The 2017 recruiting class did not receive as much fanfare as the preceding class but will arguably leave a more indelible impression on college football. Alabama took the reigns back as the No. 1 class in 2017 and three seasons later it has proven to be accurate.
What was not on point? Our individual rankings, as Tua Tagovailoa and Jerry Jeudy were not rated inside the top-3 within the Tide's own class.
However, we get another shot with this retrospective reranking based on college production. Here are the top 50 players knowing what we know now.
1. Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
2017 ESPN 300 rank: 57
The 6-foot-1, 218-pound lefty has become one of the top quarterbacks in the history of the Alabama program and is expected to contend for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2020 NFL draft. In 30 career games for the Crimson Tide, the former state of Hawai'i star has completed 69.7% of his passes for 6,613 yards and 81 touchdowns with only nine interceptions. Among his many awards following the 2018 season were the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and the Maxwell Award.
2. Chase Young, DE, Ohio State
2017 ESPN 300 rank: 27
The 6-foot-5, 265-pound ESPN 300 alum is chasing down records in Columbus, while skyrocketing up NFL draft boards. In 28 career games, the former DeMatha High standout has recorded 30 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks. Young is expected to be selected in the top 5 of the 2020 NFL draft.
3. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama
2017 ESPN 300 rank: 20
Jeudy, from South Florida, continues to elevate his status. Coming off a season that included 68 receptions, 1,315 yards and 14 touchdowns, and saw him win the Biletnikoff Award, the 6-foot-1, 192-pound precise route runner with excellent change of direction already has 42 receptions for 538 yards and six scores in six games in 2019.