Alabama has had its share of game-changers on the outside: Don Hutson, Dennis Homan, David Palmer, Ozzie Newsome, Al Bell, D.J. Hall, Joey Jones, Amari Cooper and many, many others.
But, you’d be hard-pressed to find a player whose recruitment and commitment meant so much to building a signing class, a program, and now a dynasty, than Julio Jones.
Joseph Goodman at AMG spoke with Jones’ primary recruiter, now-South Carolina LB coach, Lance Thompson about the enormity of Jones commitment. Saban and the Alabama staff knew it needed a supremely-gifted player, a difference-maker that had cache with his peers, one guy whose commitment could convince others that Alabama could build something special.