Alabama’s recruiting prowess has been fairly consistent across the board. They’ve landed elite talent at just about every position — offensively and defensively, at least — since Nick Saban joined the program in 2007.

One position where the Tide has been even better than that has been at running back, where they’ve brought in elite talent almost every year.

In order to get a good grasp of just how good it’s been, here’s a look at every 4- and 5-star prospect they’ve signed — since 2008 — who ended up playing running back.

  • 2017: Najee Harris (5-star) and Brian Robinson (4-star)
  • 2016: B.J. Emmons (4-star)
  • 2015: Damien Harris (5-star)
  • 2014: Bo Scarbrough (5-star) and Ronnie Clark (4-star)
  • 2013: Derrick Henry (5-star), Alvin Kamara (4-star), Altee Tenpenny (4-star) and Tyren Jones (4-star)
  • 2012: T.J. Yeldon (5-star) and Kenyan Drake (4-star)
  • 2011: Dee Hart (4-star) and Corey Grant (4-star)
  • 2009: Trent Richardson (5-star) and Eddie Lacy (4-star)
  • 2008: Mark Ingram (4-star)

Of those 17 players, nine were among the top 2 at their respective position — whether that was running back, all-purpose back or athlete — coming out of high school.

It might be surprising to see that the only year that Alabama didn’t bring in an elite talent at the position was 2010. They did manage, however, to sign former fullback Jalston Fowler and former running back turned quarterback Blake Sims in that class, both of whom received carries during their careers.

The well has been plentiful for the Tide, but what’s the deal with this year’s class?

As of now, there are only two commitments — Slade Bolden and Jerome Ford — at running back in the 2018 class. They’re both 3-star players who are listed as all-purpose backs, and neither ranked within the top 450 prospects (No. 480 and 559, respectively).

The two bring similar size as well, as both are 5-11 and check in under 200 pounds.

The recruiting class hasn’t seemed as strong this season, but there’s been a surge over the past few weeks with seven prospects committing since the start of December.

For those who were expecting a top-tier running back commitment prior to the second signing day in February need to re-evaluate, however. There’s only one prospect left in the class who would fit that bill.

Harold Joiner, a 4-star prospect from Birmingham, Ala., is this year’s No. 6 high school running back. But he doesn’t seem interested in joining the Tide. In fact, he’s down to two final schools — LSU (the heavy favorite) and Ole Miss.

If Joiner doesn’t join Alabama’s class (which is likely at this point), it will be the first time that Saban wasn’t able to bring in an elite player at the position since 2010.

There is some concern there, but there’s also a logical reason they haven’t been able to attract any of the top players. It’s possible that Alabama’s entire group could return for the 2018 season due to a lack of seniors.

Is that a likely scenario? No, because juniors Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough are both viewed as potential early entrants for the NFL. That doesn’t mean its a foregone conclusion that either will leave, though.

It looks like the Early Signing Period could have effected some player’s decisions. Usually, a player knows exactly who is departing early for the NFL by the time they are expected to sign in February, but that is no longer the case.

If a high school running back were looking at the level of uncertainty surrounding Alabama’s status at the position, it would make sense for them to want to look elsewhere.

Take Joiner for example.

LSU is expected to sign the 4-star, and it could be because of the clarity at the position heading into the 2018 season. Starter Derrius Guice is almost certainly gone — he’s the projected No. 2 running back in the draft — and his backup, Darrel Williams, is a senior.

That leaves Nick Brossette, a rising senior, as the projected starter. He’s also never received more than 20 carries in a season.

Now take a look at Ole Miss. The team’s leading rusher (Jordan Wilkins) is a senior. None of the other running backs would be considered much of a threat to an eventual role for Joiner, either.

When you compare those situations to Alabama’s, it’s a no-brainer for a player who wants a clear path to playing early.

It’s a tough break for the Tide, but they should field another elite stable of runners in 2018, regardless.

The losses of Harris and Scarbrough would certainly hurt the depth, but a trio consisting of Najee Harris, Josh Jacobs and Brian Robinson would still be one of the conference’s best.