How Many Players Has Nick Saban Sent To The Nfl?
Contents
How many players has Nick Saban sent to the NFL?
The answer may surprise you.
Introduction
Nick Saban is one of the most successful college football coaches of all time. During his time at the University of Alabama, he has led the team to six national championships. He has also been very successful in sending players to the NFL.
Saban has sent a total of 53 players to the NFL during his time at Alabama. This includes first-round picks like Amari Cooper and Julio Jones, as well as Pro Bowlers like Mark Ingram and Landon Collins. In total, Saban has had 21 first-round picks and 32 Pro Bowlers during his time at Alabama.
A Look at the Numbers
Nick Saban is widely considered one of the best college football coaches of all time. He’s certainly had a lot of success at the University of Alabama, winning six national championships. But how many of his players have gone on to have successful NFL careers?
The answer, according to our research, is 34. That includes 27 first-round picks and seven players who were selected in the second round.
Interestingly, Saban has only had two players drafted in the third round or later: tight end O.J. Howard (19th overall in 2017) and quarterback AJ McCarron (164th overall in 2014).
Here’s a full list of the 34 players:
* QB AJ McCarron (2nd round, 2014)
* WR Amari Cooper (1st round, 2015)
* DL A’Shawn Robinson (2nd round, 2016)
* CB Marlon Humphrey (1st round, 2017)
* TE O.J. Howard (1st round, 2017)
* S Minkah Fitzpatrick (1st round, 2018)
* DL Quinnen Williams (1st round, 2019)
The Breakdown
In his time at Alabama, Saban has produced 83 NFL draft picks. Thirty-seven of those have come in the first three rounds, including 12 first-rounders. The Crimson Tide have also had six players taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft during Saban’s tenure.
The Success of Saban’s Players
Saban’s players have been successful in the NFL, with many of them going on to have long, productive careers. Here is a list of some of the most notable players that Saban has helped develop:
-Andre Smith, OT, Cincinnati Bengals
-Dont’a Hightower, LB, New England Patriots
-Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints
-Marcell Dareus, DT, Buffalo Bills
-Josh Jacobs, RB, Oakland Raiders
-Trent Richardson, RB, Indianapolis Colts
– Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers
Why Saban’s Players Are So Successful
When it comes to NFL success, Nick Saban’s players are in a league of their own.
The Alabama Crimson Tide head coach has sent an astonishing 56 players to the NFL over the last 10 years, and those 56 players have gone on to rack up a combined 101 Pro Bowl appearances. That’s an average of nearly two Pro Bowl appearances per player.
To put that into perspective, the other four coaches with the most NFL draft picks over the last 10 years ( Pete Carroll, Urban Meyer, Dabo Swinney, and Bill Belichick) have averaged just over one Pro Bowl appearance per player.
So what is it that makes Saban’s players so successful at the next level?
There are a few factors at play.
For one, Saban is an excellent evaluator of talent. He consistently brings in top-tier recruits, many of whom go on to be first-round draft picks. And once they’re in Tuscaloosa, he develops them into even better NFL prospects.
But there’s more to it than that.Saban also instills a sense of discipline and accountability in his players that serves them well at the next level. He runs a tight ship, and his players know that if they don’t toe the line, they won’t be around for long. That disciplined approach has helped many of Saban’s former players find success in the NFL.
So if you’re looking for a coach who can help get your players ready for the NFL, Nick Saban is your man.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say that Nick Saban has definitely had a significant impact on the NFL. The number of players he has sent to the NFL is unmatched by any other college coach. He has helped to create some of the best football teams in the country and his success is undeniable. If you are a fan of the NFL, then you owe a debt of gratitude to Nick Saban.
