A running joke on the internet about the University of Alabama is that the program is nicknamed “3 Star U” due to its heavy recruitment towards certain three-star prospects.

But where did it all stem from?

Apparently, it's a real thing, and it's been stemming from at least the time coach Nick Saban retired.

Just this past week, Alabama received commitments from three-star recruits offensive tackle Jared Doughty and running back Javari Bennett.

But is it always about what your status is when you're in high school? Or is it the work you put in when you get to that next level?

We’ve seen far too many instances where there’s a plate with all the talent in the world, but due to unforeseen circumstances, they don’t end up panning out.

A more recent example is Jaylen Mbakwe.

Currently, as a sophomore, Mbakwe has plenty of time to turn his career into a net positive. But the way it’s gone since enrolling is a tad bit concerning.

Mbakwe was an all-time five-star recruit, who played multiple positions in high school, but when Saban recruited him, he saw a pathway for him to be a cornerback at the collegiate level.

Mbakwe has all the tools to be a high-end defensive back in college football, starting off with his elite speed. Yet along the way, he was poached by another school to be a wide receiver which seemed more appealing to him, and to be convinced to stay in Tuscaloosa, he would need to convert as a receiver.

But we haven’t seen him do much, aside from hauling in one 16 yard reception and nothing else aside from that.

On the other side of the coin, Alabama has two freshmen who were three-star recruits and are active contributors – wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks and defensive tackle London Simmons.

Brooks always carried much intrigue. Coming from a non-traditional high school football market in New Jersey, there weren’t a lot of eyes on him, but he was able to catch Saban’s eye, and then stayed in Kalen DeBoer’s line of sight.

Currently as a freshman, Brooks has managed to win WR4 duties, behind Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard and Isaiah Horton. For a freshman to pull ahead experienced players such as Rico Scott and Cole Adams is just a testament to how well Brooks has impressed this season.

As of right now, Brooks has caught 13 passes for 216 yards, or 16.6 yards per catch.

Simmons on the other hand, was thrown into a starters role for a few games out of necessity. The Crimson Tide suffered a myriad of injuries to linemen Jeremiah Beaman and Tim Keenan III which forced Simmons to get playing time that he didn’t think he was going to get.

Since then, he’s taken the ball and ran with it, posting 11 total tackles (eight solo) as well as a sack and a tackle for loss.

So “3 Star U?” If the three star recruits that Alabama are producing are cut from the same mold as Brooks and Simmons, there will be nothing to worry about in Tuscaloosa.