The article is a bit dated, but is still fascinating. Nick Saban on his recruiting method:
[T]he Nick Saban doctrine of recruiting. It is meticulous, methodical and relentless in every single aspect of the recruiting process. . . . Belichick, Bill Parcells and other player pro directors all influenced Saban and his recruiting approach. It’s a five-phase process that first begins with identifying needs of your current personnel based on attrition two to three years down the line out of a five-year player cycle.
Second, Saban sets a standard at each position, identifying key characteristics within each position with the offensive and defensive systems that he runs. Each prospect who is recruited, depending on the position, has to meet certain measurables (height, weight, speed, etc.), among other criteria. Rarely will Saban deviate.
“They take some heat publicly because there could be a big-time guy that may not meet their critical factors,” Luginbill said. “It doesn’t mean he’s not a great player. It just means he’s not the right fit for Alabama….”
Thirdly, he watches the tape and identifies the standards of that particular recruit and the position he plays.
Next, the real evaluation process begins with the new recruits. Names of prospects are put into a system and lots of tape is evaluated. The area coach gets first look, then it’s passed on to the position coach, then to the coordinator and finally to the head coach.
The fifth and final phase is a nonstop 12-month cycle of looking at the recruiting board and talking about all the player’s critical factors. Some of those factors include size, speed, character and academics, but other things are brought into consideration as well. Have they been on campus? Do they have a connection to Alabama or has a family member attended the school?
Over the course of a recruiting cycle, the staff will meet roughly four times a week between the months of February and August and a few times a week for the duration to discuss the recruiting board….
Of course the elephant in the room with this article is oversigning, but I plead ignorance on that topic.