In the pantheon of college football greatness, few names shine brighter than Nick Saban. With a career that includes seven national championships—six of them at Alabama—Saban has redefined excellence on and off the gridiron. His ability to identify, recruit, and develop talent at an elite level has not only propelled the Crimson Tide to unprecedented heights but has also shaped the futures of hundreds of players who passed through his program.
Over the years, Saban has coached some of the most electrifying and accomplished players in college football history. Yet, when asked in a recent interview to name his five favorite players to coach at Alabama, Saban offered a deeply insightful look into what truly resonates with him as a coach. His answers weren’t based purely on stats or NFL Draft status. Instead, he highlighted work ethic, leadership, consistency, humility, and the burning desire to improve—qualities that align with Saban’s famous “Process” philosophy.
Let’s dive into the five players Nick Saban called his favorite to coach and examine why each one earned that distinction.
1. Julio Jones – The Blueprint of a Culture Change
When Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007, Alabama was a proud program in search of a revival. And while Saban’s presence alone began to turn the tide (no pun intended), his first true landmark moment came with the recruitment of Julio Jones.
A five-star wide receiver from Foley, Alabama, Jones committed to the Crimson Tide in 2008. He was Saban’s first major recruiting win in the state and marked a pivotal turning point for Alabama’s recruiting dominance.
“Julio was the guy who started it all,” Saban said. “He changed the perception of what Alabama could be again. He was all business. He worked like a pro from the day he arrived.”
Jones was everything Saban dreamed of in a player: physically gifted, yes, but even more so, relentlessly focused. He showed up early to workouts, never cut corners, and never cared for the limelight.
In three seasons, Jones caught 179 passes for 2,653 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was instrumental in Alabama’s undefeated 2009 national championship season. His toughness—playing through multiple injuries—earned the respect of every teammate and coach.
“Julio was a silent leader,” Saban added. “He let his actions speak. And those actions screamed ‘greatness.’”
For Saban, Julio Jones was more than a receiver—he was a foundation.
2. Mark Ingram – The Heisman Workhorse
While Jones helped elevate Alabama’s recruiting cachet, it was Mark Ingram who delivered the first Heisman Trophy in program history. The running back from Flint, Michigan, wasn’t even the top recruit in Alabama’s 2008 class, but his rise to stardom perfectly aligned with Saban’s ethos of daily improvement.
“Mark was a self-made guy,” Saban explained. “He worked for everything. He was passionate about being great and was one of the most coachable kids I ever had.”
Ingram rushed for 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2009, leading Alabama to a national title and capturing the Heisman. But beyond the numbers, Saban saw in Ingram a unique combination of humility, fire, and focus.
“He came from a tough background, and you could see how much he appreciated the opportunity,” Saban said. “He wasn’t flashy. He was dependable, and he showed up every single day with the right mindset.”
Ingram’s leadership extended beyond the field. Teammates fed off his energy, and his love for Alabama football was contagious.
“He embodied the spirit of the program,” Saban continued. “He didn’t care about stats or awards. He just wanted to win.”
3. Dont’a Hightower – The Commander in the Middle
Every great defense needs a general, and for Nick Saban’s most dominant units, that commander was often Dont’a Hightower. Recruited out of Tennessee in 2008, Hightower quickly established himself as one of the smartest and toughest players on the field.
“Dont’a was one of the most instinctive linebackers I’ve ever coached,” Saban said. “He knew what was coming before the snap. He was like having a coach out there.”
Hightower’s ability to diagnose plays, align the defense, and set the tone physically made him indispensable. In 2011, as the captain of a defense widely considered one of the best in college football history, Hightower led Alabama to a national title and allowed just 8.2 points per game.
“He was relentless,” Saban noted. “He played through pain. He studied film like a pro. He challenged his teammates to be better.”
Hightower’s influence extended to the NFL, where he went on to become a multiple-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, a team whose culture mirrored many of Saban’s values.
“Bill [Belichick] and I have talked about Dont’a,” Saban revealed. “We both agreed—he’s one of the smartest football minds we’ve ever coached.”
4. Tua Tagovailoa – The Undeniable Spark
For all the defensive juggernauts and power run teams Saban built early in his Alabama tenure, the arrival of Tua Tagovailoa ushered in a new era. A left-handed quarterback from Hawaii with a cannon arm and magnetic charisma, Tua changed how Alabama played—and won.
“Tua brought joy to the game,” Saban said. “He played with heart, with instinct, and with a love that was contagious. And he could process the game at an elite level.”
Tagovailoa’s most famous moment came in the 2017 national championship game. As a true freshman, he came off the bench at halftime and led Alabama to a comeback win over Georgia, throwing a 41-yard game-winning touchdown in overtime.
“That throw… that moment… it was special,” Saban recalled. “But what people don’t see is all the preparation that went into it. He was ready because he always prepared like the starter.”
Beyond his arm and accuracy, Saban praised Tagovailoa’s leadership and resilience. He battled through injuries and setbacks but remained an unwavering team-first player.
“Tua made everyone around him better,” Saban said. “He loved his teammates, loved Alabama, and always stayed humble.”
5. Jonathan Allen – The Relentless Technician
In a program known for producing dominant defensive linemen, Jonathan Allen stands apart. The Virginia native redshirted his first year in 2013, then blossomed into the nation’s top interior defensive player by his senior year.
“Jonathan Allen was a technician,” Saban said. “Every single rep he took in practice was like a game rep. He had incredible attention to detail.”
Allen’s stats speak volumes—152 tackles, 44.5 tackles for loss, and 28 sacks over his Alabama career—but it was his leadership and toughness that made him a Saban favorite.
“He played with passion and precision,” Saban noted. “He set the tone in the weight room, in meetings, in practice. He was never satisfied.”
In 2016, Allen won the Bednarik and Nagurski Awards, recognizing him as the nation’s top defensive player. He could have declared for the NFL after his junior season but returned to Alabama to finish what he started.
“That decision said everything about him,” Saban explained. “He was loyal, driven, and respected the process.”
The Common Thread: Process, Not Promises
While the players span different eras, positions, and backgrounds, they share common qualities—discipline, consistency, humility, and a love for the grind. For Saban, these attributes transcend stats and draft status.
“These guys bought into the process,” he said. “They didn’t want promises. They wanted coaching. They wanted to be great.”
Nick Saban’s legacy at Alabama is more than national titles and NFL draft picks. It’s rooted in a culture that demands excellence every day, and the players who embrace that culture rise to the top in his eyes.
And while Saban has coached a long list of All-Americans and first-round picks, the players he remembers most are the ones who made his job a joy—because they shared his vision, matched his intensity, and left everything on the field.
Honorable Mentions: The Tide of Talent
Though Saban was asked to name five, he couldn’t help but mention others who left lasting impressions:
- Jalen Hurts – “The way he handled losing his starting job and still supported the team… pure class.”
- Minkah Fitzpatrick – “A perfectionist. He studied like a pro. Played with his heart on fire.”
- CJ Mosley – “One of the smartest defenders I’ve had. Total pro.”
- Landon Dickerson – “Tough as nails. Funny guy. Kept the locker room loose and focused.”
A Final Reflection
With Nick Saban stepping away from the sidelines after the 2023 season, this moment of reflection provides fans a rare window into his heart. For a coach so often associated with discipline and intensity, hearing him talk about his favorite players with warmth and admiration reminds us: college football isn’t just about wins and trophies. It’s about relationships, growth, and shared pursuit of excellence.
“At the end of the day,” Saban said, “the wins are great. But the greatest joy is seeing young men grow into leaders, husbands, fathers. That’s the legacy that matters.