Saban did run some guys off though he also made good with many of the players left to him by going 12-2 in his 2nd year. The "mass exodus" however wasn't among the guys that he recruited. They were guys left to him that couldn't cut it.
Here's the depth chart from that year:
2008 Commitmets - Alabama Crimson Tide Football
His team was young and a blend of Shula's leftovers, 2nd year players, and Fr.
There will be and must be attrition. You will lose guys to academics. You will lose guys in spite of your best efforts to off the field issues. You will definitely lose non-contributors who don't see future PT as a reward for their dedication. And Jones does demand a high level of dedication. He expects them to "live" football. His demands are definitely higher than Richt's and many other successful coaches.
But you still cannot afford to lose 5 of the 7 DE's you sign over a two year period. I'm not harping on the past here either except as a spark for some "change". I have not condemned Jones on this... only said that they have to figure out what went wrong and not allow it to continue. We as fans cannot effect change but can enjoy watching how the staff responds.... hopefully.
FWIW, you'll note that UT's two deep next fall will be pretty similar overall to the experience and talent distribution of Saban's 2nd team at Bama. Most of the talent will be 1st or 2nd year players rounded out by inherited players.