My favorite players to ever play for Alabama:
Staff
HC: Nick Saban
OC: Steve Sarkisian
DC: Kirby Smart
Honorable Mention(s): Lane Kiffin, Jeremy Pruitt
I had to think about the OC for a little bit, but the offense under Sarkisian was so much more consistent than with Kiffin. The 2020 offensive product was probably the best of all time, but the 2015 Kiffin offense had its strengths, especially in the run game.
QBs
1st Team: Tua Tagovailoa
2nd Team: Bryce Young
Honorable Mention(s): Mac Jones, Jalen Milroe
Many argue that Bryce Young was a better college QB, and there definitely were some things he did better. He is one of the best scramblers I have ever seen, ad he was much more durable than Tua.
However, Tua will always have a special place in my heart for leading Alabama to the championship win in 2017 when he took over for Jalen Hurts. He was the first great QB I had ever seen at Bama, and he was the best QB in college football before his many injuries prevented him from winning another championship.
Mac Jones was amazing in his lone season as the starter. He was able to lead the historic 2020 team to a championship, and posted one of the highest QBRs of all time. I do think though, he benefited from his talent around him, and poor COVID defenses more than either of the other QBs did.
Jalen Milroe isn’t particularly close to the other three QBs in skill, but I still like him. I think he has proven that he is a hard worker, and he has a fun personality. He also threw one my favorite passes in Alabama history as they won last year’s Iron Bowl. If he turns into a Heisman contender this year, he may be able to push Bryce Young for the second team spot.
RBs
1st Team: Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs
2nd Team: Najee Harris, TJ Yeldon
Honorable Mention(s): Jahmyr Gibbs, Kenyan Drake
This may be the most consistent position at Alabama, at least in my lifetime. Generally, my favorite RBs are the workhorse power backs, and Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs were the best at it. Jacobs was a pretty good receiver as well. Derrick Henry wasn’t my favorite originally, but since watching him dominate with the Titans, he has become my favorite football player and favorite pro athlete in general.
TJ Yeldon was my first favorite player when I was little, and Najee Harris has one of my favorite plays ever, the hurdle against Notre Dame.
Jahmyr Gibbs was definitely unique when compared to the other backs in that he was mainly a speed guy and a very good receiver. Drake was probably the worst out of these RBs, but I will always remember him for his iconic kickoff return versus Clemson in the championship.
WRs
1st Team: Jaylen Waddle, Jerry Jeudy, Calvin Ridley
2nd Team: Devonta Smith, Amari Cooper, Jameson Williams
Honorable Mention(s): A’Darrius Stewart, John Metchie II, Henry Ruggs III
Another elite group. 7 of these players were first rounders and the other two were also drafted in the early rounds. Waddle might be my favorite because of his game breaking speed and he has continued to be one of my favorites with the Dolphins. Jerry Jeudy and Calvin Ridley were very similar players in that they were great at making moves after the catch.
I really love Devonta Smith, but he just didn’t quite have as many cool moves as Jeudy or Ridley. Amari Cooper may be the best receiver on the list, but I was really little when I was watching him, and Bama didn’t have the same kind of offense in 2014. Jameson Williams was possibly the best deep threat of the group, and Bama would have won a championship with him had he stayed healthy.
I really liked Stewart’s toughness, but he didn’t quite make it in the NFL. Metchie was always a super reliable option, and Ruggs was an absolute burner.
TEs
1st Team: OJ Howard
2nd Team: Irv Smith Jr
Honorable Mention(s): Amari Niblack
OJ Howard had some amazing performances in the playoffs in both 2015 and 2016, and he is definitely my favorite. With Irv Smith’s smaller size, he honestly seemed like another receiver to me, but he was also really good.
Niblack was my favorite receiver last year, and it breaks my heart that he’s going to Texas this season, but he was always fun to watch.
OL
1st Team: Landon Dickerson, Evan Neal, Jonah Williams, Bradley Bozeman, Tyler Booker
2nd Team: Alex Leatherwood, Ross Piersbacher, Ryan Kelly, Cam Robinson, JC latham
Honorable Mention(s): Lester Cotton
I don’t remember many details about many of these lineman, as they rarely see the spotlight, but there are two that I especially appreciate. Landon Dickerson may be the funniest football player ever with his little dances and his cartwheels, and Tyler Booker is a great leader, and he has some really good interviews.
DL
1st Team: Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Christian Barmore
2nd Team: Quinnen Williams, Phil Mathis, A’Shawn Robinson
Honorable Mention(s): Raekwon Davis
The D-line has been really good for years. I will always remember Jonathan Allen’s superman sack,Daron Payne’s playoff performances, and Christian Barmore’s post game speech after beating Ohio State in the championship.
Quinnen Williams may have been consistently the best out of all the lineman, but he didn’t have as many memorable moments. Phil Mathis, Robinson, and Davis were all really good, but none quite reached the same level of stardom.
LBs
1st Team: Will Anderson Jr, Anfernee Jennings, Reuben Foster, Deiontae Lawson
2nd Team: Reggie Ragland, Terrell Lewis, Dallas Turner, Rashaan Evans
Honorable Mention(s): Dylan Moses
Will Anderson Jr might be the best college football player I have seen in my life. He was a great pass rusher, run defender, and team leader. I really think he should have won the Heisman in 2021 instead of Bryce Young. Anfernee Jennings always had great effort, and I loves the speed that he played with. Reuben Foster was a monster on the field with great hit power. Deiontae Lawson impresses me with his great football IQ and his all-around really good game.
Ragland was a great big bitter just like Foster. Terrell Lewis was good, but not quite as consistent as the others. Dallas Turner was one of the best pass rushers I’ve ever seen at Alabama, and Rashaan Evans was a stud.
Dylan Moses was really good, but injuries prevented him from making a huge impact.
CBs
1st Team: Terrion Arnold, Trevon Diggs
2nd Team: Patrick Surtain II, Kool-Aid McKinstry
Honorable Mention(s): Jalyn Armour-Davis, Josh Jobe
Terrion Arnold is one of my favorite players of all time. He seems like a great guy, and he is a great at interviews. He went from a corner that was constantly exploited to a 1st round pick in one year, and his story is a great one. Trevon Diggs was always exciting, and I love how aggressive he was on the ball.
Patrick Surtain II is probably the best corner on the list, but he didn’t quite have as many memorable plays. Kool-Aid definitely has the best name on the list, and he was consistently great.
Jalyn Armour-Davis and Josh Jobe were good, but they weren’t quite All-American level.
S
1st Team: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Jordan Battle
2nd Team: Eddie Jackson, Malachi Moore
Honorable Mention(s): Xavier McKinney, Brian Branch, Deionte Thompson
Fitzpatrick might be the best college saftey of all time. I haven’t done any research, but he’s up there. Jordan Battle made some great plays against Georgia in his career, and he was a good leader.
Eddie Jackson was an electric returner, and always made a lot of big plays. Malachi Moore makes a lot of big plays, and I’m hoping for an All-American performance this year.
McKinney, Branch, and Thompson were all really good as well
K
1st Team: Will Reichard
No other kicker deserves to be mentioned.
Reichard is the only good kicker Bama has ever had, and I hope he succeeds in the NFL.
P
1st Team: JK Scott
2nd Team: James Burnip
Honorable Mention(s): Charlie Scott
Alabama has a history of great punters, but JK Scott was truly the greatest.
JacobErwin.com 