Crimson Tide Finishes with No. 1 Recruiting Class in 2017

The University of Alabama announced that 14 student-athletes have signed national letters of intent to play football with the Crimson Tide Wednesday, joining 12 players who enrolled at the Capstone in January and will compete in spring practice later this semester.

The 26 total players, including 12 mid-year enrollees, come from eight states – Alabama (7), Florida (5), Louisiana (5), Texas (4), California (2), Hawai’i (1), Georgia (1) and Kentucky (1).

As of 3:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Alabama’s 2017 signing class ranked No. 1 in the country by 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout.

As listed by position, the Crimson Tide add to its roster four offensive linemen, four linebackers, four wide receivers, three defensive linemen, three defensive backs, two quarterbacks, two running backs, two tight ends and one athlete.

The January enrollees include junior college OL Elliot Baker (San Francisco, Calif./Archbishop Riordan/City College of San Francisco), junior college DL Isaiah Buggs (Ruston, La./Ruston/Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College), LS Thomas Fletcher (Georgetown, Texas/IMG Academy), RB Najee Harris (Antioch, Calif./Antioch), WR Jerry Jeudy (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach), DB Kyriq McDonald (Madison, Ala./James Clemens), LB Dylan Moses (Baton Rouge, La./IMG Academy), OL Alex Leatherwood (Pensacola, Fla./Booker T. Washington), WR Tyrell Shavers (Lewisville, Texas/Lewisville), QB Tua Tagovailoa (Ewa Beach, Hawai’i/St. Louis), TE Major Tennison (Flint, Texas/Bullard) and ATH Chadarius Townsend (Tanner, Ala./Tanner).

The Crimson Tide had eight players enroll in the spring each of the past three years, seven in 2013, seven in 2012, nine in 2011, 11 in 2010 and four in 2009.

Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaFTBL on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaFBL on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.

Among the 26 players are:

12 five-star prospects (at least one of the following: 247Sports, Rivals, ESPN & Scout): Elliot Baker, Isaiah Buggs, VanDarius Cowan, Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy, Alex Leatherwood, Dylan Moses, LaBryan Ray, Henry Ruggs III, Devonta Smith, Tua Tagovailoa, Jedrick Wills
13 four-star prospects (at least one of the following: 247Sports, Rivals, ESPN & Scout: Chris Allen, Markail Benton, Kedrick James, Mac Jones, Phil Mathis, Kyriq McDonald, Xavier McKinney, Kendall Randolph, Brian Robinson, Tyrell Shavers, Major Tennison, Chadarius Townsend, Daniel Wright
10 players participated in the Under Armour All-America Game – Chris Allen, Markail Benton, Jerry Jeudy, Alex Leatherwood, Phil Mathis, Xavier McKinney, Dylan Moses, LaBryan Ray, Jedrick Wills, Daniel Wright
5 players participated in the U.S. Army All-America Bowl – Najee Harris, Kendall Randolph, Henry Ruggs III, Devonta Smith, Tua Tagovailoa
3 members of the 2016 Parade All-America Football Team – Najee Harris, Alex Leatherwood, Dylan Moses
4 members of USA Today’s 2016 All-USA High School Football Team – Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy, Alex Leatherwood, Dylan Moses
21 players in the ESPN300 – Chris Allen, Markail Benton, VanDarius Cowan, Najee Harris, Kedrick James, Jerry Jeudy, Alex Leatherwood, Phil Mathis, Xavier McKinney, Dylan Moses, Kendall Randolph, LaBryan Ray, Brian Robinson, Henry Ruggs III, Tyrell Shavers, Devonta Smith, Tua Tagovailoa, Major Tennison, Chadarius Townsend, Jedrick Wills, Daniel Wright
11 players in the Rivals100 – VanDarius Cowan, Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy, Alex Leatherwood, Xavier McKinney, Dylan Moses, LaBryan Ray, Brian Robinson, DeVonta Smith, Tua Tagovailoa, Jedrick Wills
20 players in the Rivals250 – Chris Allen, Markail Benton, VanDarius Cowan, Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy, Mac Jones, Alex Leatherwood, Phil Mathis, Xavier McKinney, Dylan Moses, Kendall Randolph, LaBryan Ray, Brian Robinson, Henry Ruggs III, Tyrell Shavers, DeVonta Smith, Tua Tagovailoa, Chadarius Townsend, Jedrick Wills, Daniel Wright
19 players in the 247Sports Top247 – Chris Allen, Markail Benton, VanDarius Cowan, Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy, Alex Leatherwood, Phil Mathis, Xavier McKinney, Dylan Moses, Kendall Randolph, LaBryan Ray, Brian Robinson, Henry Ruggs III, Tyrell Shavers, DeVonta Smith, Tua Tagovailoa, Chadarius Townsend, Jedrick Wills, Daniel Wright
19 players in the Scout300 – Chris Allen, Markail Benton, VanDarius Cowan, Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy, Alex Leatherwood, Phil Mathis, Xavier McKinney, Dylan Moses, Kendall Randolph, LaBryan Ray, Brian Robinson, Henry Ruggs III, Tyrell Shavers, DeVonta Smith, Tua Tagovailoa, Chadarius Townsend, Jedrick Wills, Daniel Wright
14 players on the PrepStar Top 150 Dream Team – Chris Allen, Markail Benton, VanDarius Cowan, Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy, Alex Leatherwood, Xavier McKinney, Dylan Moses, LaBryan Ray, Brian Robinson, Tyrell Shavers, DeVonta Smith, Tua Tagovailoa, Jedrick Wills

2017 ALABAMA SIGNING DAY ROSTER

Early Enrollees (12)

NAME POS HT WT CL HOMETOWN/SCHOOL

Elliot Baker OL 6-7 295 Jr. San Francisco, Calif./Archbishop Riordan/ City College of San Francisco

Isaiah Buggs DL 6-5 290 Jr. Ruston, La./Ruston/Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Thomas Fletcher LS 6-2 220 Fr. Georgetown, Texas/IMG Academy

Najee Harris RB 6-2 225 Fr. Antioch, Calif./Antioch

Jerry Jeudy WR 6-1 175 Fr. Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach

Alex Leatherwood OL 6-6 327 Fr. Pensacola, Fla./Booker T. Washington

Kyriq McDonald DB 5-11 190 Fr. Madison, Ala./James Clemens

Dylan Moses LB 6-3 235 Fr. Baton Rouge, La./IMG Academy

Tyrell Shavers WR 6-6 202 Fr. Lewisville, Texas/Lewisville