Nick Saban Talks Jalen Hurts' Extension, "Selling Points" to Quarterback Recruits

Saban opened up to "The Next Round" about the impact of former Alabama quarterbacks' success in the NFL has on recruiting future quarterbacks to the Crimson Tide.

© Mickey Welsh

The Alabama Crimson Tide wasn't ever considered "QBU" — until perhaps now.

The last three quarterbacks to come through Tuscaloosa — Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones — are all starters in the NFL.

The latest, Bryce Young, is expected to go No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft next week.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban went on "The Next Round" on Wednesday afternoon. One of the talking points? Hurts' five-year, $255 million contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles — the largest in NFL history.

"First of all, we’re happy for Jalen and his family that he’s been rewarded," Saban said. “You couldn’t find a better guy, can’t find a better leader, can’t find a more determined, hardworking guy that’s got great sense of purpose and not only understands what he wants to do, but he has a willingness to do all the things he needed to do to develop and get it done."

"My hat’s off to him. They had a great year, the Eagles, this year and he had a great year, and we’re just happy that the organization recognized the fact that he’s gonna be their quarterback for a long time."

All of this quarterback success has an impact on Saban's recruiting of quarterbacks.

"I don’t think there’s any question about the fact that the last three quarterbacks we have had at Alabama are all starters in the league, including Jalen, and Bryce may be the first guy picked in the draft,” Saban said. “I think all those things are selling points to guys that want to have a career and develop a career – really at any position but especially at the quarterback position. It speaks volumes to the sort of offense that we’ve had that’s quarterback-friendly, and the receivers that we’ve also had that have been very successful, as well."

Young, who is the odds-on favorite to be selected with the top pick by the Carolina Panthers on April 27, is the latest star of an exceptional streak of signal-callers for the Crimson Tide.

"We’re excited for Bryce,” Saban said. “We’re certainly hopeful that everything works out for him. I don’t think there’s any question about the fact that most people agree he was the most productive in the draft at that position. But they take size and all that kind of stuff into consideration."

“It’s not where you get picked in the draft, though, it’s really what kind of career you have, and he’s the kind of guy that whatever happens in this, he’s gonna be very dedicated to trying to be the best player that he can be.”

See Also:

Nick Saban on Georgia, College Football: "We Need to Try and Take It Back"

Tua Tagovailoa Considered Retirement, Will Continue Career Despite Injury Concerns

Alabama Football's Justin Eboigbe Looking Forward to Returning from Neck Injury