TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Scouting the NCAA transfer portal is difficult enough for college coaches, but the junior college scene can be even more of a crapshoot.

During Nick Saban’s tenure at Alabama, the Crimson Tide has signed more than a dozen JUCO players. That group includes standouts such as defensive linemen Terrence Cody, Jaran Reed and Isaiah Buggs. The Tide has also been dealt a few busts, including offensive linemen Elliot Baker and Charles Baldwin among others.

Alabama double-dipped into the JUCO ranks this offseason, adding the top two players at the level in wide receiver Malik Benson and inside linebacker Justin Jefferson. It’s too soon to judge how that duo will perform at the next level this fall. However, as Alabama opened its preseason camp Thursday, there’s a bit of cautious optimism around both players.

“I think both guys are sort of developing nicely, but I think the biggest issue with most guys is understanding what to do so they can go play fast all the time,” head coach Nick Saban said. I think there's still a little apprehension — and Malik is probably a little further along than Justin because at least on offense, I know what I'm supposed to do. On defense, you're reacting to something. So not to be able to understand what your assignment is and how to react to that, I think, takes a little longer. But I think both of those two guys can make a contribution to our team.”

Saban generally shies away from receivers at the JUCO level but couldn’t pass up the chance to add Benson after he tore up the Kansas Jayhawk league, piling up 2,152 yards and 21 touchdowns on 97 receptions over two seasons at Hutchinson Community College. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound receiver is the top-rated JUCO player in the nation post and posted a 10.44 time in the 100-meter dash during his senior season of high school. During this year’s A-Day scrimmage, he led all Alabama receivers with five catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.

“Malik has been a hard worker,” receiver Ja’Corey Brooks said. “He’s always been a hard worker since he got here. He is just going to take the coaching and work hard.”

Jefferson might be a bit behind Benson, but he’s an enticing prospect in his own right. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound defender is Alabama’s fastest linebacker, posting a 4.37 time in the 40-yard dash during a camp last year. Like Benson, Jefferson also racked up big numbers at the JUCO level, totaling 25 tackles for a loss for Pearl River Community College in Mississippi.

While it might be a bit harder to break into Alabama’s defense, Jefferson showed plenty of promise this spring, tallying six tackles and a pass breakup during the A-Day scrimmage.

“Justin is a hard worker,” linebacker Deontae Lawson said. “It is a complex defense, but he’s getting up with coach, he’s doing all the things he needs to do to find his role. He’s grinding.”

Alabama and its two new JUCO additions will continue to grind this weekend as the team holds its only public practice of camp Saturday during Fan Day inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.