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Recruiting Rewind: 2017 Alabama Part Four

Cory Lemer drops the fourth installment of his recruiting rewind series on the Legendary 2017 Alabama Crimson Tide squad.

February 4, 2023
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Throughout the course of college football history, we have seen historic recruiting classes. In this Recruiting Rewind series, we will visit some historic recruiting classes since 2010. First up is 2017 Alabama. The Tide took home the top spot in the 2017 recruiting rankings and had many players win multiple awards and championships and become first-round draft picks. Today by ranking, we will look at the next five players in the 2017 Alabama recruiting cycle.


1. Phidarian Mathis

First up in part four is Phidarian Mathis. As a recruit, Mathis ranked as the 101st player in the nation and 7th as a DT. Mathis redshirted his true freshman season at Alabama. He played in all 15 of the Crimson Tide’s games as a redshirt freshman and was named to the (SEC) All-Freshman team. Mathis had 31 tackles, five tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks with a forced fumble as the Crimson Tide won the National Championship. Mathis declared for the 2022 Draft after the year. After his career at Alabama, the Washington Commanders selected him 47th overall. Mathis would appear in one game this past season before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

“Built By Bama”

Phidarian Mathis & Brian Robinson ?? pic.twitter.com/HOAemIoM7j

— Alabama DieHards (@DiehardsAlabama) May 6, 2022


2. Christopher Allen

Next up is Christopher Allen. Allen ranked as the 104th player in the nation and the 4th inside linebacker. Allen played for the Tide for three years, with him starting as a Junior during the 2020 season. Before his senior season, he suffered a season-ending injury leading him to declare for the draft. Allen would go undrafted and later signed with the Broncos before suffering another injury leading him to sit out this past season. 

LB Christopher Allen gets to the edge to stop RB Khalan Laborn pic.twitter.com/uWkIR9nGqb

— Brian Perroni (@Perroni247) December 28, 2016

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3. Daniel Wright

Third, in this part of the impressive 2017 class is Daniel Wright. As a recruit, Wright ranked as the 122nd player in the nation and the 16th best Saftey. Wright played for the Tide for five seasons, with his Junior and Senior years being his most productive. In those two seasons, Wright totaled 89 tackles and two interceptions. After his 2021 season, Wright entered the NFL Draft, where he went undrafted. Daniel unfortunately never signed with a team but is still working towards the NFL.

Check out this snag by Daniel Wright pic.twitter.com/cvIAY6ObIO

— Bama FB on Youtube | 106K Subs (@BamaYoutube) February 19, 2021


4. Brian Robinson

Brian Robinson is 4th in part four. As a recruit, Robinson ranked 145th in the nation and 8th as an RB. Brian Robinson fully bought into Nick Saban and the Tide as he sat behind many NFL starters before finally getting his turn to start in 2021. In his first season as a starter, Robinson eclipsed 1.3 thousand yards and 16 touchdowns, leading the Tide to the national championship. After the 2021 season, Robinson declared for the NFL Draft, where the Washington Commanders selected him at pick 98. Before the start of the season, Robinson was shot twice in an attempted robbery. Miraculously Robinson returned to the field two months later. In a shortened 12-game season for Robinson, he managed to eclipse 800 total yards and three touchdowns. Robinson is looking towards improving in his Sophomore season in the NFL.

Geno —> an amazing story, ruled out to a “starting” QB

CMC —> so many injuries always bouncing back

Saquon —> didn’t everyone see a breakout year incoming?

Brian Robinson was shot, almost wasn’t able to play a game before his rookie season even started.

No finalist is a joke. pic.twitter.com/ExJsjyXxOS

— The Weekly Audible (@WeeklyAudible) January 27, 2023


5. Chadarius Townsend

Last up in part four is Chdarius Townsend. As a recruit, Chadarius ranked 175th in the nation and 5th as an ATH. Townsend never found success at Alabama, and after the 2019 season, he transferred to Texas Tech. Chadarius left Alabama as a graduate transfer and never found success in his three years with the Red Raiders.  

Chadarius Townsend 65-yard TD from Mac Jones? https://t.co/c1CVB7hV60 pic.twitter.com/41KcpUbTgT

— BamaOnLine (@BOL_On3) April 21, 2018

Category: College Football, Portal, RecruitingTag: Alabama, Brian Robinson, Chdarius Townsend, Christopher Allen, Daniel Wright, Nick Saban, Phidarian Mathis
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