ESPN names All-Saban offensive team

It goes without saying that Nick Saban has had some of the greatest players in football history suit up for him during his storied college football coaching career. His pipeline of superstars is the one of the biggest reasons why the he’s won so many national titles.

ESPN‘s Ryan McGee recently decided to compile a list of the greatest offensive players ever to suit up for Saban at the college level. Let’s dive in to see who made the prestigious list.

All-Saban Team Offense

Quarterback

Tua Tagovailoa

He made the All-Saban team and with good reason. Who will forget the dagger he delivered to DeVonta Smith in the 2017 College Football Playoff Championship game versus Georgia?

He spun one of the prettiest spirals the game will ever see during his days at Alabama. The game-winner versus Georgia was a heart-stopping pass that cemented his legacy in college football lore forever. He clearly deserves a spot on the All-Saban team.

Wide Receiver

Julio Jones

There are few articles that sum up the legend of Quintorris Julio Lopez Jones, Jr. quite like this SI piece on him.

In 2010, Auburn safeties somehow stood flat-footed as Julio torched them repeatedly and cemented his legacy in Iron Bowl lore. Jones roasted the Tigers for 10 catches, 199 yards, and one touchdown in a losing effort (28-27). The Tigers’ defensive backs must have lost the scouting report on one of the greatest players ever to suit up at Alabama. Throughout his career with the Crimson Tide, Julio hauled in 179 catches for 2,653 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Of course, Julio makes the All-Saban team.

DeVonta Smith

Nicknamed “The Slim Reaper”, DeVonta Smith put together one of the greatest seasons in college football history in 2020. He carved up defenses to the tune of 117 catches, 1,856 yards, and 23 touchdowns. His incredible 2020 season was good enough to win him the Heisman Trophy and earn his spot on the All-Saban team.

Amari Cooper–When he was a freshman at Alabama, Cooper hauled in 59 catches for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns. The 11 touchdowns broke Alabama’s 62-year old record by Al Lary. Of course, he gets a spot on the All-Saban team.

Running Back

Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry is one of the greatest running backs in football history: high school, college, and pro. In high school, he still owns the national record for career rushing yardage (12,124 yards). His superhuman-like production continued at Alabama. In 2015, he rushed for over 2,200 rushing yards en route to winning the Heisman Trophy. Saban would be proud to have him on the team.

Tight End

O.J. Howard

Howard had his best performances at Alabama when they counted the most–in the national championship games versus Clemson in 2016 and 2017. O.J. roasted Clemson defenders to the tune of 314 receiving yards and three touchdowns in both games. His stats might not blow you away but his freakish athleticism will.

He deserves a spot on the All-Saban team for his performances in the national championship game alone.

Offensive Tackle

Andre Smith

Smith won the Outland Trophy in 2008 for the Tide.

Alex Leatherwood is another talented offensive lineman that made the All-Saban team. Both players were critically important pieces in allowing the skill players at Alabama to set all kinds of records and win championships.

Without players like Leatherwood and Smith, the Tide wouldn’t have been able to win national championships. It all starts upfront and Saban knows that better than anybody.

Offensive Guard

Chance Warmack

Warmack is the kind of 6-3, 323-pound behemoth that you expect on the offensive line at Alabama. He was a unanimous All-American in 2012 and was the 10th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Barrett Jones

Barrett Jones will go down as one of the most versatile offensive linemen in Alabama history. He won the Outland Trophy in 2011 as the nation’s best interior linemen. He played center, right guard, and left tackle during his days at Alabama. Jones was a two-time All-American and did it playing two different positions. That’s really, really hard to do.

Center

Ryan Kelly

He was named a consensus first-team All-American in 2015. Kelly also won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 2015, among several other accolades. Like many of the other offensive linemen on this list, all the greatness that Saban and his teams achieved would not have been possible if it weren’t for him dominating in the trenches.