Nick Saban is considered the greatest college football coach of all-time. And he was not only great on the field, but off of it as well when it came to recruiting. Saban’s classes were seemingly first in the country every year, or close to it.
With high recruiting classes comes a large amount of highly talented players. While some do not pan out, others do. By the time he retired after 17 years in Tuscaloosa, Saban had 133 players drafted into the NFL, including 47 first rounders.
Who were Nick Saban’s best recruits of all-time for the Alabama Crimson Tide?
5. OT, Cameron Robinson
Young was pulled out from under LSU head coach Les Miles’ nose. The Monroe, Louisiana product was ranked as the number one offensive tackle in the class of 2014 according to On3, and he did not disappoint during him time in Tuscaloosa.
Robinson would star for the Tide all three years he was on campus, and would be drafted in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was a part of the 2015 national championship team for the Crimson Tide.
4. WR, Julio Jones
Arguably the best Alabama receiver of all-time, Jones ranks sixth in receiving yards for the Tide with 2,653. He was physically imposing even as a wide receiver during his time in Tuscaloosa, and was part of Saban’s first recruiting class in 2008.
Jones was ranked as the second overall high school prospect in the 2008 class according to ESPN. He would be drafted in the 2011 NFL Draft be the Atlanta Falcons where he would spend 10 seasons and was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times.