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With the University of Alabama having eight new players enrolled for the January semester it’s the sixth straight year that the Crimson Tide will have that many new additions before spring practices.
Although Nick Saban has repeatedly said that he doesn’t encourage players to leave high school early, 57 players including junior-college transfers, have enrolled for the spring since 2007.
Here’s a look at how well each fared during his first year on the Capstone and overall:
2007 (2)
Kareem Jackson, CB: Started 12 games as a freshman and after the 2009 season left a year early for the NFL. Was a first-round draft selection by Houston.
Jamar Taylor, RB: Transferred to South Florida. Played three seasons with 117 carries for 477 yards and five touchdowns.
2008 (2)
Chris Jackson, WR: Played 12 game on special teams. Eventually transferred to Georgia Tech, where he had two receptions for 42 yards in 2011-12.
Corey Smith, K: Played three games for Alabama and eventually transferred to West Virginia, where he made 36 punts for an average of 40.5 yards in 2011-12.
2009 (4)
James Carpenter, T: The JUCO transfer won the left tackle job and was a two-year starter. After the 2010 season was a first-round draft pick by Seattle.
Kerry Murphy, DL: Played six games in 2009 and 12 in 2010, but his career ended early due to injury issues.
Jermaine Preyear, RB: After grayshirting due to a shoulder injury, enrolled, but transferred to Alabama State six months later. He played in seven games, with 31 carries for 152 yards.
Chance Warmack, G: Played in five games as a freshman and won a starting job as a sophomore. Became a unanimous All-American selection and was a first-round draft pick by Tennessee.
2010 (8)
Cade Foster, K: Played in all 53 games during his career, mostly handling kickoffs and long field-goal attempts, but was Alabama’s primary kicker in 2013.
Jalston Fowler, RB: Played in 11 games as a freshman, with 111 yards on 14 carries. A knee injury cut short his 2012 season, and he was more of a fullback/H-back the rest of his career. Was a team co-captain in 2014.
John Fulton, CB: Played in 13 games as a freshman and was a regular contributor on special teams. Played in 48 games with four starts.
Brandon Lewis, DL: Redshirted in 2010, moved to tight end and played in seven games in 2011, did not return for his final season.
Chad Lindsay, OL: Redshirted his first season. Played in 19 games, with four starts before transferring to Ohio State for his final year of eligibility.
DeMarcus Milliner, CB: Started 11 games as a freshman and played in all 13 games. After being a unanimous All-American in 2012 left a year early and was a first-round draft pick of the New York Jets.
Phillip Sims, QB: After challenging for the starting job played in eight games in 2011 only to transfer to Virginia, where in 2012 he completed 114 of 203 passes for 1,263 yards and nine touchdowns. Sims ended up at Division II Winston Salem-State, where this past season he completed 103 of 178 passes for 1,387 yards and 13 touchdowns while helping lead the Rams to the CIAA Football Championship Game.
Austin Shepherd, OL: Redshirted as a true freshman and played in 17 games the next two years as a reserve. Started every game at right tackle as a junior and senior in 2013-14.
2011 (8)
Ronald Carswell, WR: Redshirted, was suspended, transferred to Itawamba Community College for the 2012 season, transferred to West Virginia but was suspended and apparently dismissed in 2013.
Trey DePriest, LB: Played as a freshman, mostly on special teams, and made 25 tackles. Became a starter as a sophomore and finished his career with 237 tackles in 53 games, including 39 starts. Was named an All-American as a senior.
Quinton Dial, DL: The junior-college transfer played in 12 games his first season on the Capstone, and all 13 his final season before being a fifth-round draft pick by San Francisco.
Aaron Douglas, T: Died from an accidental overdose in Fernandina Beach, Fla., in May, 2011. Never played a game for the Crimson Tide.
Phillip Ely, QB: Redshirted and played in six games during the 2012 season before transferring to Toledo. Won the starting job his past season only to tear an ACL in the third quarter of a Wee 2 loss to Missouri, 49-24.
Wilson Love, DL: Redshirted his first season. Never played in a game, but spent this last season as a student coach.
Vinnie Sunseri, S: Was an immediate force on special teams and ended his freshman season as the dime defensive back, while totaling 31 tackles. Made 54 tackles as a sophomore, but after winning the strong safety job as a junior sustained a torn ACL. Left a year early for the NFL and was selected in the fifth round by New Orleans.
Jesse Williams, DL: The junior-college transfer started every game his first season at defensive end, and then played nose guard his final year. Was selected in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by Seattle.
2012 (8)
Ryan Anderson, LB: Redshirted his first season. Played in every game this past season, primarily as a pass-rusher. Was credited with 25 tackles, including eight for a loss and three sacks, and had nine hurries.
Deion Belue, CB: Won a starting job and played all 14 games, with two interceptions. However, the junior-college transfer was limited by a toe injury his final season, when he had one interception in 10 starts.
Chris Black, WR: Redshirted after sustaining a shoulder injury. Played in 11 games this past season, with 15 receptions for 188 yards.
Amari Cooper: Set numerous Alabama freshman receiving records with 59 catches for 1,000 yards, and set a program record with 11 receiving touchdowns. The 2014 co-captain set Crimson Tide season and career receiving records for catches, yards and touchdowns while winning the program’s first Biletnikoff Award and was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
Travell Dixon, CB: The junior-college transfer left school before the fall and transferred to Washington. Played 12 games with one start this past season and was credited with four tackles.
Dillon Lee, LB: Played in eight games as a true freshman and had an interception against Michigan in his debut. Played in all 14 games as a reserve and on special teams, with 24 tackles this past season.
Alphonse Taylor, OL: Came in as a nose guard, was quickly switched to guard and redshirted. Played in 12 games with two starts in 2014.
T.J. Yeldon, RB: Was named the A-Day MVP and kept going, rushing for 1,108 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman. Due to hamstring and ankle injuries just missed notching his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season. Is fourth on Alabama’s all-time rushing list with 3,322 yards.
2013 (9)
Cooper Bateman, QB: Redshirted. Played every game in 2014 as the holder on field-goal and extra-point attempts.
Leon Brown, OL: Played in eight games as a reserve tackle and then started at right guard in the Sugar Bowl. Played in all 14 games in 2014 with 12 starts at right guard.
Luke Del Rio, QB: The walk-on redshirted and subsequently transferred to Oregon State. He played in three games and completed 8 of 18 passes for 141 yards.
Raheem Falkins, WR: Played in seven games yet did not have a reception. Played in eight games this past season, but is still without a catch.
Derrick Henry, RB: Started slow, but was second on the depth chart at the Sugar Bowl. Finished with 382 rushing yards on 35 carries to average 10.9 per carry, and took his only reception for a 61-yard touchdown. Led Alabama in rushing as a sophomore with 990 yards on 172 carries, to go with five receptions for 133 yards, and 13 combined touchdowns.
Brandon Hill, OL: Redshirted. Played in seven games this past season and was a key injury replacement at right tackle.
O.J. Howard, TE: Played in 13 games, with five starts. Had 14 receptions for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Made three starts as a sophomore and finished with 17 receptions for 260 yards.
Parker McLeod, QB: Redshirted. Transferred to Western Kentucky.
Jai Miller, S: The walk-on/former professional baseball player got into five games as a reserve, but had no tackles. He’s since left the program.
2014 (8)
Cam Robinson, OL: Started all 14 games at left tackle and was named a Freshman All-American by The Sporting News.
Tony Brown, CB: Played in 13 games, with two starts. He was credited with 10 tackles, including one for a loss, a pass broken up and a hurry.
Laurence “Hootie” Jones, S: Played in seven games as a reserve and special-team contributor. Was in on two tackles.
David Cornwell, QB: Redshirted.
Cam Sims, WR: Played in 12 games and had seven receptions for 62 yards and one touchdown.
Shaun Dion Hamilton, LB: Played in all 14 games and was credited with three tackles.
Jarran Reed, DL: The junior-college transfer started all but one game. His 33 tackles tied for the most on the defensive line. He was also credited with 6.5 tackles for a loss and one sack, and five passes defended.
D.J. Pettway, DL: After being kickoff off the team and spending a season at a junior college, Pettway returned and was a key part of the pass rush. He played in all 14 games, making one start, and credited with 23 tackles (three for a loss and two sacks), three passes defended and five hurries.
2015 (8)
Blake Barnett, QB (Corona, Calif./Santiago)
DeSherrius Flowers, RB (Mobile, Ala./Vigor)
Ronnie Harrison, S (Tallahassee, Fla./FSU University School)
Brandon Kennedy, OL (Wetumpka, Ala./Wetumpka),
Bo Scarbrough, RB (Northport, Ala./Tuscaloosa County)
Deionte Thompson, S (Orange, Texas/West Orange-Stark)
Dallas Warmack, OL (Atlanta, Ga./Mays)
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
