
  • Tim Horton, Auburn
  • Steve Stripling, Tennessee
  • Kirby Smart, Alabama
  • Burton Burns, Alabama
  • Tony Hughes, Mississippi State
  • Terry Price, Texas A&M
  • Jeremy Pruitt, Georgia
  • Cornell Ford, Mizzou