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Alabama has signed numerous four- and five-star recruits during the Nick Saban era, but several non-prized recruits have made big impacts for the Crimson Tide over the past nine seasons.
Listed alphabetically, here is a look at the top Alabama players since 2007 who were considered no better than three-star high school recruits by 247Sports.com.
CLASS OF 2007
Drafted in the fifth round by the Colts in 2012, nose tackle Josh Chapman has spent the past four seasons with Indianapolis. At Alabama, Chapman finished with 88 tackles.
Darius Hanks had 84 catches for 1,150 yards and 7 TDs with Alabama. Undrafted, he was signed by Washington in 2012 and spent a season on injured reserve before the Redskins released him the following year.
Kareem Jackson made 159 tackles at Alabama. Houston selected the defensive back with the 20th overall pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, and he’s still with the Texans, who signed him to a 4-year, $34 million deal last year.
Marquis Maze had a productive four years in Tuscaloosa, finishing with 136 receptions for 1,844 yards and 8 scores. After the undrafted wideout signed with the Steelers in April of 2012, he was released by Pittsburgh four months later before latching on with the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League in 2015.
CLASS OF 2008
In his four years at Alabama, DB Robert Lester had 14 interceptions. Undrafted in 2013, Lester spent two seasons with the Carolina Panthers.
TE/RB Brad Smelley finished his four years in Tuscaloosa with 54 catches for 559 yards and 4 TDs before being drafted in the seventh round by the Cleveland Browns in 2012. Smelley has spent time with the Houston Texans, and is currently on his third stint with the Rams after signing a futures contract with the team in January.
CLASS OF 2009
In two years with the Tide, Quinton Dial delivered 46 tackles before the 49ers drafted him in the fifth round in 2013. In February, San Francisco signed the defensive end to a three-year, $12 million extension through 2019.
WR Kevin Norwood spent four seasons in Tuscaloosa, where he finished with 81 catches for 1,275 yards and 12 TDs before Seattle selected him in the fourth round in 2014. He finished 2015 with the Panthers after Seattle traded him to Carolina in August.
In his four years at Alabama, defensive end Ed Stinson finished with 104 tackles — 15.5 for loss — before the Cardinals took him in the fifth round two years ago. He’s entering his third season with Arizona.
Offensive lineman Chance Warmack capped his four years with the Crimson Tide by being selected a consensus All-American in 2012. Tennessee took him with the 10th pick of the 2013 NFL Draft, and he’s been with the Titans ever since.
CLASS OF 2010
Offensive lineman Austin Shepherd parlayed his time with the Tide into being a seventh-round pick by Minnesota in 2015. He appeared in 14 games for the Vikings, who signed Shepherd to a four-year, $2.349 million contract last year.
CLASS OF 2011
Christion Jones, recruited as a cornerback, had 85 catches for 1,030 yards and 7 scores for Alabama before landing with the Dolphins last year.
DB Vinnie Sunseri finished his three-year career in Tuscaloosa with 105 tackles and 4 interceptions before New Orleans took him in the fifth round in 2014.
CLASS OF 2013
DB Eddie Jackson, who is returning for his senior season in Tuscaloosa, has picked off nine passes and made 102 tackles with the Tide.
Stan Chrapowicki is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers SEC football, Alabama and Auburn.
