Nick Saban has done so many things right and better than everyone else since becoming the Crimson Tide head coach 11 years ago. One of his best skills is recruiting. Alabama had the top recruiting class from 2011 through 2017 and the results show on the field.
Below is an attempted ranking of the top 5 recruits under Saban ranked by the importance to the program. They not only reflect the ability and results of each player but also the significance of their pledge to the Tide on the national recruiting landscape.
It is tempting to add some 2007 recruits such as Rolando McClain to this list but Saban was only on the job for a month before National Signing Day 2007 and most of the eventual signees, such as McClain, were already committed before his arrival.