Nick Saban Identifies College Football Star Who Transformed Alabama’s Culture.

Upon Nick Saban’s arrival in 2007, the Alabama Crimson Tide program was considerably different from what fans see today. During Mike Shula’s tenure as head coach, the team only achieved 10 wins in one season, which was in 2005.

Shula experienced six-win seasons in 2004 and 2006, as well as a four-win season in 2003. In Saban’s final season in 2023, he led the team to six national championships and had four players win the Heisman Trophy.

The beginning was marked by the Crimson Tide’s 2008 recruiting class, which featured players such as Mark Ingram II, Courtney Upshaw, Terrance Cody, and Mark Barron. Nonetheless, during a recent segment of “The Pat McAfee Show,” Saban exposed that Julio Jones was the actual cause of the transformation in culture for the wide receiver role and the University of Alabama in general. Saban recalled the time when Jones played in the next game despite having a broken hand.

Jones competed for Alabama from 2008-2010 and accumulated a total of 2,653 receiving yards throughout his time with the team.

Saban said he loved one thing about Julio Jones. Julio Jones altered the receiver position culture at Alabama upon his arrival in our initial recruiting class. This man desired to join the kickoff team. He was inclined to obstruct. He was athletic. He desired the ball. He fractured his hand but still participated in a game. Everyone predicted he would be absent for three to four weeks. “He grabbed the ball and did not grumble.”

Amari Cooper (2012-14), DeVonta Smith (2017-20), Calvin Ridley (2015-17), Jerry Jeudy (2017-19), and Jaylen Waddle (2018-20) are among the receivers who thrived under Nick Saban. Smith received the Heisman, Biletnikoff Award, and Maxwell Award in 2020 and holds the record for most receiving yards in Alabama history with 3,965.

Jones and his recruiting class of 2008 had a quick effect on Alabama, securing a national championship in 2009 by defeating the Texas Longhorns 37-21.

Alabama’s football team, ranked 7th, will go up against the 11th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers in Week 8 for their annual “Third Saturday in October” rivalry game. Saban experienced a lot of triumph against the Volunteers, only suffering one defeat to Tennessee while he was in charge.