In the 100 days leading up to signing day 2015, RecruitingNation will be looking back at our ESPN recruiting rankings from 2006 to the present and count down the best player of the past 10 years at each ranking position, No. 100 to No. 1.
Julio Jones, No. 2 in 2008 class
Jones came out of Foley High in Alabama as a near lock for the Crimson Tide, but Alabama received a battle from Florida, Florida State and Oklahoma before Jones announced for the home-state school on Feb. 6, 2008. Jones was part of a star-studded Alabama class that included Mark Barron, Terrence Cody, Marcell Dareus, Dont'a Hightower, Mark Ingram, Barrett Jones, Courtney Upshaw, Robert Lester, Michael Williams, Brad Smelley, Damion Square and Tyler Love.
As a freshman in 2008, Jones became the favorite target of quarterback John Parker Wilson. In 14 games, all starts, the Under Armour All-America Game alumnus caught 58 passes for 924 yards and four touchdowns, as well as totaling 956 all-purpose yards. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Year and All-SEC second team by the league coaches, and Freshman All-American by numerous publications.
Jones didn't have the sophomore season many were expecting, but still managed to haul in 43 passes for 596 yards on the Crimson Tide's 2009 SEC Championship and 2010 BCS Championship team.
The 2010 season would prove to be Jones' best at Alabama. In 13 starts, he caught 78 passes for 1,133 yards and seven TDs, along with totaling 1,441 all-purpose yards and nine scores. He was selected All-SEC first-team unanimous selection following the season.
Jones chose to forgo his final season of eligibility in Tuscaloosa and enter the 2011 NFL draft. In three seasons at Alabama, he caught 179 passes for 2,653 yards and 15 TDs, and totaled over 3,000 all-purpose yards.
Jones was drafted No. 6 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2011 draft. He has been selected to a pair of Pro Bowls, including following the 2014 season.
Honorable mention: Percy Harvin, No. 2 in 2006 class. Harvin starred on a pair of Florida Gators BCS National Championship teams before he was selected No. 22 overall in the 2009 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Manti Te'o, No. in 2009 class. Te'o starred at Notre Dame, taking home a number of individual awards following the 2012 season before he was selected in the second round (No. 38 overall) by the San Diego Chargers in the 2013 draft.
