Alabama Football: Is Alabama a High-Risk, High-Return School for Recruits?

Usually, if you're a 4- or 5-star recruit coming out of high school, you were your team's stud player, and a starting job is almost always assured at the college level.

Unless you go to Alabama, where there are lots of 4- and 5-star athletes already there, and the 2- and 3-star athletes of yesterday have been transformed by Nick Saban and Scott Cochran to players who now are those other schools 5-star athletes.

Alabama is high reward. You play on national television almost all the time. If you're a starter, your's is a household name for most SEC fans. You are always in play for an SEC or even a national title, and you'll get the personal attention that could help you gain individual awards as well.

But it's also high risk.

You could be a stud recruit and still be buried in the depth chart. If you are afraid of competition and earning your job, Alabama is not the school for you.

You could go to other schools and coast right into a starting job if you're happy with mediocrity and a possible trip to the Pepto Bismol Bowl.

Alabama has had its share of frustrated individuals who have given the Tide a shot and seen that they're just not going to crack that lineup. They leave for playing time elsewhere.

Few if any have any hard feelings toward Alabama or the coaching staff.

Nick Saban has told them from the first recruiting visit to the day the leave that the best will play and the others will have support roles.

If you want and get guaranteed playing time, you're going to a second class school.

Coach Paul Bear Bryant said it best when he said, “If you believe in yourself and have dedication and pride—and never quit, you'll be a winner. The price of victory is high, but so are the rewards.”