HM: Trent Richardson, Running Back
Class: 2009
Rating: Five-star / No. 6 overall / No. 2 RB (0.9972)
Home town: Pensacola, Florida
High school: Escambia High School
All-time school commits: No. 14
Breakdown: Trent Richardson was an important part of Alabama’s transition into a powerhouse program. He only checks in at No. 14 overall in the top recruiting rankings in school history, but he is so much more than that.
The Florida native was one of the first handful of elite recruits Nick Saban landed to put the program back on the map, and he lived up to every expectation.
Richardson totaled 3,860 yards and 42 touchdowns during his collegiate career despite sharing a backfield with Mark Ingram and Eddie Lacy. That success helped him become the No. 3 pick in the 2012 NFL draft.
After only a year with the Cleveland Browns, Richardson was traded to the Indianapolis Colts before seeing his NFL career slowly fade. Regardless of how it turned out on the professional level, he will always be loved by Alabama fans.
HM: Brodie Croyle, Quarterback
Class: 2001
Rating: Five-star / No. 2 overall / No. 1 PS-QB (0.9986)
Home town: Rainbow City, Alabama
High school: Westbrook Christian School
All-time school commits: No. 7
Breakdown: Before Saban brought a dynasty back to Tuscaloosa, there were a lot of ups-and-downs within the Alabama program. One player who bled Crimson from the get-go was former star quarterback Brodie Croyle.
The five-star prospect out of Rainbow City struggled with a major knee injury during his college career, but he put it all together in 2005. That season, Croyle threw for 2,499 yards and 14 scores to only four interceptions.
That was good enough to land him with the Kansas City Chiefs as a third-round pick in the 2006 NFL draft. He spent four seasons there with a few stints as the starter before finishing his career with the Arizona Cardinals in 2012.
Croyle was a lean quarterback, but he could sling it.
HM: Andre Smith, Offensive Tackle
Class: 2006
Rating: Five-star / No. 1 overall / No. 1 OG (0.9994)
Home town: Birmingham, Alabama
High school: Huffman High School
All-time school commits: No. 2
Breakdown: Another recruit that predates the Saban era (sort of) in Tuscaloosa. Andre Smith was a large man with a ridiculous amount of talent coming out of high school. He played one season with the Crimson Tide before Saban took over in 2007.
Despite being built like a guard, Smith manned the left tackle spot from the time he stepped on campus — and he was extremely good at it. His last season, he was a unanimous All-American, as well as the Outland Trophy winner.
Smith was a serviceable offensive lineman after the Cincinnati Bengals drafted him No. 6 overall in 2009, but he never quite lived up to being a top-10 pick. He is, however, still in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens.
HM: Derrick Henry, Running Back
Class: 2013
Rating: Five-star / No. 12 overall / No. 1 ATH (0.9929)
Home town: Yulee, Florida
High school: Yulee High School
All-time school commits: No. 27
Breakdown: Derrick Henry is the lowest-rated all-time Alabama commit to make this list, whether that be in the top four or honorable mention. But we felt it was justified.
The reason Henry wasn’t rated higher coming out of high school came down to scouts not knowing where to play him. At 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, many people believed Henry wouldn’t stay at running back.
Those people were obviously wrong.
Not only did the Florida product stick at the position, but he also broke records at Alabama en route to becoming, in 2015, the school’s second Heisman Trophy winner. His 3,591 yards still sits at the top of the record books, as do many of his other stats.
Now a member of the Tennessee Titans after being a second-round pick in 2016, Henry still dominates the game. After leading the NFL in rushing yards (1,540) last season, he is doing it once again in 2020 (1,257).