A look at five potential freaks in Alabama’s No. 2 ranked recruiting class per 247Sports,

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For me it starts with Drew Sanders, the nation’s No. 2 athlete recruit per 247Sports.

One could argue the 6-foot-5, 222-pound Sanders is the top linebacker prospect in the country and the top tight end prospect in America. At Denton (Texas) Ryan, the coaching staff down there is smart enough to cut out the middle man and oftentimes just snap him the ball at quarterback and let him do his thing. Sanders runs a 4.65 40-yard dash on The Opening laser and has barely tapped into his physical potential. He scores touchdowns on both sides of the ball, rushing, dominating in the red zone as a pass catcher and then in the second level instinctively jumping routes and taking it the other way for six. There isn’t a linebacker spot Sanders can’t play and he shows that explosive power and physicality coveted at the position too. I know five-star running back Zachary Evans is the consensus No. 1 recruit in the state of Texas but I like Sanders myself in that position. I know Mekhail Sherman and Justin Flowe are the first two names mentioned when talking top linebackers in the country but Sanders appears to be more versatile. I know that Arik Gilbert, Darnell Washington and Michael Mayer are the names first mentioned when discussing the top tight end in the land but they don’t run like Sanders.

Sanders is truly one of the unique prospects in this 2020 recruiting cycle.

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Alabama’s stacked receiver room sees three potential three-and-done players following the season in Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith and Henry Ruggs III and Nick Saban and his staff need this class to help replenish a potential mass loss of outstanding playmakers. Thaiu Jones-Bell is exciting in that regard. The 5-foot-11, 187-pound pass catcher meets the standard of what’s recently been recruited in that room. As a junior, the Miami (Fla.) Carol City standout was a touchdown waiting to happen, finding the end zone 17 times in a variety of ways. He has burst, can run, change direction, he can separate, he’s a guy that can step in and play right away.

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Similar to Sanders, Gadsden (Ala.) City four-star athlete De'Rickey Wright is very interesting. Who doesn’t love 6-foot-4, 220-pounds with an 86 inch wingspan and the feet of a safety. In this business you’re always scanning for upside and Wright has a ton. A hair slower than Sanders but a tad quicker, they have similar profiles from an athleticism standpoint. He also had a dominant junior season including 10 interceptions, 20 touchdowns (eight on defense) playing quarterback, receiver, defensive back and linebacker. Thinking about what he can turn into going through Alabama’s strength program and then being developed as a player, easy to be incredibly intrigued with this prospect.

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Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances defensive end Chris Braswell is the current jewel of the class, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound edge player ranked by the 247Sports Composite as the nation’s No. 1 weak-side defensive end. St. Frances defense pitched six shutouts last season and gave up just six points in three other games as they steamrolled their way to a 10-0 record and No. 6 ranking in the MaxPreps Xcellent Top25. Braswell was pivotal in that dominance, an explosive, quick, high-motored player that within the scheme gets matched up 1-on-1 with offensive linemen a ton and routinely jackknifed his way into gaps virtually untouched to chase down quarterbacks or ball carriers. I’m excited to see what Braswell can do this fall against a schedule that includes fellow powerhouse programs in Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei, Brandenton (Fla.) IMG Academy and Miami (Fla.) Central. The burst and strength and body torque Braswell possesses is what makes him a coveted prospect.

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I saw Top247 receiver Traeshon Holden at the Adidas 7on7 National Championship and it was one of the more dominating performances I saw on the camp circuit. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Holden has some shake to his game allowing him to divide from the defensive back, but where he really shined was going up to get the football. He was a regular highlight reel against top competition with the leaping ability and body control and I love the duo of Jones-Bell and Holden.

Bonus Mentions

-Safety commit Brian Branch is one of the most exciting special teams players in the country in this class and impacts the high school game in all three phases for Tyrone (Ga) Sandy Creek. Can play the deep ball, has good hands and balance and hips, he’s a fascinating prospect on the back end.

-Alabama seems to always have larger human beings than the opposition and Calera (Ala.) High Top247 defensive tackle Jayson Jones falls in line. At 6-foot-6 1/2, 340-pounds he’s a mountain of man that has all the traits to control the line of scrimmage. A gap eater with good feet.

-Muscle Shoals (Ala.) High linebacker Jackson Bratton shows the awareness, tackling ability, toughness and ability to play in space. This is a terrific second-level linebacker class for Alabama and Bratton shouldn’t be slept on. He’s 6-foot-3, 225-pounds, diagnoses well and flows to the football.

-Running back commit Roydell Williams rushed for 2,757 yards and 36 touchdowns as a junior, obviously a very productive runner that can cut and explode into daylight.