Nick Saban has made a habit of signing five-star recruits in his tenure at the Capstone.
The Crimson Tide head coach has signed No. 1-ranked classes year after year, oftentimes the makeup being a handful of the top 32 prospects in America.
Dating back to his first full recruiting cycle in 2008 after taking over as head coach in January of 2007, Saban has signed 51 five-star recruits, and that number will certainly grow higher as the years roll on.
Here, BamaOnLine looks back on every industry-generated 247Sports Composite five-star recruit Nick Saban has signed, along with some of their notable accomplishments during their careers in Tuscaloosa.
B.J. Scott, CB, Mobile (Ala.) Vigor
Class of 2008
Rated No. 3 CB, No. 27 overall player
Career at Alabama: 6 tackles, 1 interception in 15 games
Tyler Love, OT, Birmingham (Ala.) Mountain Brook
Class of 2008
Rated No. 3 OT, No. 23 overall player
Career at Alabama: Played in six games in 2009, five games in 2010 and two in 2011 after receiving a medical redshirt his freshman season.
Julio Jones, WR, Foley (Ala.)
Class of 2008
Rated No. 1 WR, No. 3 overall player
Career at Alabama: 179 receptions, 2,653 yards and 15 touchdowns. SEC Freshman of the Year (2008), First-Team All-SEC (2010). Drafted No. 6 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2011 NFL Draft.
D.J. Fluker, OT, Foley (Ala.)
Class of 2009
Rated No. 3 OT, No. 30 overall player
Career at Alabama: Started 36 games in career at Alabama, helping Tide to back-to-back BCS national championships. Drafted No. 11 overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2013 NFL Draft. Currently with the Seattle Seahawks.
Nico Johnson, ILB, Andalusia (Ala.)
Class of 2009
Rated No. 3 ILB, No. 17 overall player
Career at Alabama: 163 tackles from 2009-12, helping Alabama to three BCS national championships along the way. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Gadsden (Ala.) Gadsden City
Class of 2009
Rated No. 1 CB, No. 14 overall player
Career at Alabama: 91 tackles and three interceptions from 2009-11, helping Alabama to a pair of BCS national championships. Drafted No. 17 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Trent Richardson, RB, Pensacola (Fla.) Escambia
Class of 2009
Rated No. 2 RB, No. 6 overall player
Career at Alabama: 3,130 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Also amassed 730 receiving yards and seven scores. Unanimous All-American (2011), Doak Walker Award recipient (2011), SEC Offensive Player of the Year (2011), among many other awards. Drafted No. 3 overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Phillip Sims, QB, Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith
Class of 2010
Rated No. 1 pro-style QB, No. 31 overall player
Career at Alabama: 163 yards passing and two interceptions in 2011, splitting time with AJ McCarron, prior to transferring to Virginia the following spring.
Dee Milliner, CB, Millbrook (Ala.) Stanhope Elmore
Class of 2010
Rated the No. 1 CB, No. 14 overall player
Career at Alabama: 133 tackles and six interceptions, helping Bama to a pair of BCS national championships. Unanimous All-American (2012). Drafted by the New York Jets with the ninth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
Trey DePriest, LB, Springfield (Ohio)
Class of 2011
Rated the No. 3 ILB, No. 30 overall player
Career at Alabama: 189 tackles and in four years with the Tide, helping UA to a pair of BCS national championships. Named First-Team All SEC (2014). Signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2015.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Orlando (Fla.) Dr. Phillips
Class of 2011
Rated the No. 2 S, No. 7 overall player
Career at Alabama: 98 tackles and seven interceptions, helping Alabama win two BCS national championships. Consensus All-American (2013), among other awards. Drafted No. 21 overall by the Green Bay Packers in the 2014 NFL Draft. Currently with the Dallas Cowboys.
Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic
Class of 2011
Rated the No. 1 OT, No. 2 overall player
Career at Alabama: Consensus All-American (2013), among several other honors, helping the Tide to a pair of BCS national titles. Drafted with the No. 44 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft to the Buffalo Bills. Currently in the CFL.
T.J. Yeldon, RB, Daphne (Ala.)
Class of 2012
Rated the No. 2 RB, No. 27 overall player
Career at Alabama: 3,322 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns; 494 receiving yards two touchdowns. First-Team All-SEC 2013. Drafted No. 36 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2015 NFL Draft. Currently with the Buffalo Bills.
Eddie Williams, ATH, Panama City Beach (Fla.) Arnold
Class of 2012
Rated the No. 2 ATH, No. 17 overall player
Career at Alabama: DNP, dismissed from team in 2013
Landon Collins, S, Geismar (La.) Dutchtown
Class of 2012
Rated the No. 2 S, No. 7 overall player
Career at Alabama: 182 tackles, five interceptions. Unanimous All-American (2014), among many other honors. Drafted No. 33 overall by the New York Giants in the 2015 NFL Draft. Currently with the Washington Redskins.
A’Shawn Robinson, OT turned DL, Fort Worth (Texas) Arlington Heights
Class of 2013
Rated the No. 2 OT, No. 31 overall player
Career at Alabama: 134 tackles and nine sacks. Consensus All-American (2015). Helped Tide win its first CFP national championship. Selected No. 46 overall to the Detroit Lions in the 2016 NFL Draft. Currently with the L.A. Rams.
Robert Foster, WR, Monaca (Pa.) Central Valley
Class of 2013
Rated the No. 2 WR, No. 23 overall player
Career at Alabama: 35 receptions for 379 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Tide win a pair of CFP national championships. Went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, but is having success with the Buffalo Bills after signing with the AFC East team.
O.J. Howard, TE, Prattville (Ala.) Autauga Academy
Class of 2013
Rated the No. 1 TE, No. 19 overall player
Career at Alabama: 114 catches for 1,726 yards and seven touchdowns. Drafted No. 19 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Jonathan Allen, OLB turned DL, Ashburn (Va.) Stone Bridge
Class of 2013
Rated the No. 3 OLB, No. 15 overall player
Career at Alabama: 153 tackles, 28.5 sacks. Unanimous All-American, Chuck Bednarik Award and Lombardi Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, SEC Defensive Player of the Year (all 2016). Drafted No. 17 overall by the Washington Redskins in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Derrick Henry, ATH, Yulee (Fla.)
Class of 2013
Rated the No. 1 ATH, No. 12 overall player
Career at Alabama: Rushed for 3,591 yards and 42 touchdowns. Won the 2015 Heisman Trophy, among many, many other awards and recognitions. Drafted No. 45 overall to the Tennessee Titans in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Reuben Foster, ILB, Auburn (Ala.)
Class of 2013
Rated the No. 1 ILB, No. 6 overall player
Career at Alabama: 223 tackles and seven sacks. Butkus Award (2016), among other honors. Drafted No. 31 overall but the San Francisco 49ers in the 2017 NFL Draft. Currently with the Washington Redskins.
Bo Scarbrough, ATH, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Class of 2014
Rated the No. 2 ATH, No. 16 overall player
Career at Alabama: Scarbrough rushed for 1,512 yards and 20 touchdowns in three seasons at Alabama. The 2016 season saw his highest output with 812 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Tuscaloosa native opted to leave early and was drafted in the seventh round by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2018 NFL Draft. Scarbrough is currently with the Detroit Lions.
Rashaan Evans, OLB, Auburn (Ala.)
Class of 2014
Rated the No. 1 OLB, No. 14 overall player
Career at Alabama: 150 tackles and 15 sacks. Helped Tide win a pair of CFP titles. Drafted No. 22 overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Marlon Humphrey, CB, Hoover (Ala.)
Class of 2014
Rated the No. 3 CB, No. 11 overall player
Career at Alabama: 81 tackles and five interceptions. First-Team All-American (2016). Drafted No. 16 overall by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Tony Brown, CB, Beaumont (Texas) Ozen
Class of 2014
Rated the No. 2 CB, No. 9 overall player
Career at Alabama: 88 tackles and three interceptions. Went undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. Currently with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Da’Shawn Hand, SDE, Woodbridge (Va.)
Class of 2014
Rated the No. 1 SDE, No. 5 overall player
Career at Alabama: 71 tackles and 10 sacks. Helped Bama to a pair of CFP national titles. Drafted No. 114 overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Cam Robinson, OT, West Monroe (La.)
Class of 2014
Rated the No. 1 OT, No. 4 overall player
Career at Alabama: Consensus All-American, Outland Trophy (both in 2016), among many other awards and honors. Helped Tide its first CFP national championship. Drafted No. 34 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Damien Harris, RB, Berea (Ky.) Madison Southern
Class of 2015
Rated the No. 1 RB, No. 31 overall player
Career at Alabama: Rushed for 3,073 yards and 23 touchdowns; 407 receiving yards two and scores. Helped Tide to a pair of CFP national titles. Drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Jersey City (N.J.) Saint Peter’s Prep
Class of 2015
Rated the No. 5 CB, No. 30 overall player
Career at Alabama: 171 tackles and nine interceptions – four of which were returned for scores. Jim Thorpe Award winner (2017), two-time Consensus All-American, among many other honors. Drafted No. 11 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2018 NFL Draft. Currently with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Daron Payne, DT, Birmingham (Ala.) Shades Valley
Class of 2015
Rated the No. 7 DT, No. 29 overall player
Career at Alabama: 102 tackles and three sacks. CFP championship game co-MVP (2018). Drafted No. 13 overall to the Washington Redskins in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Blake Barnett, QB, Corona (Calif.) Santiago
Class of 2015
Rated the No. 2 pro-style quarterback, No. 22 overall player
Career at Alabama: 219 yards passing two touchdowns. Transferred out of the program early in the 2016 season after losing the starting job to Jalen Hurts.
Kendall Sheffield, CB, Missouri City (Texas) Fort Bend Marshall
Class of 2015
Rated the No. 4 CB, No. 20 overall player
Career at Alabama: DNP; transferred out of the program prior to the 2016 season.
Calvin Ridley, WR, Pompano Beach (Fla.) Monarch
Class of 2015
Rated the No. 1 WR, No. 12 overall player
Career at Alabama: 224 receptions for 2,781 yards and 19 touchdowns. Freshman All-American (2015), helping Tide to a pair of CFP titles. Drafted No. 26 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Jonah Williams, OT, Folsom (Calif.)
Class of 2016
Rated the No. 2 OT, No. 17 overall player
Career at Alabama: Unanimous All-American (2018), among several other awards and honors, helping Tide claim CFP title (2018). Drafted No. 11 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Mack Wilson, OLB, Montgomery (Ala.) Carver
Class of 2016
Rated the No. 2 OLB, No. 16 overall player
Career at Alabama: 119 tackles and six interceptions. Helped Tide to 2018 CFP championship. Elected to forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the 2019 NFL Draft. Selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round.
Ben Davis, ILB, Gordo (Ala.)
Class of 2016
Rated the No. 1 ILB, No. 10 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: Played in 14 games thus far after redshirting in 2016. Has tallied four tackles, including a tackle for a loss, and a sack.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Ewa Beach (Hawaii) St. Louis
Class of 2017
Rated the No. 1 dual-threat QB, No. 32 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: Passed for 7,442 yards and 87 touchdowns (most in Alabama history); rushed for 340 yards and nine touchdowns. Helped Tide come from behind to beat Georgia in the 2018 CFP title game. Heisman finalist, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Maxwell Award winner, among other honors and awards (all in 2018). Led the nation with a 206.93 passer efficiency rating in 2019. Missed several games on the year, including the final three contests, after sustaining a season-ending hip injury at Mississippi State. Entered the 2020 NFL Draft.
LaBryan Ray, SDE, Madison (Ala.) James Clemens
Class of 2017
Rated the No. 2 SDE, No. 28 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: 53 tackles, including 10 tackles for a loss and 4.5 sacks. Had a breakout game as a freshman against Texas A&M recording a critical sack late in the game. Missed the majority of the 2019 season with a leg injury suffered against South Carolina.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Deerfield Beach (Fla.)
Class of 2017
Rated the No. 3 WR, No. 21 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: 159 catches, 2,742 yards and 26 touchdowns (second all-time in Alabama history). A favorite target of Tua Tagovailoa, Jeudy won the Biletnikoff and earned Consensus All-American honors in 2018. First Team All-American per AFCA (2019). First Team All-SEC (2019). Entered the 2020 NFL Draft.
Dylan Moses, OLB, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Class of 2017
Rated the No. 2 OLB, No. 13 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: 116 tackles, five sacks and one interception. Finalist for the Butkus Award (2018). Missed 2019 season after a torn ACL in fall camp. Opted to return to UA for his senior season in 2020.
Alex Leatherwood, OT, Pensacola (Fla.) Washington
Class of 2017
Rated the No. 1 OT, No. 4 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: After filling in for Jonah Williams when he went out with injury in the 2018 CFP title game, Leatherwood started all 15 games as a sophomore at right guard. Started all 13 games at left tackle in 2019. First Team All-American per the AFCA (2019). Opted to return for senior season in 2020.
Najee Harris, RB, Antioch (Calif.)
Class of 2017
Rated the No. 1 RB, No. 2 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: 387 carries for 2,377 yards (6.1 yards per carry) and 20 touchdowns; 37 receptions for 356 yards and seven additional scores. Honorable mention All-American per Pro Football Focus (2019). Opted to return for senior season in 2020.
Patrick Surtain II, CB, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage
Class of 2018
Rated the No. 1 CB, No. 6 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: 79 tackles, 15 pass breakups and three interception. SEC All-Freshman Team (2018). Honorable mention Pro Football Focus All-American (2019).
Eyabi Anoma, WDE, Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy
Class of 2018
Rated the No. 1 WDE, No. 4 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: Nine tackles, including two tackles for a loss. SEC All-Freshman Team (2018). Dismissed from team prior to the start of 2019 season, transferred to Houston. The Cougars dismissed Anoma from the team in February.
Trey Sanders, RB, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Class of 2019
Rated the No. 1 RB, No. 6 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: Missed freshman season with a foot injury sustained in fall camp.
Evan Neal, OT, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Class of 2019
Rated the No. 1 OT, No. 7 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: Started all 13 games as a true freshman at left guard, made multiple Freshman All-American Teams, including 247Sports’.
Antonio Alfano, SDE, Colonia (N.J.)
Class of 2019
Rated the No. 1 SDE, No. 5 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: DNP; left team during 2019 fall camp, transferred to Colorado
Drew Sanders, ATH, Denton (Texas) Ryan
Class of 2020
Rated the No. 1 ATH, No. 22 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: Early enrollee
Chris Braswell, WDE, Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy
Class of 2020
Rated the No. 2 WDE, No. 19 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: Early enrollee
Will Anderson, WDE, Hampton (Ga.) Dutchtown
Class of 2020
Rated the No. 1 WDE, No. 17 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: Early enrollee
Bryce Young, QB, Pasadena (Calif.) Mater Dei
Class of 2020
Rated the No. 1 QB, No. 2 overall player
Career at Alabama thus far: Early enrollee
