Alabama's 5 Biggest Recruits after National Signing Day

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:24 p.m. ET

Fansided, Jerran Anderson/FanSided via Saturday Blitz

The Alabama Crimson Tide finished with the number one ranked recruiting class yet again. Here are their five biggest recruits after National Signing Day.

The Alabama Crimson Tide ruled the day once again on National Signing Day. It marked the seventh straight year the Crimson Tide took the crown for the number one ranked recruiting class based on 247Sports Composite Rankings.

The Crimson Tide signed 10 players on February 1, one five-star, eight four-stars and a three-star according to 247Sports. In addition,16 players enrolled early for Alabama. They signed four wide receivers, four offensive lineman and two tight ends in their 2017 recruiting class to revamp their offense.

Alabama will have one of the best running back tandems in the country next season with running backs Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris. With the departure of Cam Robinson, finding his replacement was one key need on the recruiting trail.

On defense, they hauled in four defensive lineman but only lost senior defensive end Jonathan Allen. As the Crimson Tide play a 3-4 defense, they rotate a lot of lineman in and out, so it's key to have depth in loaded SEC Country. They will have experience on all fronts but as perfection is often Saban's goal, there will be plenty of young players looking to put their brand on the game.

Here are the five biggest recruits for the Alabama Crimson Tide after National Signing Day.

5. Isaiah Buggs, Strongside Defensive End

The Alabama Crimson Tide defensive line is loaded already next year but the addition of strongside defensive end Isaiah Buggs, easily makes this defense more intriguing up front again. Buggs was a huge get on the recruiting trail for Nick Saban and company. He chose Alabama over LSU and ended up enrolling early at Tuscaloosa in January.

Buggs is a junior college prospect out of Mississippi Gulf Coast who ranks as the second overall prospect, first at his position and first out of the state of Louisiana, according to 247Sports. At 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, Buggs had 75 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks last season before signing with Alabama. He is a strong defensive end that Alabama could use upfront to disrupt the run and pass.

The Crimson Tide rotate a lot of defensive players in and out. Seeing as Buggs already has some collegiate level experience under his belt, his contributions could come early. He has just two years of eligibility left.

4. Major Tennison, Tight End

The Alabama Crimson Tide offensive staff has undergone some interesting changes in the past couple months. First, offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin left for Florida Atlantic to be their head coach. Then, his replacement, Steve Sarkisian left for the Atlanta Falcons for the same position. Many outlets are reported there were disagreements between the two after just one game as offensive coordinator.
It's no secret the tight end position is Alabama's key to success. With the departure of senior O.J. Howard , Nick Saban has found a possible predecessor in four-star prospect Major Tennison. Tennison is another early enrollee with the Crimson Tide. He ranks 309th in the nation, 9 at his position and is the 46th-best player out of Texas, according to 247Sports.

Tennison has good size at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds. He originally committed to Texas before withdrawing his pledge last summer. After reopening his recruiting, he committed to Alabama in October and has since enrolled early. Saban playing a freshman isn't completely of out of the picture, see quarterback Jaylen Hurts. With pressure on the offense to turn a corner, look for Tennison to play a role in the passing game.

3. Alex Leatherwood, Offensive Tackle

With the departure of Cam Robinson to the NFL Draft, there is an opening on the offensive line. Offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood could fit in just nicely there.

Leatherwood is a 6-foot-6, 327-pound five-star prospect out of Pensacola, Florida who ranks fourth nationally, first at his position and first overall player in the state, according to 247Sports. The Florida native enrolled early in January to get a headstart on his college career which bodes well for his starting chances.

Other than fellow four-star JUCO prospect Elliot Baker, Leatherwood is the only other offensive lineman on campus early. He's a lineman who uses his size, speed and push to get to the second level in the rushing attack. In the passing game, he adjusts just as well also.

The Alabama Crimson Tide offense should have a ton of experience under its belt. With that experience and more weapons in the passing game, Leatherwood could be an early candidate for Freshman All-American before its all said and done. Look for him to make a push for a starting offensive tackle position in the spring.

2. Dylan Moses, OLB

Dylan Moses, Parade Magazine's national player of the year, is another big get on the recruiting trail for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He originally committed to the LSU Tigers but decommited in August 2015. This past October, he committed to the Crimson Tide to the surprise of many. Now, after enrolling early, he'll look to push for early playing time on a vaunted defense.

Moses ranks 13th nationally, second at the outside linebacker position and third overall player in the state of Florida, according to 247Sports. He recorded 106 tackles (42 solo, 64 assisted), eight tackles for loss, five pass breakups and two sacks in his senior season at IMG Academy.

With plenty of upperclassmen experience at the linebacker position, Moses early enrollment shows his willingness to learn from those ahead of him. He has a nose for the football on defense and the ability to cover the pass. It will be interesting to see how the Crimson Tide coaching staff uses him in 2017.

1. Jerry Jeudy, Wide Receiver

The Alabama Crimson Tide can use more weapons for Jaylen Hurts to throw to. He'll have receivers Calvin Ridley and Cam Sims to throw to but not much in terms of depth. That's where wide receiver Jerry Jeudy comes in. Jeudy is a 6-foot-1, 177-pound five-star prospect out of Pompano Beach, Florida who ranks 21st in the nation, third by position and fifth in the state, according to 247Sports.

Jeudy is one of four wide receivers in this year's recruiting class and isn't even the tallest. Tyrell Shavers takes that crown, clocking in at 6-foot-6. However, Jeudy just might be the dynamic and explosive wide receiver Alabama has been looking for on offense. He caught 68 passes for 975 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in his senior season at Deerfield Beach High School.

Enrolling early seems to be a new advantage for the college athletes and with so much time spent on the game of football, I don't blame them one bit. If Jeudy can learn the system and buy into the strength and conditioning program in a hurry, it may be hard for head coach Nick Saban to keep him off the field.