BAMA ON3 SHOW: Breaking down the best Saban era defensive player
The Bama On3 Show is back for Episode 97, which includes Clint Lamb and Jimmy Stein breaking down all the latest happenings surrounding the Alabama football program. Today’s list of topics includes:
- Is Will Anderson the best defensive player of the Nick Saban era?
- What other players should be included in that conversation?
- What do the contenders all have in common?
- All that and more!
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Noteworthy former player to wear the No. 93
If you were to ask an Alabama fan to rank the top-10 players from the Nick Saban era, former defensive lineman Jonathan Allen would probably be somewhere on that list. In fact, I’d even guess that he’d check in a lot closer to No. 1 than he would No. 10. That’s how good the Ashburn (Va.) native was in Tuscaloosa.
Allen was a three-year starter at Alabama. Over his last two seasons alone, he combined for 105 tackles, 30.5 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception. The interception and one of those fumble recoveries were both returned for a defensive touchdown.
For his standout 2016 season, here’s a list of the awards Allen brought home:
- Bronko Nagurski Trophy
- Chuck Bednarik Award
- Lombardi Award
- SEC Defensive Player of the Year
- Unanimous All-American
- First-team All-SEC
Pretty mind-blowing, right?
At one time, Allen was in the conversation to be the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, but arthritis in one shoulder and getting surgery on both caused him to slide down to the Washington Commanders at No. 17 overall. Any concern NFL teams may have had about his future health have since been squashed.
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Over his last four years in the league, Allen has started 64 of a possible 65 regular season games for Washington. He’s totaled 254 tackles, 31.0 tackles for loss and 25.0 sacks to go along with 69 QB hits during that time. Plus, he was just named to his first Pro Bowl this past season.
Allen will forever be a fan favorite. Mostly because of his consistency and leadership, but his infamous “Alabama does” line from back in 2016 also doesn’t hurt.
Other recent Saban, Alabama stories
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