With Coach Nick Saban set to enter the College Football Hall of Fame, one question looms large: Who is the best player he ever coached?
Spanning his incredible career from Michigan State to LSU, the Miami Dolphins and Alabama, Saban has mentored countless elite athletes. Now, it’s our station’s turn to weigh in. From Heisman winners to dominant defenders, our staff from 104.5 ESPN shares who stands out as the ultimate Saban-coached star.
Jacob Hester, Co-Host Off the Bench: Overall best: Derrick Henry. He’s literally a physical freak. He shouldn’t be able to do the things he does at the running back position. You’re not supposed to be able to play at RB being that tall and giant. It’s the ultimate leverage position, but he’s truly a one of one and does whatever he wants.
T-Bob Hebert, Co-Host, Off the Bench: Derrick Henry is the best player Nick Saban ever coached simply because he is the largest. It should be impossible to be that big and that fast. Many will talk about the awards he won or the records he set, but being 6-4 250 pounds and running a 4.5 40 is mind boggling.
Taylor Sharp, Video Producer, Off the Bench: I’m going Julio Jones. One of the first big time recruits he landed at Alabama and was a staple on Saban’s early national championship teams. He was also a stud in the NFL.
Alondra Villarreal, Audio Producer, Off the Bench: Obligatory answer is Jacob Hester. Real answer is Derrick Henry.
Charles Hanagriff, Co-Host, Live at Lunch: The first name that came to mind was Derrick Henry, followed by Julio Jones, Patrick Surtain, and Andrew Whitworth. The best player he had at Michigan State was probably Plaxico Burress.
Jimmy Ott, Co-Host, Live at Lunch: Julio Jones
Hunt Palmer, Host, The Hunt Palmer Show: Josh Reed, Chance Warmack, and Julio Jones come immediately to mind, but I have to go with Derrick Henry. The guy was a five-star recruit who ended up posting a 2,219 yard, 28 TD Heisman season.
He won the Doak Walker, Walter Camp, and Maxwell awards. And his pro career more than validates his collegiate greatness.
Matt Moscona, Host, After Further Review: Since Andrew Whitworth seems destined for Canton, I’ll give the dominant offensive lineman the nod. He started 52 games at LSU and 235 across a 16 year NFL career. He was an anchor on the 2003 National Championship team and punctuated his career by becoming the oldest offensive lineman ever to play in and win a Super Bowl.
Paul O’Neill, Video Producer, After Further Review: Andrew Whitworth
Matthew Musso, Audio Producer, After Further Review: Derrick Henry. 2015 is obviously the year everyone thinks about but Henry amassed over 3,500 rush yards and 42 rushing touchdowns in three years at Bama. He made an impact from the jump, even being behind some really talented backs. 2015 is what puts him over the top, though. 2,219 rush yards, an SEC record. 28 rushing touchdowns, an SEC record. Heisman Trophy winner over Christian McCaffrey and DeShaun Watson. Carried Alabama to the national championship and in the process also took home the Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award, and the Walter Camp Award. He was First-Team All-SEC and an unanimous All-American. Henry is arguably Saban’s most decorated player. Finally, everything he did at Alabama has carried on to the NFL, which hasn’t always been the case with Nick Saban running backs.
Chris Marler, SEC Content Producer, LouisianaSports.net: Julio Jones will probably get a lot of votes here, and he was incredible for Nick Saban. However, that’s the wrong answer. He was the most important player of the Saban era at Alabama because of what it meant for recruiting success. However, the best player under Nick Saban was Devonta Smith. He was a two time national champion with a Heisman trophy and a walk-off touchdown in the natty. He was best against elite competition and in big moments too.
