Drake Maye recalls decommitting from Alabama, telling 'the GOAT' Nick Saban: 'Dreaded it for a while'

Drake Maye is expected to the a top-three pick on Thursday night and after Roger Goodell says his name, “Quarterback, North Carolina” will be his next three words. But once upon a time, Maye was an Alabama pledge and committed to play for Nick Saban. One decommitment later though and Maye stuck to his family’s preferred Carolina Blue.

Calling Saban to inform him of his commitment was no easy task for Maye. The move wound up working for both sides in the end but informing Saban — who Maye called the greatest of all time — you will not be playing for him is a tough assignment.

“It was tough,” Maye said. “I dreaded it for a while. Coach Saban, he was one of my favorites in the recruiting process. So, having to tell him that I’m going to stay home was tough. But I think Coach Saban understood. Maybe it would have worked out a little differently but at the same time, Coach Saban, I think he’s the GOAT of college football. He turned out alright.”

Per the On3 Industry Rankings, Maye wound up being the No. 8 quarterback in the 2021 recruiting class. Alabama took his commitment in the summer of 2019, around a year and a half before National Signing Day. He was the top guy on Saban’s board with current Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, something he admitted this past September.

“You know North Carolina’s quarterback? He was committed here. Drake Maye,” Saban said. “And for quite some time. I think Jalen Milroe had committed to Texas. Drake Maye was one, Jalen Milroe was two, and we were going to go down this quarterback line to see who hit. So, when we got Drake Maye, we lost Jalen Milroe.”

Maye’s decommitment wound up causing a few dominoes, with the biggest one being Milroe flipping from Texas to Alabama. Saban did not specifically recall the conversation he had with Maye but did understand wanting to play for your family’s favorite school.

“Then, Maye switched to North Carolina,” Saban said. “Which, his whole family — brother played basketball, parents both went there,” Saban said. “So, I got that. Then we went back to Jalen and said ‘we’d still love to have you come to Alabama.’ And he still wanted to come. So, it was great.”

Both parties have to be happy with how things turned out. Maye developed nicely at North Carolina under Mack Brown and now has a chance to be picked as high as No. 2 in the 2024 NFL Draft. Maybe there will be some draft night drama surrounding who picks Maye.

Alabama got a good deal too, starting Milroe during the 2023 season. He grew into a leader after early struggles and led the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff.