All-Americans, All-SEC players, Heisman Trophy winners, and, of course, national champions are among the guys on this list.
The Alabama Crimson Tide emblem is shown on the field at the Georgia Dome on December 4, 2015, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, in before of the SEC Championship on Saturday.
Credit Required: John David Mercer
http://halftimesportnews.comSeveral of the finest college football players in history have come from the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Bear Bryant or even Nick Saban weren’t the first in Alabama’s history to produce outstanding athletes. It had begun far earlier than that.
All-Americans, All-SEC players, Heisman Trophy winners, and, of course, national champions are among the guys on this list. They all played for some of the best coaches in collegiate football history as well as Alabama football history.
Many of them would also go on to have prosperous NFL careers.
Let’s look at the best football players to ever attend the University of Alabama.at Tuscaloosa. Their influence is still felt today and in the future on college football and other sports.
You might not be aware of Don Hutson’s legacy unless you are an authentic historian of Alabama football. Under head coach Frank Thomas, Hutson played football for Bear Bryant in the 1930s.
He was among the inaugural Crimson Tide All-Americans and went on to play a fantastic NFL career with the Green Bay Packers.
Before a man by the name of Jerry Rice emerged, he was the all-time top wide receiver in the NFL.
Among the icons who established the current Alabama football legacy was Hutson
Alabama gained notoriety thanks to those teams during the late 1920s and early 1930s.
When Alabama traveled to the West Coast and defeated Washington in the Rose Bowl, it challenged the perception that most of your supposedly great teams were from the North.
At the Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony, John Hannah gives a speech. Schickler/Wikimedia is credited.
John Hannah is where the conversation starts and finishes when discussing the greatest offensive lineman in Alabama history. Hannah was an All-American in 1971 and 1972 while playing under Bear Bryant in the 1970s.
He had a fantastic career with the New England Patriots after being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999. Hannah, according to Bryant, was the best lineman he had ever taught.
When Dwight Stephenson chose to attend Tuscaloosa University, he carried on the history of outstanding offensive linemen in AlabamaHannah from the Bryant period.
Ozzie Newsome (82), a receiver for the Alabama Crimson Tide, in action versus the Southern California Trojans. Thank you to Long Photography and USA TODAY Sports.
Without including The Wizard of Oz, this list wouldn’t be complete. On an Alabama Crimson Tide squad that wasn’t well-known for its losses, Newsome was a two-time All-American and national title winner. Actually, throughout Newsome’s time in college, Bryant was running the wishbone.
That didn’t stop Newsom from finishing his college career with 16 touchdowns and over 2,000 receiving yards. Bryant, who also played with Don Hutson, claimed that Newsome was the best player to ever play for the team. He went on to have an incredible NFL career with the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens as an executive.
The College Football Hall of Fame inducted Newsome in 1994.
David Palmer, a wide receiver for the Alabama Crimson, carries the ball during the 1993 Sugar Bowl. Photograph by RVR Photos/USA TODAY Sports
One of the most thrilling athletes in Alabama football history was David Palmer, better known by his nickname “The Deuce.” He was always a threat to score and dangerous whenever he touched the ball.
After transferring from quarterback to wide receiver in high school, Palmer terrified defensive coordinators all around the nation.
He’s frequently the first person mentioned when discussing the most exciting player to have ever played in Tuscaloosa.
Under Gene Stallings, Palmer won a national championship in 1992 and was named an All-American in 1993. Palmer finished third in the Heisman voting in 1993 despite accumulating over 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
After scoring a touchdown against the Auburn Tigers, Mark Ingram, 22, of the Alabama Crimson Tide, celebrates. Credit: USA TODAY Sports/John Reed
For the first-ever Alabama Heisman Trophy winner, a No. 6 ranking may seem low, and that’s understandable.
Even though Alabama has a long and distinguished history, no one had won the Heisman Trophy before 2009, when Ingram became the first. With more than 1,600 yards and 17 touchdowns from his rushing game during that Heisman season, Ingram helped the Alabama football team win its first national title since 1992.
He continued to have a lengthy NFL career, primarily with the New Orleans Saints, and most recently joined Fox Sports as a college football pundit, even though some have since questioned whether he deserved the accolade.
Pitcher Warren Moon of the Houston Oilers attempts to pass the ball against defender Derrick Thomas of the Kansas City Chiefs. Credit: USA TODAY Sports/Herb Weitman
There’s a fair chance that Alabama supporters will cite Derrick Thomas as the all-time finest defensive player.
Thomas broke numerous Crimson Tide defensive records that he still owns in addition to becoming an All-American. To what extent was Thomas up to par? In one season, he recorded 27 sacks.
Yes, you did read that right, 27.
Will Anderson’s 17.5 sack total in 2021 is the closest to his record. For every defensive player in Alabama, Thomas is the ideal defensive player.
We shall always remember his leadership, both on and off the field.
Head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide Nick Saban converses with Joe Namath at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Photo by Butch Dill for USA TODAY Sports
In the 1960s, Joe “Willie” Namath, arguably the most well-known Alabama football alum, elevated Alabama football to a national prominence.
Furthermore, he was a formidable opponent even if he doesn’t possess any of the school’s passing records.
Not only could his arm kill, but his legs could too.
The story of Namath began when he was intended to enroll at Maryland but was turned down. After meeting Bear Bryant, he was named Alabama’s starting quarterback.
The legends of Bart Starr and Namath are the origins of great Alabama quarterbacking. He also started the custom of wearing No
Following his stellar time at Alabama, Joe Namath cemented his legacy with a Super Bowl III victory with the New York Jets.
After snagging a pass behind Ohio State defender Shaun Wade, wide receiver DeVonta Smith of Alabama sprints upfield. Photograph by Kyle Robertson for The Columbus Dispatch
As a rookie in the 2018 National Championship Game against Georgia, DeVonta Smith caught the game-winning touchdown pass, proving to be special. The majority of Alabama’s receiving records were broken by Smitty, as he is known, after that. Thanks to his then-unprecedented 1,800 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns, he also won the
Heisman Trophy and became an All-American. Looking at Smith, you would never have imagined that such a small man could have such a profound effect.
Despite playing with Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy, and Jaylen Waddle on the same team, Smith emerged as the team’s main danger. Furthermore, Smith would be wide open if you were to double one of the other wideouts.
Attempting to protect him still gives SEC defenders nightmares.
In the game versus Tennessee at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Alabama running back Derrick Henry scores the game-winning touchdown. Photo courtesy of Montgomery Advertiser-Knoxville and Mickey Welsh
Derrick Henry was Alabama’s second Heisman Trophy winner.
Like his predecessor Mark Ingram, Henry was an All-American and a formidable player.
His deceiving speed was what made him so excellent. At 250 pounds, Henry was a powerful running back who could outrun you, go past you, or do both at once.
Nick Saban, the head coach of Alabama, saw Henry’s offensive talent even though several coaches preferred him to play defense.
After earning the Heisman Trophy and rushing for over 2,200 yards and 28 touchdowns in his season, he left as the Tide’s all-time leading rusher.
Along with breaking Tim Tebow’s conference touchdown record, he also won a national championship. Henry’s name belongs right up there with the all-time greats in SEC running backs.
Jaylin Simpson, an Auburn cornerback, is outclassed by Alabama quarterback Bryce Young to the end zone. Photograph: USA TODAY Sports/Gary Cosby Jr.
Though there will undoubtedly be disagreements on whether or not Blake Young merits this distinction, we will provide our case.
As head coach Nick Saban’s first overall choice in the NFL draft, he was the last quarterback to defeat the Georgia Bulldogs, the first quarterback from the Alabama Crimson Tide to win the Heisman Trophy, and an All-American and All-SEC selection.
Even though he didn’t start for the Tide and never won a national championship, he did lead them to the SEC Championship and the final game.
.He is among the most dangerous players in college football history due to his prolific passing, which included over 4,800 yards and 47 touchdowns in his Heisman year.
Young became a legend in Alabama football history and cemented his status as one of the team’s all-time favorites with his incredible comeback victory over Auburn in his sophomore year.
His possible NFL success could further solidify his legacy.
