The Alabama Crimson Tide football programme is one of the most iconic in college football history. They have a record of 988 wins, 315 losses, and 42 ties over 121 seasons. Now, these wins did not come from strategy alone. They are a result of decades of athletes donning the crimson and white.
10 Highest-Rated Alabama Crimson Tide Recruits
1. Andre Smith, OT, 2006
Andre Smith is one of the biggest names to play on Alabama’s offensive line. Starting all 13 games as a true freshman in 2006, he became just the fourth true freshman to start on Alabama’s offensive line. He soon earned Freshman All-American honours and led the team in pancake blocks. Oh, and he even scored a touchdown as a lineman.
By the time it was junior season in 2008. Smith was a unanimous All-American and winner of the prestigious Outland Trophy. That same year, he recorded 103 key knockdowns and allowed just one sack in 334 passing plays. It’s no wonder he became the sixth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
2. Julio Jones, WR, 2008
Julio Jones was Alabama’s first absolute recruiting superstar under Nick Saban. And he lived up to the hype. Jones started all 14 games as a freshman, notching 924 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Over three seasons, Jones made 2,653 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, becoming a consistent deep threat and a go-to target in clutch situations. Julio Jones even started the domination of late Alabama in the late 2000s and remains one of the most physically gifted receivers Alabama has ever seen.
3. JC Latham, OT, 2021
JC Latham arrived in Tuscaloosa as a blue-chip prospect. After playing 2021 as a backup, Latham became a regular on the offensive line starting in 2022. For the next two seasons, he anchored the right tackle spot. And Latham never missed a game!
In 2023, Latham earned First-Team All-SEC honours and was named a Second-Team All-American. His consistent play got him the top-10 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
4. Eyabi Okie-Anoma, DE, 2018
One of the most talked-about recruits in 2018, Eyabi Okie-Anoma (formerly Eyabi Anoma) was a five-star defensive end. He was ranked No. 3 nationally and ruled the Under Armour All-America Game.
Anoma made an impact in his freshman season, earning SEC All-Freshman honours. However, his career at Alabama was cut short due to off-field issues, and he was dismissed before the 2019 season. Despite the early exit, he is still the best blue-chip prospect in Tide history.
5. Najee Harris, RB, 2017
Najee Harris was named in the 2017 recruiting cycle, rated No. 1 by Scout and Rivals. And he didn’t disappoint behind a crowded backfield. Then became one of the most productive backs in Alabama history.
In 2020, Harris rushed for 1,466 yards and a whopping 26 touchdowns, adding four more receiving scores. By the end of his college career, he had 3,843 rushing yards and 46 rushing touchdowns. Harris also had 800 yards through the air.
6. Ryan Williams, WR, 2024
Ryan Williams is in his teens. But already a part of the Alabama lore. He made his first start at just 17. He debuted with 139 yards and two touchdowns. But it was against No. 2 Georgia where the world truly saw him. In the game, he had a 75-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
By the end of the season, Williams had tallied 865 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, earning SEC Freshman of the Week and national attention. If his freshman season is any indication, the Tide might have another Julio.
7. Cam Robinson, OT, 2014
Cam Robinson was the anchor in the trenches. Robinson followed in Andre Smith’s footsteps as a true freshman starter at left tackle. He played all 14 games in 2014, allowing just three sacks on 861 snaps. Now that is a brilliant stat for someone out of high school.
Over three seasons, Robinson helped lead an Alabama offence that consistently ranked among the nation’s best. After declaring for the 2017 NFL Draft, he was picked early in the second round.
8. Da’Shawn Hand, DE, 2014
Da’Shawn Hand joined Alabama as one of the top defensive recruits in the country. Under Nick Saban, Hand was essential to Alabama’s defensive line rotation. He played nine games as a freshman, with two sacks and seven total tackles.
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Hand had a strong 2017 season despite some injury setbacks, with 27 tackles and three sacks across nine starts. Though he didn’t quite reach fame standards, his presence on the D-line contributed to Alabama’s consistent defense.
9. Trent Richardson, RB, 2009
Before Najee, there was Trent Richardson. He was one of the most explosive backs Alabama had ever signed. As a true freshman in 2009, he posted 751 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. This includes some of the best runs that left defenders tired. By 2011, Richardson was a Heisman finalist and had rushed for 1,679 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was selected third overall in the 2012 NFL Draft.
10. Julian Sayin, QB, 2024
Julian Sayin was supposed to be the next big thing at Alabama. But just when everything looked set, Nick Saban retired. And Sayin hit the portal. Two days later, he’d already made up his mind. Ohio State was it. On September 7, against Western Michigan, he stepped in and tossed his first collegiate touchdown.
By the end of the year, Sayin was part of the squad that brought home the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship. It’s still early days, but the foundation’s solid. Sayin has the talent, the timing, and a program that knows what to do with both.
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