Alabama Crimson Tide's Rolando McClain Will Not Return for Senior Season

Junior linebacker, All American, and Butkus Award winning Rolando McClain will not return for his senior season at Alabama. He is leaving a group of linebackers that numbered up to 13 at the beginning of practice last year as the unquestioned leader of that group.

Earlier, Rolando had made comments saying how he would love to return to be with a teammate that was lost for almost the whole year, Donta Hightower, and have one more year with him, but this decision came as expected after hearing what stock the NFL had in him and in talking to his coach, Nick Saban.

"Coach tells all of us, if you're a first rounder and that's certain, then you should look at the option of leaving. If you're not, then stay." McClain told me earlier this year.

I guess that's just what he did. Saban had confirmed the notion that McClain would be a sure first round draft pick in recent talks.

There was actually very little left for Rolando to prove on the collegiate stage, having won the Butkus Award this year as the nation's most outstanding linebacker,  earning consensus All American, and winning an SEC and national championship ring.

"I'm going to leave the university pretty satisfied with what I've done here," McClain said.

And I think the fans will agree with him. Though these are some pretty big cleats to fill, McClain also felt good he was not leaving the team in a bad position.

With Donta Hightower returning, as well as many other great prospects, the defense should end up being just as solid next season.

"I have never been surrounded by this kind of talent or these kinds of coaches and I know whether I'm here or not, this team is bigger than any one player." McClain said.

The spirited spring practices will now take on new meaning as players jockey to fill positions, but no player will truly take the place of Rolando McClain. He is a special player.

"It almost like having Coach Saban on the field with us," said fellow departing player and senior Terrance (Mt.) Cody, "He calls the plays and and often changes them in a second. He sees everything that fixing to happen before it does."

Good luck in the NFL Rolando, you have earned that big paycheck. When your playing days are finally over, can we talk about a coaching gig?