Alabama's Unsung Inspiration, Michael Nysewander

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — They call him Highway 46.

It's in reference to what he often says on the field, "Highway 70 all the way," about the University of Alabama's line and especially Ryan Kelly. The offense has done a lot of running behind the Rimington Trophy-winning senior center who wears No. 70 this season, while No. 46 has contributed quite a bit as well.

"Nyse is Highway 46 because if you get behind him he's going to block for you," junior tight end O.J. Howard said. "He's going to lead the way, so I think it fits him perfect."

If you've never heard of Michael Nysewander, you're not alone. He wasn't recruited by the Crimson Tide, walking on after playing at Hoover High School just outside of Birmingham, Alabama. He then spent three years on Alabama's scout team before earning a spot on special teams in 2014.

That led to opportunities on offense, as a traditional tight end, H-back and fullback—whatever necessary. Alabama didn't really have a lead blocker for running back Derrick Henry in short-yardage situations, so when Nick Saban offered a chance to play a fifth year on scholarship, Nysewander quickly accepted.

"If I had five more years of eligibility, I think I'd play five more years if I could," he said. "It was really a no-brainer.

"I know when I first came here I tried to set individual goals for myself. I think the first one was I just want Coach Saban to learn my name. Second was to win some scout-team player awards, stuff like that. I've tried to build a little bit as I go, but I think it's been a great career."

Overall, Alabama's unsung hero has played in 21 games, with seven tackles and three receptions, but two have been for touchdowns.

The first came last year against Western Carolina after Alabama had pulled all of its starters. The second was with six minutes and six seconds remaining on the clock in the third quarter of the 34-0 victory over Louisiana-Monroe in September.

Celebrating teammates mobbed Nysewander, and Saban later admitted on his radio show that it almost made him cry on the sideline.

Jonathan Bachman/Associated Press

"He's just one of those throwback players to me," Saban said. "You've got to love him. I get a smile on my face every time I talk about him. He's just a tough grinder.”

Although it was his only reception of the 2015 regular season, time and time again No. 46 was on the field when the Crimson Tide had a big play. One of the more noticeable was on Henry's third touchdown run against LSU when Nysewander provided the lead block.

"He flattened the guy. He knocked the guy down and pancaked him," Howard said before laughing at the memory.

"He started high-stepping. The celebration was pretty funny too."

The friendly grief from teammates was, as Nysewander explained, because "standing next to Derrick, who's 6'3", and my short, little legs going about a million miles per hour."

Although the 2015-16 Crimson Tide will be forever remembered for their impressive title run and Henry's Heisman Trophy, the seniors had already accomplished quite a lot, including at least one national championship (two for those who redshirted in 2011) and two Southeastern Conference titles before topping Florida for a third.

The worst postseason game that any of them played in was the Sugar Bowl. The group also extended Alabama's streak of 10-plus wins in a season to a record eighth straight year.

The class included prominent names like Kelly, Reggie Ragland and Jarran Reed, who are all expected to be high NFL draft selections in the spring. Linebacker Denzel Devall made his first start as a sophomore in 2013, while players like Kenyan Drake, Darren Lake and Dillon Lee all made their mark.

John Bazemore/Associated Press

But there's a host of other players who worked just as hard without anywhere near the same kind of recognition.

Among them, Parker Barrineau was a regular part of the upper tier in the receiving corps during practices for three years, during which he spent a lot of time helping Alabama's younger players get up to speed and improve.

Unfortunately, surgery to repair a bad cut on his foot slowed the recruited walk-on during training camp of his final season, but he was still a regular on special teams, and most of his playing time on offense had been as a blocker.

In a way, Nysewander's touchdown was for him too, and all of the players who don't get a lot of attention, including the reserves, scout-team regulars, walk-ons and even role players. That's why the whole team got so excited.

"He's everything that anybody thinks that a football player or a competitor should be, in terms of work ethic, doing the right things, always giving 100 percent, always trying to pay attention to do things right, puts the team first all of the time," Saban said. "I think he's very well liked by his teammates. He cares more about the team more than he cares about himself. I don't know if he ever asked a question, 'What about me? How much am I going to play?' He's always, 'What can I do for the team?'

"I can't think of one thing that I would say that if you were looking for the perfect attitude player on your team that he wouldn't fit that. The guy is really tough, and he plays as close to his full potential as anybody on our team because of the character and attitude he competes with."

That's what makes Nysewander so special and why he was voted by teammates the winner of the Crimson Tide's Most Inspiring Player award. He's also a big reason why Saban calls this year's senior class a special one, because a team can't win without players like them.

Not everyone could be Jake Coker or wide receiver Richard Mullaney, graduate transfers filling specific needs. Cyrus Jones and Bradley Sylve switched from wide receiver to cornerback when the Crimson Tide had depth issues in the secondary, and it took a move to free safety for Geno Matias-Smith to land a regular starting spot his final year.

From Alex Harrelson, who filled in two games for long snapper Cole Mazza, to defensive back Jabriel Washington, a lot of seniors played a part in this team's success.

It took a lot more than big bodies like Dominick Jackson and D.J. Pettway for the Crimson Tide to be like a truck barreling through opponents. It took a convoy of players like Nysewander.

"I really like the fight and the grit that this team has," Nysewander said.

"Highway 46," the Heisman winner Henry said with a smile. "I'm rocking with him the whole way."

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.