5x5: The Best Alabama Interior Linebackers During the Nick Saban Era

Five different ways to rate the top players at each position for the Crimson Tide during the greatest dynasty in college football history.

Chuck Cook / USA Today Sports

Here's one of those trivia questions in which the setup is telling by itself, but then in a way makes it tougher to come up with the correct answer. 

During the Nick Saban era, an interior linebacker led the team in tackles, or was at least tied, during every national championship season. Who was it in 2020? (Or if you want to be mean have your intended target list them all.)

The correct answer is Dylan Moses, who had 80 tackles during his senior season. He also led the Crimson Tide in the statistical category as a sophomore in 2018, with 86. 

If the 80 and 86 totals seem a little low, they should. Under Saban, Alabama's had numerous interior linebackers top 100 when leading the the Crimson Tide, and not just during title-winning seasons. 

For example, two years ago, Henry To'oTo'o totaled 112, the second most of anyone during that time span (since 2007), although he had the benefit of playing in 15 games as Alabama reached the National Championship Game. 

In 2017, Rashaan Evans tied safety Ronnie Harrison for the team lead with 74. 

However, in 2011, with the defense that led college football in the four major defensive categories (total, scoring, rushing and passing efficiency), becoming only the second team in history to pull off that accomplishment, Dont'a Hightower had just 85 tackles. He did so while playing just 13 games, though. 

Regardless, five times the Crimson Tide has been led outright by a safety in tackles during the Saban era, the first four being Rashad Johnson (2007), Mark Barron (2010), Landon Collins (2014), and Xavier McKinney (2019) — resulting in no national titles.

The fifth was last season. Defensive back DeMarcco Hellams had 108 tackles in 13 games, including a team-high 67 solo, with To'oTo'o second with 93, followed by two more defensive backs, Brian Branch (90) and Jordan Battle (90).  

The Best Alabama Interior Linebackers of the Nick Saban Era

Five different ways to rate the top players at each position for the Crimson Tide during the greatest dynasty in college football history.

Recruiting

The top 5 interior linebacker prospects when signing with the Crimson Tide:

1. Reuben Foster, 2013
2. Ben Davis, 2016
3. Nico Johnson, 2009
4. Trey DePriest. 2011
5. Demouy Kennedy, 2020

This is one of those positions in which the next five is about as noteworthy:

Reggie Ragland, 2012
Deontae Lawson, 2021
Shawn Murphy, 2022
Shane Lee, 2019
C.J. Mosley, 2010

Alabama Athletics

Key Statistic

For interior linebackers it has to be tackles. Here are the interior linebackers who have had the most while also leading the team during the Saban era:

1. Reuben Foster, 2016, 115
2. Henry To'oTo'o, 2021, 112
3. C.J Mosley, 2013, 108
4. C.J. Mosley, 2012, 107
5. Rolando McClain, 2009, 105

Note: Reggie Ragland just missed the top 5 with 102 in 2015. 

Alabama Athletics

Awards

Major honors won by interior linebackers during the Saban era:

Butkus Award (Outstanding linebacker)

2016 – Reuben Foster, Alabama.
2013 – C.J. Mosley, Alabama
2009 – Rolando McClain, Alabama

SEC Defensive Player of the Year (interior linebackers)

2015 Reggie Ragland
2013 C.J. Mosley (tie)
2009 Rolando McClain

First-Team All American 

2009 Rolando McClain (unanimous)
2011 Dont'a Hightower (consensus)
2012 C.J. Mosley (consensus)
2013 C.J. Mosley (unanimous)
2014 Trey DePriest
2015 Reggie Ragland (unanimous)
2016 Reuben Foster (unanimous)
2017 Rashaan Evans
2020 Dylan Moses

SEC

NFL Draft

Alabama has had five interior linebackers selected in the first round during the Saban years: 

1. Rolando McClain, Oakland Raiders, 2010, 8th overall
2. Reuben Foster, San Francisco 49ers, 2017, 13th overall
3. C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens, 2014, 17th overall
4. Rashaan Evans, Tennessee Titans, 2018, 22nd overall
5. Dont'a Hightower, New England Patriots, 2012, 25th overall

Alabama Athletics

Overall

The nod goes to the Butkus Award winner who was a two-time All-American:

1. C.J. Mosley 
2. Rolando McClain
3. Reuben Foster
4. Dont'a Hightower
5. Reggie Ragland 

This is the seventh story in the 5x5 series, which will continue throughout July. Check out:

Offense

Centers
Tackles
Tight ends

Defense

Defensive ends
Cornerbacks

Special Teams