re: Jeffery Simmons - 36 overall - #3 DE - Noxubee County, MS

But to the Saban point. This is how he recruited Altee Tenpenny, it may differ by position and by kid, but this is according to one of his coaches a few years back.



Tenpenny was the top recruit from Arkansas at the time. Saban in this meeting never mentions atmosphere, rings, legacy, etc...

Saban sits him down with his coach and his family, shows him the data on how long RB's last in the NFL, then he shows him the data on how likely he is to have a knee injury in college. Breaks down the average RB salary, then the average RB in the first round, and the impact injuries have on that salary.

He explains to him that he frankly has a handful of other backs just like him, just as promising, just as good. He then goes on to explain that he's going to ride the pine for a few years, before being the second back his sophomore or junior year like Richardson was to Engram, then Lacey to Richardson, etc... Then you are going to have one big year, one year where you are the workhorse and you get your fame, and you're going to get drafted and have a great NFL career.

So, by playing essentially 1.5 seasons here, instead of Arkansas or somewhere else and playing 3 or 4, you are going to decrease your probability of injury by x amount, which equates to this much money for you. Then leaves the guy with two choices. He can go to Arkansas or wherever and have a great college career, be the big guy for his whole time there, etc... Or... go to Alabama. Probably only have one big college year, but be more likely to stay healthy and have a better and longer NFL career, where you actually make money.

He said he was just like damn, there was no decision. It wasn't recruiting, no sales pitch, it was just the most responsible decision to make.





Now, granted, this is ostracized because of the short career of a RB. But still, thought it was an interesting and effective approach. They don't seem to process and pump other positions the same way, skill positions seem to stay around for a while. But even so, if I'm a top WR it would be hard to talk me out of Bama. Because, while a different game altogether than RB, they've shown that they will feed that one elite guy for 3 years.




ETA: I'm not sure why I went into that, probably just because I find it interesting. But to your point, LSU recruits on a pretty similar level. I wouldn't say Bama gets the top guys over them by any stretch, it's actually incredibly close considering how lopsided that matchup has been lately.