BamaCentral marks the end of the Nick Saban coaching era with the definitive rankings of his top 250 players with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Let's be clear on something, Julio Jones could be first on this list. Any discussion about which players had the biggest impact on on Alabama football during the Nick Saban era can easily start with the wide receiver credited with getting the roster really rolling as the coaches' first elite signee and will almost certainly end up enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“Just because Julio isn’t catching balls doesn’t mean he’s not involved,” quarterback Greg McElroy said during the 2009 season. “He’s very involved. There are four eyes on him every time he comes near the ball, the safety and the corner. He makes a difference whether he catches a ball or not. “It’s almost, I don’t want to say disrespect, any time they press Julio without a safety over the top it’s like ‘What are you doing?’ is kind of what I’m thinking in my head,” said McElroy, who proceeded to repeatedly burn the home team by going to his favorite receiver again, and again, and again …
“I’m not surprised anything that Julio does,” said Ingram, who had seen his teammate also endure shoulder, knee and wrist injuries along with a sports hernia. “He’s a warrior. He just goes out and gives his all every time he steps on the field. If he can play, he’s going to play. If he hurts little bit, he’ll play through the pain.”
Jones initially sustained the fracture after making his first reception at South Carolina ealier that Octoebr. His stiff-arm got caught up in the defender who basically tried rip his head off. Consequently, when he and Saban met the next day, the Sunday before visiting Knoxville, Jones asked that the coaching staff not hold him back during practices, that he fully participate and endure the pain. It was the only way he could be ready to face the Volunteers.• Set an Alabama single-season record with 78 catches, to go with 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns
• Made an immediate impact for the 2020 national champions, starting 13 games. He made 52 tackles, 10.5 for loss with seven sacks• Played through Lisfranc injury with at least two torn ligaments suffered in SEC Championship Game. Also played in national title game before having surgery that kept him out of the NFL combine• Finished his career ranked second in Alabama history for career sacks with 28.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Fitzpatrick at Alabama was that Saban had to be talked into recruiting the talented prospect from New Jersey. Once he got on campus, though, and the coaching staff immediately knew knew it had a budding star. He played in 42 games, missing just two against FCS opponents , before turning pro a year early.
2016 season after Jackson got hurt. He also played a lot at star, the extra defensive back in the slot when the nickel package was used in obvious passing situations when that's where he was needed. Physically, those positions took more of a toll on him.
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