TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama’s recruiting footprint stretches across the nation -- and even to the states not connected to the mainland, as the Crimson Tide signed a dual-threat quarterback from Hawaii in its top-ranked class for the 2017 recruiting cycle.

But while Alabama has had success drawing players from its own state, as well as places like Florida, Georgia and Texas, one area the Tide has dominated since Nick Saban arrived in 2007 has been the state of Louisiana. The Crimson Tide has signed 21 players from the Bayou State since 2008.

2008 (1) -- Robby Green

2009 (3) -- Eddie Lacy, Darrington Sentimore, Kenny Bell

2010 (1) -- Cody Mandell

2011 (1) -- Bradley Sylve

2012 (2) -- Landon Collins, Denzel Devall

2013 (2) -- Tim Williams, Raheem Falkins

2014 (4) -- Cam Robinson, Hootie Jones, Cam Sims, O.J. Smith

2015 (1) -- Daylon Charlot

2016 (2) -- Shyheim Carter, Irvin Smith

2017 (4) -- Isaiah Buggs, Devonta Smith, Phidarian Mathis, Christopher Allen

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That’s not including Baton Rouge native Dylan Moses, who transferred to IMG (Bradenton, Fla.) Academy, and blueshirt placekicker Joseph Bulovas, who did not sign scholarship papers. Both were members of Alabama’s No. 1-ranked 2017 recruiting class, and both players have ties to Louisiana.

A former head coach at LSU, Saban has routinely dipped into the Tigers’ backyard to sign some of their top prospects. Dating back to the 2011 recruiting cycle, the Crimson Tide has had at least one of the top-five players from Louisiana join its program. Sylve was the No. 6-ranked player in 2011.

In some instances, 2012, 2014 and 2017, Alabama received signatures from multiple players in the top 10. So what’s the secret behind Saban’s success in his old stomping grounds?

Lacy and Bell are both Louisiana natives.

“I think we have been fortunate to get a lot of players in the past who have had success here,” Saban said on National Signing Day. “Eddie Lacy, Tim Williams, Cam Robinson. We’ve got a few players on our team right now that make a significant contribution from Louisiana.

“And I think when players see other players leave the state to have success it’s something that they see as a place where they might go and have success themselves.”

Alabama has been a multifaceted thorn in the Tigers’ paws in recent years. LSU has no Power 5 team within its state’s borders to compete with in recruiting, unlike Alabama, who battles in-state rival Auburn for the Yellowhammer State’s top players each cycle.

The Tide has also won six straight games over LSU since the two met in the 2011 title game in New Orleans. It wasn’t the only reason, but Les Miles’ inability to beat Saban, whether on the field or the recruiting trail, resulted in his early exit in 2016.

Combine all the success Alabama has had over LSU of late, and it’s not difficult to fathom the disdain Tiger fans may have for the Crimson Tide. And sometimes that disdain carries over to the players that choose to leave their home state for Tuscaloosa.

Buggs, a junior college transfer, has experienced that firsthand but chose to benefit from it.

“It’s just motivation,” Buggs said. “Every time we get a Louisiana guy to Alabama there’s always someone out there saying, ‘You let down your home state.’ So they don’t want to see you succeed. From that point on you have to prove them wrong, that you can succeed anywhere you want.”

Saban has known Louisiana to be a fertile recruiting ground since his time in the NFL, and he’s turned that knowledge into results by convincing the state’s best players to play for one of LSU’s bitterest rivals. That success and overall desire to recruit Bayou State players resonates with the players, too.

“It means a lot, to let everyone know that wherever you’re from, Louisiana or whatever, you can come here and play if they recruit you,” Buggs said. “You don’t always have to be an LSU guy, go home and play. Do something different for a time or change. So I just came over here to Alabama.”

Alabama’s recent signing class tied the 2014 class for the most players from Louisiana to sign with the Tide in the Saban era -- although Moses and Bulovas tips the total to six. And as the head coach enters his 11th year at the helms of the program, that trend has shown no signs of slowing down.

And according to Buggs, the Tigers are missing out on a specific group of athletes.

“We’re some dawgs,” Buggs vehemently said on Signing Day. “Everybody knows when Alabama gets some guys from Louisiana, they’re some dawgs.”

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