On January 10, the college football world was flipped upside down with the news that long-time Alabama head coach Nick Saban was retiring. Saban, who is likely the greatest college football coach of all time, left a mark on almost every aspect of the sport, winning six national championships with the Crimson Tide and developing a lengthy coaching tree that includes many of the sport’s great coaches today.
What the legendary coach is arguably remembered for most, however, was his ability to recruit. Saban landed countless four- and five-star prospects during his time in Tuscaloosa, many of whom came from the state of Florida.
Here are 10 of those names, the highest-rated recruits from the Sunshine State to play for Saban at Alabama. (Recruiting rankings according to 247Sports Composite.)
10. Calvin Ridley (Monarch)
We begin with the lone wide receiver of the group. Ridley was considered the nation’s top wideout in the 2015 class, and he was the No. 12 overall player. A three-year starter from 2015-17, Ridley was an immediate impact player from day one with the Crimson Tide. He concluded his overall Alabama career with 224 receptions for 2,781 yards and 19 touchdowns.
9. Evan Neal (IMG Academy)
The first of three offensive tackles to be included on this list is Neal, who was the nation’s No. 7 overall player in the 2019 class out of IMG Academy, as well as the top player at his position that cycle. Neal would go on to start in each season from 2019-21 – at three different positions, no less – and he received multiple honors in the process.
8. Dallas Turner (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Considered the nation’s top edge rusher in the 2021 class, Turner was the No. 9 overall player in that cycle. A three-year starter from 2021-23, Turner recently concluded his Alabama career with 120 total tackles, 32.5 TFL, and 22.5 sacks, receiving honors in the process that included 2023 SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
7. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Dr. Phillips)
One of the nation’s top safeties in the 2011 class, Clinton-Dix was rated the No. 7 overall player nationally. He would go on to become one of college football’s top safeties during his three seasons in Tuscaloosa from 2011-13, compiling 98 tackles, 4 TFL, 7 INTs, and 1 FF.
6. Trey Sanders (IMG Academy)
Sanders was the nation’s No. 6 overall prospect in the 2019 class, as well as the top running back nationally in that cycle. The five-star prospect would spend four seasons with the Crimson Tide from 2019-22, rushing for a combined 528 yards and 3 touchdowns on 116 attempts before transferring to TCU.
5. Trent Richardson (Escambia)
One of the top early commitments of the Saban era at Alabama was Richardson, who ranked as the nation’s No. 6 overall player in the 2009 class out of Escambia, as well as the No. 2 running back nationally. Richardson would become one of Alabama’s greatest-ever running backs during his three seasons in Tuscaloosa from 2009-11, rushing for 3,130 yards and 35 scores on 540 attempts, and receiving honors including the 2011 Doak Walker Award.
4. Patrick Surtain II (American Heritage)
The top cornerback in the 2018 class, Surtain was the nation’s No. 6 overall prospect in the 2018 class. He was a three-year starter for Saban at Alabama from 2018-20, compiling 116 tackles, 6 TFL, 4 INT’s, and 4 FF, and he received honors that included 2020 SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
3. Alex Leatherwood (Booker T. Washington)
Considered the nation’s No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2017 class out of Booker T. Washington in Pensacola, Leatherwood was the No. 4 overall player nationally that cycle. He would become a multi-year starter along Alabama’s offensive line during his four seasons with the Crimson Tide from 2017-2020.
2. Keon Keeley (Berkeley Prep)
Keeley was the nation’s No. 2 overall prospect and the No. 1 edge rusher in the 2023 class. The former Berkeley Prep standout did not record any stats in his first year in Tuscaloosa.
1. JC Latham (IMG Academy)
The highest-rated Florida product to play under Nick Saban at Alabama was Latham, who came from IMG Academy as the nation’s top offensive tackle in the 2021 class, as well as the No. 3 overall player nationally. Latham recently concluded his Alabama career, which included three years from 2021-23, two of which he started.
