Top 6 Alabama Crimson Tide Players in the Nick Saban Era
6 of the best players coached by Nick Saban at Alabama
Ross Crawford leaves the NFL behind to take an in-depth look at NCAA powerhouse, Alabama Crimson Tide, and the best players to have played under Head Coach Nick Saban.
Roll-Tide: The Alabama Way
Alabama Crimson Tide players are a different breed to most college athletes. One of the most successful teams in college athletics, the Crimson Tide football program is iconic. Alabama has boasted more than 100 first-team All-Americans throughout their illustrious history but began a new period of dominance with the hiring of Head Coach Nich Saban in 2007.
Under Saban, the Crimson Tide has won six national titles. His seven national titles as Head Coach (one with LSU) are the most in college football history.
To celebrate Saban’s legacy and six national titles with the Crimson Tide, today we rank the top six Alabama Crimson Tide players in the Nick Saban era. For context, across Saban’s time in Tuscaloosa, there have been over 30 Alabama players drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft following their college career. That’s the pool of talent we have to choose from in this ranking.
6) Minkah Fitzpatrick - Defensive Back (2015-2017)
College Highlights -
Won 2017 Chuck Bednarik Award, Jim Thorpe Award
Became just the third player in history to win both awards in the same season joining eventual NFL Hall of Famer Charles Woodson and All-Pro Patrick Peterson
2016 Consensus All-American; 2017 Unanimous All-American
Alabama All-time record for interceptions returned for touchdowns
The impact of Minkah Fitzpatrick was immediate in Tuscaloosa. The defensive back was an integral piece for two of Nick Saban’s championship teams. Fitzpatrick record two interceptions for touchdowns his freshman year, his play earning him freshman All-American honors. In 2016, he showcased his playmaking ability even more. He broke school records for interceptions in a game (3) and interceptions returned for touchdowns over a career.
Fitzpatrick was spectacular in his first two seasons, appearing in two national championships with the Tide.
A three-year starter, Fitzpatrick left school on a high as the Crimson Tide secured their second national championship in the three years. In his final year, Fitzpatrick won the Chuck Bednarik Award for best defensive player in all of college football. The decision to declare for the draft was perhaps the easiest of any college athlete in history and it proved fruitful as Fitzpatrick was selected eleventh overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2018 NFL Draft. Minkah Fitzpatrick could be the best defensive back in school history, not just the Nick Saban era.
5) Jonathan Allen - Defensive Lineman (2013-2016)
College Highlights -
Won 2016 Chuck Bednarik Award
Won 2016 Bronko Nagurski Award
Won 2016 Lombardi Award
Won 2016 Ted Hendricks Award
Won 2016 Unanimous All-American
I listed all of Jonathan Allen’s awards earned in 2016 because it starts to give some justice to how good the defensive lineman was under Saban. He was named a first-team All-American in his final three seasons in Alabama and was crucial to the National title-winning team in 2015. Allen finished his school career ranked second in Alabama history for career sacks with 28.5, only behind college and pro football Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas. Illustrating the sustained and historic dominance Allen enjoyed over his college career.
The greatest defensive end to ever play at Alabama.
Allen was also selected in the first round of the NFL draft after leaving the Crimson Tide. Some injury concerns lowered his stock ahead of the draft but Washington Football Team selected him 17th overall. With the ability to move around the defensive line, Allen was dominant inside and on the outside lined up against tackles. One of the best linemen in school history, Jonathan Allen is also the best defensive player of the Nick Saban era.
4) Julio Jones - Wide Receiver (2008-2010)
College Highlights -
2010 Second-team All-American
2010 All-SEC
National Champion (2009)
Julio Jones has become one of the best wide receivers in pro football history and is Hall of Fame bound. Long before his success in the NFL, Jones was the star receiver on Saban’s first championship-winning team at Alabama. Jones now trails the likes of Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley in career receiving yards at Alabama. However, both took advantage of Saban adapting to focus more on the passing game since Jones left college in 2010.
The early Saban teams were run first and run often, limiting Jones touches throughout his career compared to what his top receivers get now. The BCS National Championship win over Texas emphasized just how run-heavy the Bama offense was. Jones led the team with only 23 receiving yards on the day.
However, Jones still managed to end his career second in school history for career receptions (179) and most games with over 100 yards receiving (8). He left as an underclassman and was selected sixth overall for the Atlanta Falcons. There may have been more impressive receivers statistically under Nick Saban, but Jones was an all-around special talent.
3) Mark Ingram II - Running Back (2008-2010)
College Highlights -
Won 2009 Heisman Trophy
2009 SEC Offensive Player of the Year
2009 Unanimous All-American
2009 All-SEC
The wrecking ball of the first Nick Saban championship in Tuscaloosa. Mark Ingram set the tone for the many running backs to follow him in the Nick Saban era. Ingram rushed for over 700 yards as a freshman, but it was his sophomore season that will go down in Alabama folklore.
Enjoy some classic Sights and sounds from the first Heisman Winner at Alabama Mark Ingram!
In 2009, Ingram became the first-ever Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy, the most prestigious individual award in college football. The running back rumbled for 1,658 and 17 touchdowns, leading Bama to a national title. Saban’s team leaned on Ingram in the 37-21 win over Texas to the tune of 116 yards and two touchdowns as he was named offensive MVP of the game.
Injuries hampered Ingram’s production in his final year at Alabama. However, his dominant 2009 campaign was enough for the New Orleans Saints to select him in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. After a slow start to his pro-career, Ingram has racked up over 7,000 yards at the highest level. However, it was under Nick Saban at Alabama that Mark Ingram rose to prominence. His 2009 campaign is one of the most dominant in college football history.
2) Devonta Smith - Wide Receiver (2017-2020)
College Highlights -
Won 2020 Heisman Trophy
Won 2020 Maxwell Award
Won 2020 Walter Camp Award
Won 2020 Bilitnekof Award
2x National Champion
Devonta Smith is the most electrifying playmaker of the Nick Saban Alabama era. His 2020 campaign was special and he deserves this spot in our rankings. Before all the statistical records of 2020, Smith had already etched his name into the history books. He was the receiver for the game-winning touchdown catch in the 2017 national championship victory as a freshman. Smith continued to build his resume, tallying more than 1,800 receiving over his next two seasons.
Devonta Smith - Unreal Highlights
However, in his senior year, Smith’s production exploded. He led the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns. He also broke the SEC record for most career receiving yards in his final season at the college level. Smith also owns Alabama's career records for receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Smith caught a National Championship game record 12 receptions in a blowout victory over Ohio State. Securing his second national title in his time with the Crimson Tide, Saban’s sixth. Smith was also named the school’s third Heisman Trophy winner. The first wide receiver to win the award since 1991.
2020 was a spectacular season for Devonte Smith, capping off an incredibly successful career with the Crimson Tide.
1) Derrick Henry - Running Back (2013-2015)
College Highlights -
Won 2015 Heisman Trophy
2015 Maxwell Award
2015 Walter Camp Award
2015 Doak Walker Award
2015 Unanimous All-American
2015 SEC Offensive Player of the Year
When anyone talks about dominant running backs at the college level, Derrick Henry has to be right at the top of the list. After middling statistical seasons as a freshman and sophomore sharing carries with several Crimson Tide running backs, Henry re-wrote the record books in 2015.
Henry rushed for a school and Southeastern Conference record 2,219 yards, which led the nation and was the fifth most in a single-season by an FBS player in college football history. He also set an SEC record with 28 rushing touchdowns, snapping Tim Tebow and Tre Mason's old mark of 23. The running backs utterly dominant campaign earned him the Heisman Trophy, taking after Mark Ingram. The records Henry set rank him ahead of Ingram on this list, but it was also how Henry looked while setting those records.
At 6”,3 and 240lbs, “larger back” doesn’t do his sheer size for a running back any justice.
Many scouts weren’t convinced Henry’s skill set wouldn’t translate well to the NFL. However, Tennessee took him in the 2nd round of the 2015 draft and have committed to catering their offense to what Henry does best. It’s no surprise Henry has been a key part of three playoff appearances in five seasons as a pro.
Derrick Henry enjoyed the most dominant season by a running back in school history. He dragged a pretty average Alabama offense to a national title in 2015. Making Derrick Henry the best Alabama Crimson Tide player in the Nick Saban era…
So far…
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