Nick Saban frequently got the most out of the numerous 5-star players Alabama signed in recruiting over the years. No school developed 5-stars into eventual first-round picks in the NFL Draft like Alabama, which was a massive selling point for Saban over the years.
But even the GOAT wasn't perfect.
Alabama had its fair share of busts over the years. When you sign as many 5-star recruits as the Crimson Tide has, it's inevitable that some of them aren't going to pan out, for various reasons.
The 5 biggest recruiting busts of the century for Alabama football
5. S Eddie Williams (2012)
Williams was one of the crown jewels of Alabama's 2012 recruiting class, ranking as a 5-star and Top 20 overall recruit in that class out of Panama City.
Williams is a bust, not because of the skill not panning out. Anyone around the program back then would tell you that he was on the path to being a star. Instead, Williams was dismissed from the team in February of 2013 along with three other players after being arrested and charged with robbery and credit card fraud.
Williams ultimately pleaded guilty to his role in robbing two students on campus, and his football career was effectively over.
4. OL Tommy Brockermeyer (2021)
Brockermeyer was a major piece of the puzzle in the 2021 class for Saban and Alabama. The Fort Worth native was ranked as a 5-star and the No. 6 overall player in his recruiting class.
Brockermeyer was a bit undersized coming in, so it was always going to take some time for him to pan out, but he didn't have the patience to stick it out. After redshirting during his freshman season and sitting on the bench in 2022, Brockermeyer entered the Transfer Portal and departed for hometown TCU.
After some injury issues with the Horned Frogs, Brockermeyer ultimately decided to medically retire from football in 2024.
3. ATH BJ Scott (2008)
Scott was one of the headliners of Saban's insane 2008 class that changed everything in Tuscaloosa. That class included the likes of Julio Jones, Mark Ingram, Dont'a Hightower, Marcell Dareus, Mark Barron, Barrett Jones, and Terrence Cody, among others.
Scott was as coveted a prospect as any of them as a 5-star out of Vigor High School in Mobile.
Scott spent three years at Alabama but could never break through. He was buried on the depth chart and ultimately transferred to South Alabama.
Scott was an exceptional athlete who just never had a positional home. Alabama started him at WR before moving him to DB, where he spent the remainder of his career.
2. DE Eyabi Okie-Anoma (2018)
Anoma was the biggest name in Alabama's 2018 recruiting class at the time of his signing. He was ranked as the No. 4 overall player in that class in the composite rankings and looked destined to be the next star Crimson Tide pass rusher.
He flashed as a pass rusher as a freshman, but ultimately entered the Transfer Portal following the season. Anoma went on a journey after that. He landed at Houston, but transfer rules at the time forced him to sit out a season. He never played a snap for the Cougars, however, getting dismissed for a violation of team rules.
Anoma ended up at UT-Martin, Michigan, and Charlotte after that. He finished his career with 9.5 sacks, but never lived up to his potential.
1. DL Antonio Alfano (2019)
Not only was Alfano a 5-star prospect in the 2019 class, but he finished the recruiting cycle as the No. 1 overall player in the composite rankings.
Alfano not only seemed destined for stardom in Tuscaloosa, but he appeared to be on the pathway to immediate playing time with the work ethic that was a perfect fit for Saban's program.
Alfano had some personal issues that caused some immediate issues at Alabama, and he was ultimately in the Transfer Portal a month into his freshman season.
Alfano ended up transferring to Colorado, but never played there, either. He transferred to Independence Community College, but never played there, either. He took a year off from football before enrolling at Lackawanna Community College, where he finally got on the field for five games.
Alfano ended up having a brief stint in the CFL, but his football career will always be remembered for what it could have been.
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