Alabama Pushes 2017 Class to 25 with Big 5-Star JUCO DE Isaiah Buggs
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
On Tuesday, Alabama essentially filled their 2017 recruiting class securing their 25th commitment with Mississippi junior college defensive end Isaiah Buggs. Buggs was a win-win-win for Alabama getting a physically ready to play defensive end while keeping him away from other SEC schools and also notching another Louisiana high school talent onto the roster.
Buggs was a first team All-State performer and District 2-5A Defensive MVP of the Year award winner his senior year with Ruston High School after coming up with 102 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, and six sacks. Mississippi Gulf Coast got a second team All-MACJC South Division season out of the 6-5, 280 pound, sometimes listed at 6-4, 290, talent in 2015. Through 10 games played in 2016, Buggs had 75 total tackles, 55 solo, 10 tackles for a loss, and 3.5 sacks.
When Buggs announced his commitment to Alabama, he was beyond 20 offers with teams like LSU, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Florida, Baylor, Houston, Kansas State, Texas, Iowa State, Nebraska, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, and Tennessee all seeking his play making abilities. Buggs took an official visit to Tuscaloosa on Dec. 10 committing three days later and has already signed his letter of intent with the Tide.
247Sports and Rivals rates Alabama’s 2017 recruiting class No. 1 in the nation. The Crimson Tide have six five-star recruits and 16 four-star talents verbally committed. Rivals ranks Buggs as a five-star talent, a very rare ranking for a junior college player among recruiting sites.
Alabama Crimson Tide 2017 Verbal Commit List (25)
SS Daniel Wright, 6-1, 187, Boyd Anderson, Fort Lauderdale, FL
CB Jhavonte Dean, 6-2, 180, Blinn College, Brenham, TX
CB Kyriq McDonald, 5-11, 185, James Clemens HS, Madison, AL
LB Christopher Allen, 6-4, 234, Southern Lab, Baton Rouge, LA
LB Markail Benton, 6-1.5, 237, Central HS, Phenix, City, AL
LB VanDarius Cowan, 6-4, 217, Palm Beach Gardens HS, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
LB Dylan Moses, 6-2.5, 235, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
DE Isaiah Buggs, 6-5, 280, Gulf Coast C.C., Mississippi, MS
DT Akial Byers, 6-4, 275, Fayetteville HS, Fayetteville, AR
OG Alex Leatherwood, 6-5, 298, Washington HS, Pensacola, FL
OT Elliot Baker, 6-7, 295, City College of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
OT Hunter Brannon, 6-4, 290, Cullman HS, Cullman, AL
OT Kendall Randolph, 6-5, 290, Bob Jones HS, Madison, AL
OT Jedrick Wills, 6-5, 318, Lafayette HS, Lexington, KY
TE Kedrick James, 6-4.5, 245, La Vega HS, Waco, TX
TE Major Tennison, 6-6, 230, Bullard HS, Bullard, TX
RB Najee Harris, 6-1.5, 210, Antioch Senior, Antioch, CA
RB Brian Robinson, 6-1, 215, Hillcrest HS, Tuscaloosa, AL
QB Mac Jones, 6-2, 180, Bolles HS, Jacksonville, FL
QB Tua Tagovailoa, 6-1, 210, St. Louis HS, Honolulu, HI
WR Jerry Jeudy, 6-1, 177, Deerfield Beach HS, Deerfield Beach, FL
WR Tyrell Shavers, 6-6, 202, Lewisville HS, Lewisville, TX
ATH Chadarius Townsend, 6-0, 180, Tanner HS, Tanner, AL
LS Thomas Fletcher, 6-1, 215, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
K Brandon Ruiz, 5-10, 165, Williams Field HS, Gilbert, AZ
Photo credit: Burnt Orange Nation; No. 9 Isaiah Buggs.