MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - Tyler Siskey doesn't think there was any great secret to Alabama's recruiting turnaround along the state's Gulf Coast. The St. Paul's offensive coordinator said they simply outworked everyone else.

Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide reaped the rewards from that effort Wednesday, pulling in the nation's consensus top-ranked recruiting class and landing nearly every key target in the Mobile area.

The group includes three players from Class 5A state champion St. Paul's -- Mark Barron, Ivan Matchett and Destin Hood -- and five others from Mobile or Baldwin County.

That was particularly notable because of Auburn's recent recruiting success in the area. The Tide had plucked just five players out of Mobile and Baldwin high schools from 2001 to 2007 while Auburn had landed a number of recruits.

Alabama also signed Foley receiver Julio Jones, Vigor all-purpose athlete Burton Scott, McGill-Toolen defensive end Glenn Harbin, Foley defensive back Robert Lester and Davidson running back Jermaine Preyear.

Saban praised linebackers coach Lance Thompson, who is responsible for recruiting the Mobile area. Thompson was named national recruiter of the year by Rivals.com today.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)