Alabama's Success Starts With Recruiting

By Mike Rockstedt on December 18, 2014 at 2:15 pm
Nick Saban recruits hard, coaches harder.
Scott Donaldson/Icon Sportswire
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It's Alabama month, which means we will discuss the Crimson Tide's past four recruiting classes and how they helped Alabama get to where it is today.

There is not a single program in the country that recruits better than Alabama. Ohio State has come close the past few years, but the Crimson Tide are still on top. Each year, both Nick Saban and Urban Meyer bring in top five classes from across the country. But Meyer has only done it for three years in Columbus, and Saban has been doing it at Alabama since 2007.

Alabama Recruiting ClassES:
 AVERAGE RATING 2011-2014
Year 2011 2012 2013 2014
247SPORTS 91.11 93.09 93.25 93.59
RIVALS 3.91 3.77 3.84 3.92
SCOUT 3.82 3.81 3.88 4.04

Saban, now in his eighth year as the head coach on the Alabama sideline, has had tremendous success: three national titles and three SEC championships, and a chance at a fourth in this year's playoff. And without a doubt, that success starts with elite recruiting. Let's take a look at the past four recruiting classes for Alabama and figure out why they are as good as they are.

2011

The Five-Stars: Cyrus Kouandjio (OT) Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (S), Trey DePriest (LB)

Three five-star prospects in any class would be a substantial haul for any team, but Alabama seems to do it every year. Its 2011 class was top heavy with five-star prospects. With the two national titles (2011 and 2012) already under this class's belt, a third would help it gain even more recognition. 

Cyrus Kouandijo, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Trey DePriest contributed to both national championship runs. Kouandjio and Clinton-Dix both left for the NFL after their junior seasons in 2013, while DePriest stuck around for his senior season. Clinton-Dix was the first round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers, while Kouandjio was a second round pick of the Buffalo Bills.

DePriest is a linebacker on the 2014 team and one of its leaders. He has had an excellent senior season, being named first-team All-SEC by media and a first-team All-American by the AFCA. Not bad for an Ohio kid.

2012

The Five-Stars: Landon Collins (S), T.J. Yeldon (RB), Eddie Williams (ATH)

Coming off a national championship win against LSU and two national titles in three years, Alabama did well for themselves in 2012. Of Alabama's three five-star recruits, two of them became Heisman finalists.

Landon Collins was famous before he got to Tuscaloosa; when he announced he was committing to Alabama, his mother's reaction was priceless. As a safety, Collins was named second-team All-SEC as a sophomore. He was spectacular as a junior, receiving unanimous All-American honors from media.

T.J. Yeldon was expected to continue Alabama's streak of great running backs, and he immediately lived up to the hype. As a true freshman, Yeldon rushed for 1108 yards and annihilated Notre Dame in the 2013 BCS National Championship Game. He ran for 1200 yards as a junior, and although his production is down slightly this season he was still named second-team All-SEC.

Even though he wasn't a five-star recruit, Amari Cooper is the clear star of the 2012 class. He has been the best wide receiver in the country for the last three years, and he finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting this year. He has 115 catches this season for 1,656 yards and 14 touchdowns, an impressive line for a traditionally running-oriented team.

The third five-star player for Alabama in 2012 was Eddie Williams, who washed out. Williams was dismissed from the team after being arrested for second-degree robbery in 2013.

Other notable players from this class include Kenyan Drake, a nice change of pace back for Yeldon (although he has been hurt for much of the season), as well as defensive backs Cyrus Jones and Geno Smith, both of whom have become solid defensive players.

2013

The Five-Stars: Reuben Foster (LB), Derrick Henry (RB), Jonathan Allen (DE), O.J. Howard (TE), Robert Foster (WR), A'Shawn Robinson (OT)

On the heels of three national championships in four years, Alabama was able to recruit a ludicrous six five-star prospects in 2013. None of these players is an All-American yet, but they are heading that direction.

The most decorated of the bunch so far is A'Shawn Robinson, who was a freshman All-American; he and O.J. Howard were first-team all-SEC this year. Reuben and Robert Foster are going to be stars when players above them either graduate or go pro. Derrick Henry is the second running back after Yeldon; he rushed for nearly 900 yards this year. When he gets more snaps next year as the feature back, he has the potential to be great. The least heralded of the bunch, Jonathan Allen has been solid as well, totaling five sacks in a defensive line rotation.

Whether or not the Crimson Tide win the championship this year, they will be a contender in 2015 because of these players.

2014

The Five-Stars: Cameron Robinson (OT), De'Shawn Hand (DE), Tony Brown (CB), Marlon Humphrey (CB), Rashaan Evans (LB)

Even after the national championship streak was broken, Alabama landed five five-star recruits. There's less to say about them than the other classes, but some are already contributing.

The most impressive player so far is Cameron Robinson, who is starting at left tackle. It's almost unheard of for a freshman to start at left tackle, but Robinson has been there from the first snap of the season. Rashaan Evans has gotten excellent playing time in the secondary rotation, and De'Shawn Hand has two sacks on the season. Brown and Humphrey have not played much, but they have potential as future stars.

When Alabama and Ohio State play in the Sugar Bowl, the Buckeyes will face a roster with 14 former five-star recruits. Given the success Alabama's five-stars have had over the last four years, the Buckeyes had better be ready to handle them.

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