A common misconception of the Nick Saban era is that he signed exclusively 5-star recruits every cycle. And to be clear, he signed a metric ton of them. More than anybody else during his 17-year run as Alabama's head coach.
But he also signed plenty of guys who significantly outperformed where they were ranked by recruiting services. And that's not to mention all the guys who received a "Bama bump" when Alabama extended offers to players flying under the radar.
Kalen DeBoer's 2027 recruiting class has received criticism for the inclusion of several 3-star recruits, but he and Courtney Morgan have earned the benefit of the doubt already with their eye for talent. Former 3-stars Lotzeir Brooks and London Simmons making immediate impacts as freshmen should be evidence enough.
During the Saban era, here are five examples of 3-star (or lower) recruits who significantly outperformed expectations.
(Honorable mention to walk-on Levi Wallace - we are sticking with scholarship-only guys).
5 hidden gems uncovered by Nick Saban during his Alabama tenure
5. Vinnie Sunseri (2011)
Sunseri was ranked as a 3-star recruit and the No. 600 overall player in the composite coming out of Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa. His father, Sal, was on Alabama's coaching staff at the time as the Tide's linebackers coach, which had a lot to do with Sunseri getting recruited by the Tide in the first place.
Sunseri made his bones on special teams as a freshman before carving out a significant role in the secondary for Alabama in 2012 and 2013. In his final season with the Tide, he returned two interceptions for touchdowns. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 5th Round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
4. Irv Smith Jr. (2016)
Smith was unheralded in the 2016 class as a 3-star and the No. 21 composite tight end coming out of New Orleans.
After playing a reserve role his first two seasons, Smith had a breakout year on Alabama's prolific 2018 offense. Even with Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs, and Jaylen Waddle at WR, Smith was able to take on a starring role in the Tide's offense.
He caught 44 passes for 710 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. He parlayed a big junior year into becoming the 50th overall pick in the 2nd Round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
3. Robert Lester (2008)
A high school teammate of Julio Jones at Foley, Lester was virtually a throw-in for Alabama's 2008 class. Most services had him completely unranked. He wasn't expected to do much of anything during his time in Tuscaloosa.
Instead, Lester was part of three national title teams across his five seasons with the Crimson Tide. He started every game at safety for the 2011 and 2012 title teams. He picked off 14 passes across three years as a starter, including a team-high eight during the 2010 season as a redshirt sophomore.
Lester was a vital piece to Alabama's secondary on two of the best defenses in school history.
2. Josh Jacobs (2016)
One of the best hidden gems of the Saban era was Jacobs, a 3-star out of Oklahoma. Jacobs was ranked as the No. 463 player in the 2016 class, but even in a loaded Alabama backfield, Jacobs' talent was undeniable, and he carved out an instant role for the Tide.
Jacobs was never the featured back in Tuscaloosa with so much talent alongside him, but he showcased his ability enough across three seasons to become a first-round pick in the 2019 draft to the Raiders. Between stints there and with the Green Bay Packers, Jacobs has been one of the top running backs in the NFL since he arrived.
1. Mac Jones (2017)
Jones was the "other" QB in Alabama's 2017 class. The Tide signed 5-star Tua Tagovailoa in the same class, who went on to instant stardom in Tuscaloosa thanks to his 2nd-and-26 touchdown toss to win the National Championship as a freshman.
Jones was a depth option as a 3-star out of the Bolles School in Florida, but after spending three seasons on the bench, he took over the starting job in 2020 and led an Alabama team that is one of the very best in college football history.
Jones finished third in Heisman voting that season with DeVonta Smith winning it, but he put up numbers that were more than deserving of the award. Facing an all-SEC schedule through 11 games and then Notre Dame and Ohio State in the College Football Playoff, Jones completed 77.4% of his passes for 4500 yards with 41 touchdowns to just four interceptions.
Alabama went a perfect 13-0, captured the final title of Saban's career, and Jones became the 15th pick in the NFL Draft that spring.
Not bad for a skinny 3-star QB.
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