When Nick Saban recruits junior college defensive backs, he recruits them to play early.
The trio of Deion Belue, DeQuan Menzie and Saivion Smith saw it first-hand.
Both Belue (2013) and Menzie (2012) were on BCS National Championship teams, while Smith helped the University of Alabama football program to a Southeastern Conference title in 2018. Saban grabbed another elite JUCO player in Ronald Williams Jr. in the 2020 recruiting cycle. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder was an All-American in 2018 via the National Junior College Athletics Association (NJCAA), following his season of 18 tackles, three pass breakups and one interception.