The first step to winning national championships and developing an elite culture in college football is signing a great recruiting class.
For Nick Saban, he has gained his fair share of transcendent names and contributing pieces through 13 seasons at the University of Alabama.
These student-athletes helped Saban achieve five national title and six Southeastern Conference Championships since 2007 and should football continue this fall, the legendary head coach will attempt to win his seventh title.
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In extensively covering the Crimson Tide since 2011, yours truly of Touchdown Alabama Magazine has seen some of the most impactful recruits within the program. Listed below is a breakdown of the top signees per class.
Rolando McClain, LB – 2007
Not only was he the nucleus of Alabama’s defense for its first national championship of the Saban era in 2009, but Rolando McClain was also a tackling machine and had the best IQ in the room for recognizing details. He absorbed the mental aspect of the game so well that he became the quarterback on defense.
After collecting 75 tackles as a freshman and 95 as a sophomore, McClain exploded in his junior season.
A native of Decatur, Ala., he recorded a team-high 105 total tackles – including 14.5 for loss, four sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, five pass breakups and two interceptions.
Alabama allowed 11.7 points per game in 2009 and forced 32 turnovers.
McClain won many individual honors such as unanimous All-American, first-team All-SEC, Alabama’s Defensive MVP, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Lambert Award and Butkus Award for his efforts that season. He propelled the Tide to its first SEC Championship and national championship since the 1992 team under Eugene “Gene” Stallings at head coach.
Julio Jones, WR – 2008
So many outstanding players came to Alabama in 2008, including Mark Ingram, Mark Barron, Terrence Cody, Courtney Upshaw, Marcell Dareus, Dont’a Hightower, Robert Lester and Barrett Jones to name a few.
Despite those names, it was Julio Jones that became the game changer.
A native of Foley, Ala., Jones stamped Saban as the elite recruiter in college football.
At the time, the coastal part of the state belonged to the Auburn Tigers. He made it a distant memory, upon him sporting the Alabama gloves and hat on signing day. As a five-star, Jones ushered in the era of the physical, big-play wide receiver. He was the SEC’s Freshman of the Year in 2008, tallying 58 catches for 924 yards with four touchdowns. Jones outshined A.J. Green of Georgia that year and despite an injury in 2009, he still turned in 596 yards receiving and four scores – en route to the Tide’s first conference title and BCS National Championship.
He set the school’s single-season mark for catches (78) and yards (1,133) in 2010, earning first-team All-SEC honors. Currently, Jones ranks fourth all-time for receptions (179), fifth in receiving yards (2,653) and tied for ninth in touchdowns (15) in Alabama football history.
A.J. McCarron, QB – 2009
Much like 2008, the 2009 signing class featured some monumental names.
The list includes Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy, D.J. Fluker, Dre Kirkpatrick, Kevin Norwood, James Carpenter, Chance Warmack and Kenny Bell. A.J. McCarron was the passion and leader of the class. Hailing from Mobile, Ala., the four-star quarterback had a confidence about himself that peaked Saban’s interest. He redshirted his initial freshman season and was on a national championship team, but McCarron’s best work came in his three years as a starter on offense.
He kept the ship in motion for a national title in 2011 and tossed for 30 touchdowns in the following season, as the Tide won back-to-back championships. The lone piece of friction Alabama had in 2012 was when McCarron and Barett Jones argued with each other during the 2013 BCS National Championship matchup versus Notre Dame. He chimed in with his first career 3,000-yard passing (3,063) campaign in 2013 and was awarded first-team All-American, Maxwell and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm honors.
McCarron compiled a record of 36-4 as a starter and currently stands first all-time for career passing yards (9,019), second in touchdown passes (77) and first in total offense (8,969 yards) throughout his tenure with the Tide.
C.J. Mosley, LB – 2010
He changed Saban’s recruiting dynamic at linebacker.
Prior to C.J. Mosley’s arrival in 2010, the average player at the position for the Tide ranged between 250 and 260 pounds. Mosley came in at 234 pounds and played his entire career between 230 and 240. With his makeup at 6-foot-2, he ripped up the field with lateral quickness and dissected plays that returned Alabama fans to the mindset of Rolando McClain.
Mosley had a great freshman year, recording 67 tackles with two interceptions.
Injuries hampered his sophomore campaign, but the Theodore (Ala.) native was back to dominant form as a junior. He carried the defense with 107 total tackles, including eight for loss and four sacks. Mosley also picked up two breakups and two interceptions in 2012 – guiding Alabama to its second consecutive national title.
With him in the middle, the Tide allowed just 10.9 points per game and forced 29 turnovers. He earned first-team All-SEC and consensus All-American honors in 2012.
Although his senior season didn’t end with a championship, Mosley’s numbers were compelling.
He led the team in tackles (108), tackles for loss (nine) and quarterback hurries (nine) while having five breakups. Mosley won his second first-team All-SEC honor and consensus All-American award. He would also earn SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Dick Butkus Award.
Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix, S – 2011
He represents the first of a trio of native Floridians on this list.
For HaHa Clinton-Dix, he arrived at Alabama as a five-star safety in 2011. The alumnus of Dr. Phillips High School (Orlando, Fla.) was on a team that led the nation in all five defensive categories in 2011, but it was his efforts in the following season that made him special.
Clinton-Dix had a nose for the football in 2012, as he tied for the team lead with four interceptions.
He played with incredible range and tracted balls from sideline to sideline.
His performance of victimizing quarterbacks and having four pass breakups led to Alabama capturing its second straight national championship that year.
Clinton-Dix returned for his junior campaign in 2013, totaling 51 tackles with two picks and four breakups.
Despite not winning a conference title or a national championship, he did receive first-team All-SEC and consensus All-American honors.
Amari Cooper, WR – 2012
As good as the talent was in 2012, Amari Cooper was the unlikeliest of stars yet he became the most decorative receiver of all time. Hailing from Miami, Fla., he arrived as a four-star and while the attention was on Chris Black and DeAndrew White, Cooper had to emerge as a freshman.
Injuries to Black and White forced him into action in 2012, and he developed a connection with A.J. McCarron at quarterback. Cooper’s soft hands, tremendous instincts, smooth movements and superior route running led to him posting a 1,000-yard season with 11 touchdowns.
After snatching Freshman All-American honors and being named to the Freshman All-SEC team, a toe injury would limit Cooper’s production in 2013. Ever determined, the sophomore bounced back and finished the year with 45 receptions for 736 yards and four scores.
In his junior campaign, Cooper joined Julio Jones as a record-setter under Saban.
Prior to the start of the 2014 season, he and Blake Sims worked out together throughout the summer and a chemistry was born. From start to finish, Sims looked for No. 9 and the veteran receiver made consistent plays. The Sims to Cooper connection was prolific and it guided Alabama to an SEC title and an appearance in the first-ever College Football Playoff.
Cooper set a single-season school mark for catches (124), yards (1,727) and scores (16), and earned a host of individual awards. He was named first-team All-SEC and unanimous All-American, while winning the Biletnikoff Award and being a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
At the conclusion of helping the Tide win a national title in 2012, Cooper finished his tenure ranking first all-time for receptions (228), yards (3,463) and touchdowns (31).
Derrick Henry, RB – 2013
He was truly larger than life.
Mark Ingram was Alabama’s first Heisman winner, but Derrick Henry took it to another level.
A native of Yulee, Fla., he came to the Tide as a five-star in 2013 and despite thoughts of transferring, Alabama committed to Henry and the running back stayed the course.
He showed signs of potential as a freshman, scoring an 80-yard touchdown versus Arkansas and being the lone bright spot for the team against Oklahoma in the 2014 Sugar Bowl.
Henry rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown versus the Sooners and caught a pass for a 61-yard score.
Even in a 45-31 loss, Tide fans knew it had something great.
Henry assisted the program to an SEC Championship and its first appearance in the CFP for the 2014 season; however, his finest work came the following year. As a junior, he added weight and muscle to his frame and assumed the role as the Tide’s primary back. Henry, who at the time stood at 6-foot-3 and weighed 242 pounds, bullied his way into the school’s record book.
He carried Alabama to a conference title and a CFP National Championship in 2015.
His brand of power, speed and vision led to him becoming the first 2,000-yard (2,219) rusher in school history. Henry carried the ball 395 times as a junior – including 28 attempts resulting in touchdowns. He swept the College Football Awards show in 2015, winning Maxwell, Doak Walker and Walter Camp honors. Henry was the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Year and was named first-team All-SEC. He earned unanimous All-American honors and delivered the Crimson Tide its second Heisman.
Henry concluded his tenure as the No. 1 back all-time in school history with 602 carries for 3,591 yards rushing and 42 touchdowns in three years.
JK Scott, Punter – 2014
It is rare to see a specialist make a list of this magnitude, but JK Scott is an exception.
As a punter, he was the star of the 2014 signing class and was the saving grace for Alabama’s defense that season. He dropped 31 of his 55 attempts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line and averaged 48 yards per punt, which led the nation.
Scott was a first-team All-American and Freshman All-American in 2014 and despite not winning the Ray Guy Award, the golden leg from Colorado was one of few reasons why the Tide secured an SEC Championship.
He fought through some struggles as a sophomore, but Scott averaged 44.2 yards a boot in 2015 and dropped 25 of his 70 punts inside the 20. His best performances came late in the year versus Florida, Michigan State and Clemson, as he put a lot of pressure on their offenses to succeed.
Scott helped Alabama win a CFP national title in 2015.
After another fine campaign of flipping field position and winning a conference title in 2016, Scott was fantastic as a senior. He placed 27 of his 54 punts inside the 20 and averaged 43 yards per attempt, pushing the Tide back to a national championship in 2017. His expertise in squeezing return specialists and setting up offenses in rough field position led to Alabama boasting one of the nation’s top defenses from 2015 to 2017.
Scott is not only the best specialist of the Saban era, but most would also argue him being the best in school history at the position.
He is first all-time in punt attempts (243), career punting yards (11,074) and yards per punt average (45.6). Of his 243 boots, 108 were placed inside the 20 of the opposition – which is good for 44.4 percent.
Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB – 2015
The 2015 signing class for Alabama brought in great leaders and ambassadors such as Damien Harris, Calvin Ridley, Deionte Thompson and Da’Ron Payne. Of everyone in the group, there was one person who carried the same mindset as the head coach: Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The New Jersey was just like Saban, in terms of focus and attention to details. As a freshman, he almost won the starting roles at cornerback and star (nickel).
The cerebral defender played in the slot and was a Freshman All-American on a CFP National Championship squad. Fitzpatrick impressed teammates, coaches and fans in 2015 with 45 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, a team-high 11 breakups and two interceptions.
His range grew as a sophomore and Fitzpatrick was one of the leaders on the most impressive defensive unit in school history. He captained a secondary that forced 16 picks and scored two of the team’s 11 touchdowns on defense in 2016.
Fitzpatrick led Alabama with six interceptions and chimed in with five tackles for loss to pair with his 66 stops. He was named first-team All-SEC and garnered consensus All-American honors, despite the Tide falling short of a national title.
The former five-star moved to safety in 2017 and pushed the defense to another national championship victory. Fitzpatrick had 60 total tackles – including eight for loss and 1.5 sacks.
He turned in eight pass breakups with one interception, earning first-team All-SEC and consensus All-American honors for a second straight time. He would also win both Jim Thorpe and Chuck Bednarik awards. Fitzpatrick ushered in the versatile, athletic defender for the Tide.
Josh Jacobs, RB – 2016
Jalen Hurts would make a lot of sense here, especially with the career he had, but Josh Jacobs simply had a way of melting the hearts of fans. His story of battling homelessness, in coming to the University of Alabama, was a tear jerker. A product of Tulsa, Okla., Jacobs was raised in Big 12 country yet neither Oklahoma, Oklahoma State nor any school in Texas offered him.
The former three-star had to post his high school tape online and it got the attention of Alabama’s running backs’ coach, Burton Burns. With Burns pushing him, Saban went to see Jacobs and came away impressed. The Tide offered him a scholarship and from the moment he arrived in 2016, he did not disappoint. His freshman season is often slept on by Alabama fans.
Regardless of the team having Hurts, Damien Harris and Bo Scarbrough putting up quality rushing stats, there were a couple of games where Harris and Scarbrough were banged up.
During those moments, Jacobs wowed crowds with his footwork, vision, speed and determination as a runner. He proved to be better than four-star, B.J. Emmons, and he was responsible for 567 rushing yards, 156 receiving yards and four scores on 99 touches.
Injuries hampered him a bit in 2017, but Jacobs’ performance as a junior led to him becoming a first-rounder in the 2019 NFL Draft. He carried a team-high 11 rushing scores to pair alongside 640 yards on 120 carries. Not only did he run like his life depended on it, but Jacobs was also one of seven receivers to catch at least 20 passes.
He had 20 catches for 247 yards and three touchdowns – including a score versus Oklahoma in the CFP semifinal at the Orange Bowl.
He was also the Most Valuable Player in the 2018 SEC Championship Game, as his 83 yards on eight carries with one touchdown helped Alabama earn a 35-28 win over Georgia.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB – 2017
This one has no debate.
Tua Tagovailoa was the most important recruit of the 2017 cycle. A five-star from Hawaii, he changed the perspective of Alabama football at quarterback. He entered under a lot of hype and expectations; however, he delivered on the promise.
Tagovailoa tossed 11 touchdowns in nine games as a freshman – including three scores in the CFP title victory over the Bulldogs.
He won the starting over Jalen Hurts in 2018 and turned in a Heisman-caliber year with 3,966 passing yards and 48 total touchdowns.
Tagovailoa set the school’s single-season record for yards, touchdown passes (43) and total scores – en route to being named a consensus All-American and a Heisman finalist.
The Crimson Tide averaged 45.6 points per game in 2018; the most of the Saban era and had 10 games of at least 40 points. Tagovailoa navigated Alabama to the SEC Championship Game and it obtained a 35-28 comeback win over Georgia in Atlanta.
If not for injuries, he could’ve easily been a two-time national champion (as a starter) and two-time Heisman winner.
Tagovailoa was highly gifted in the area of distributing the football.
As it stands, he is the program’s all-time leader for passing touchdowns (87) and total touchdowns (96). Tagovailoa is second to McCarron for passing yards (7,442) and anticipates hearing his name called early next month for the NFL Draft.
Jaylen Waddle, WR – 2018
Christian Barmore is emerging and Patrick Surtain II has been good, but Jaylen Waddle has saved the 2018 recruiting class with his play.
He has been lightning in a bottle through two seasons, since his arrival to Alabama from Houston, Texas.
The four-star turned heads through summer workouts and fall camp in 2018, earning a starting opportunity at wide receiver.
He finished second behind Jerry Jeudy with 848 yards receiving and seven touchdowns on 45 catches – earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors. Along with his talents on the outside, Waddle was fifth in the nation for punt return average (14.6) and totaled one score.
The 5-foot-10, 182-pounder came up huge versus Georgia in the SEC title game with 113 yards receiving and one touchdown on four catches. He continued his success last year, totaling 560 receiving yards and six scores.
Waddle averaged 24.4 yards per punt return and was credited with one punt and one kickoff return for a touchdown. He clowned on Auburn’s defense last season, posting four scores – including a 98-yard kick return for a touchdown at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
This season, should we have football, will be the money year for Waddle.
As for the 2019 class, the most impactful player thus far is Evan Neal.
The 6-foot-7, 360-pound offensive lineman pushed Najee Harris to his first career 1,000-yard season (1,224) with 13 scores last year.
Prior to Tagovailoa dislocating his right hip, Neal assisted him to 2,840 yards passing with 33 touchdowns to three picks. He also guided Mac Jones to two 300-yard passing games (Auburn, Michigan) and at least two touchdown passes in all four of his starts at quarterback.
Other names such as John Metchie, Trey Sanders, Keilan Robinson, DJ Dale, Christian Harris, Jahleel Billingsely and DeMarcco Hellams among others have a chance to ultimately be the most impactful player, but Neal represents 2019 for now.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
