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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an excerpt from The Tuscaloosa News’ commemorative book on Nick Saban and his Alabama football dynasty. The complete top 10 Alabama players from the Saban era with expanded content on them, as well as top games, ranking of all his seasons and much more can be found in the book. You can order the book online at: Sabanbook.com.
Being a great coach is a byproduct of the play of great players, and Nick Saban had some of the best over his dynasty seasons with Alabama football. Here are the five best players for the Crimson Tide from the Saban era.
1. DeVonta Smith
WR, 2017-20
The evolution of Alabama’s style of dominance throughout the Saban era is most tangibly demonstrated by Smith. He was the model as Alabama became a destination for the sport’s most dynamic wide receivers. Smith arrived weighing 159 pounds and graduated weighing 170. Undersized at 6-foot but elusive, he stamped his place in Crimson Tide history as a true freshman with his championship-winning touchdown catch in overtime against Georgia.
By the time his college career ended three seasons later, he was the first receiver to win the Heisman Trophy in 30 years. The size question always followed Smith. When Saban was asked about it on the “Rich Eisen Show” in 2021, he said, “The ball weighs 13 ounces. How big do you have to be to carry it?”
Height: 6-1
Number: 6
Hometown/high school: Amite, La./Amite
Stats: 54 games, 235 receptions, 3,965 yards receiving, 46 receiving TDs.
Honors: Heisman Trophy (2020), first-team All-America (‘20), first-team All-SEC (’19, ‘20), SEC Offensive POY (’20), Biletnikoff Award (’20), Walter Camp POY (’20), Maxwell Award (’20), Paul Hornung Award (’20), Associated Press POY (’20)
National titles: 2017, ‘20
Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) evades a tackle on his way to scoring a…
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Author : The Tuscaloosa News
Publish date : 2024-04-11 09:08:56
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