Jonathan Taylor is latest second-chance recipient of Alabama's Nick Saban

Ken Bradley

Jonathan Taylor is latest second-chance recipient of Alabama's Nick Saban image

Alabama has the nation's No. 1 recruiting class — again. And while there still is nearly a month until National Signing Day, that's unlikely to change.

Wednesday, Alabama welcomed eight early enrollees

MORE: Why Alabama isn't going away | SN recruiting coverage | HAYES: First-and-10

That group included 5-star QB Blake Barnett, 5-star safety Deionte Thompson, four more 4-star prospects, an elite athlete from the 2014 class and one name that is drawing plenty of attention today.

Jonathan Taylor.

That's former Georgia defensive tackle Jonathan Taylor.

Yes, the one who was kicked out of school at Georgia last summer after being arrested for aggravated assault.

Police said last summer that, according to witnesses and evidence, the 6-4, 330-pound plus Taylor had "choked" and "struck with a closed fist" his girlfriend at a University of Georgia dorm.

Taylor also was one of four Georgia players arrested in March of 2014 and charged with theft by deception after "double-dipping" on their tuition checks.

Alabama released a statement to AL.com's Kevin Scarbinsky on Wednesday regarding Taylor's enrollment:

"Jonathan Taylor was admitted to The University of Alabama following the same procedures that the UA Admissions office uses to evaluate any student who has dealt with legal issues," according to a university official. "The admissions process includes representatives from academic, legal, student affairs, student conduct, UAPD and counseling. Athletics is not involved in the admissions process. Taylor's continued enrollment depends on his ability to fulfill all requirements the University has specifically mandated for him during his time as a UA student."

Later Wednesday, Alabama AD Bill Battle stepped in with a statement:

Taylor isn't the first former Georgia player to end up at another school after running into off-field issues. Safety Tray Matthews now is at Auburn; safety Josh Harvey-Clemons at Louisville.

Alabama coach Nick Saban made news when he gave current Alabama defensive lineman D.J. Pettway a second chance. He gave a speech about his decision to allow Pettway to return to the team after he was one of three Tide players charged with second-degree robbery (a fourth player was charged with fraudulent use of a credit card/debit card).

Pettway went to Eastern Mississippi Community College for a season and returned to Alabama last January and finished this season with 23 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. 

Taylor spent this season at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi where he had a productive season and finished ranked as the 29th-best JUCO player, according to 247Sports.com.

At the time of Taylor's second arrest, his high school coach gave an impassioned defense of the Butler, Ga., native.

"The kid is struggling right now," Chuck Conley told the Journal-Constitution. "He has obviously stubbed his toe. Let's let the dust settle a bit, but that kid is distraught and tore up about everything. The track record doesn't speak highly of him, but he's not a bad person. He's a good person. I trust him with my life."

You know Saban and his staff and the Alabama administration gave the decision to admit Taylor plenty of thought. We're not privy to those discussions or the information they had. 

Should we expect another speech from Saban to clarify Taylor's signing?

Ken Bradley