Alabama Football: Nick Saban's All-Star Team, 2007-2011

During his time as head coach of Alabama football, Nick Saban has had his fair share of superstars on his roster. Some he recruited himself and some he inherited, but they are all 'Bama boys.  

If you asked him what he thought his "All-Nick Saban" team would look like, Nick would likely tell you something along the lines of, "Everyone has contributed in special ways."

Saban would not want to take anything away from any of his players, past and present, but there's no harm in spotlighting the best players at each position that Saban coached at Alabama.  

Here is the Alabama Crimson Tide All-Star team under Nick Saban, made up of Tide players from 2007-2011.

Quarterback: Greg McElroy

During his time at Alabama, all Greg McElroy did was win!  Except for that time against South Carolina. And LSU.  And Auburn.  

OK, well, he won most of the time.  He compiled a 24-3 record while tossing the pigskin for the Tide.  

McElroy was the first quarterback since the 1992 season to guide 'Bama to a national title, and though he was called a "game manager," he played no small part in the 2009 championship run.  

His intelligence and decision-making were apparent on and off the field, from his nine total interceptions in two seasons to his "three-year degree" (he earned his Bachelor's that fast) and being a Rhodes Scholar finalist.  

Talent-wise, McElroy may not be the best quarterback Nick Saban has coached at Alabama, but he has so far been the most productive—and valuable.  

He's now a backup quarterback for the New York Jets, and might be the smartest backup in the entire league.  

Running Back: Mark Ingram

Once Trent Richardson set foot on the Alabama campus, hordes of fans would publicly proclaim their hesitance to call Mark Ingram Alabama's best running back.  

Though Mark Ingram won the 2009 Heisman Trophy and was drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft to replace New Orlean's other Heisman Trophy-winning running back, Reggie Bush, many still claim that Trent Richardson is still the better running back.  

While that's quite arguably true, Mark Ingram gets the spot here.  

His 1,658 rushing yards during the 2009 championship run might very well be eclipsed by Trent this year, but hey, Mark won the Heisman.

Offensive Line

Alabama's star offensive lineman shuffles around enough to where it just makes more sense to recognize the five best linemen the Tide have had under Nick Saban, in no particular order.

Andre Smith: LT

Smith was the starting left tackle for the Crimson Tide his entire career.  Yeah, that includes his freshman year.  Mr. All-Everything, Smith now plays for the Cincinnati Bengals and was selected sixth overall.

Antoine Caldwell: C

Caldwell was just yet another great Alabama player that made a name for himself as a freshman.  He was a first-team  All-American in 2008 and was on the Rimington Trophy watchlist just about every year.  

Mike Johnson: LG

Mike Johnson's legacy is tied directly to Mark Ingram's.  Johnson paved the way for Ingram to not only rush his way into the national championship, but to his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech as well. He plays with ex-Tide players Julio Jones and John Parker Wilson for the Atlanta Falcons.

James Carpenter: LT

James was a junior college transfer from Coffeyville, Kan., and in his first year at Alabama, he replaced Andre Smith at left tackle.  After performing admirably for two years, Carpenter surprised the heck out of a lot of people when he was selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks—ahead of Mark Ingram!

Barrett Jones: RG/LT

After becoming a freshman All-American in 2009, Barrett Jones has gone on to be Alabama's best offensive lineman in 2010 and 2011.  He's about as smart a lineman as you could ask for, and transitioned seamlessly from right guard to left tackle.  He's NFL-bound, but still has one year of eligibility left.  

Tight End: Nick Walker

Tight ends never get the respect they deserve.  They spend most of their days blocking guys that are often bigger than themselves, and rarely get the big touchdown catch.  

The same holds true for Nick Walker, but he contributed greatly for the Tide under Nick Saban.

In 2007 and 2008, he combined for over 500 yards receiving.  Though he only hauled in two touchdown passes in 2008, he was second in receptions to only one man:  true freshman Julio Jones.  

Unfortunately, Nick Walker is just one of many Alabama tight ends that never made it into the NFL.

Wide Receivers

Julio Jones

Julio Jones is the best 'Bama receiver Nick Saban has coached.  Big surprise, right?

Jones was "The Man" since the first day he set foot on campus, and led the team in every receiving category for his entire three years.  

He was/is the definition of athletic freak, and will always remain a Crimson Tide legend. 

Bryant-Denny Stadium just isn't the same without the fans chanting "JUUUUUULLLLIOOOOOOO!"

He now plays for the Atlanta Falcons, who I like to say traded away half their franchise to get him. Heck of a deal if you ask me.  

D.J. Hall

Hall played only one year under Nick Saban, in 2007, before graduating, but he edges out Marquis Maze as the other Saban All-Star receiver.  

In his senior season, he put up numbers nearly identical to that of Julio Jones' best season, 2010.  

Though quarterback John Parker Wilson couldn't hit the broad side of a barn in 2007, Hall reeled in 67 receptions for over 1,000 yards.

Hall didn't quite make it in the NFL, but is currently trying his best to get there and is a free agent in the Arena Football League.  

Kicker: Leigh Tiffin

Leigh Tiffin is not only the best kicker Nick Saban coached at Alabama, but the best in Alabama history, overshadowing even his legendary father, Van Tiffin. 

After Tiffin kicked a game-winning field goal against Vanderbilt in 2006, he never looked back. 

His greatest Alabama moment(s) came in 2009, where he scored all 12 points for the Tide in a bloody battle against the Tennessee Volunteers, keeping the championship hopes alive.  

He got a sniff of the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, but his placement on their injured reserve quickly ended his NFL career.  

Defensive Ends

Wallace Gilberry

Gilberry also played for one season under Nick Saban, but boy, did he put on a show.  In his senior season, he sacked opposing quarterbacks 10 times and accrued a whopping 27 tackles for losses.

Gilberry weighs less than some of Alabama's current linebackers, but he was an extraordinary pass-rusher.  

He was an undrafted free agent in 2008, but has 12.5 career sacks with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Marcell Dareus

Marcell Dareus' stats pale in comparison to many past Alabama greats, but he made the biggest impact on the biggest stage:  the BCS National Championship Game.

Not only did he blow up Texas quarterback Colt McCoy—who sat out the rest of the game with an "injury"—but he also returned an interception for a touchdown.  He threw in a cheeky little spin move on his way to the end zone.  

His final season with the Tide, as a junior, didn't quite meet expectations, but he hobbled around with an ankle injury for much of it.  That, and he was double-teamed most of the year as well.  

He was selected third overall in the 2011 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills.

Nose Guard: Terrence Cody

Terrence "Mount" Cody is hands down the best nose guard Nick Saban has had at Alabama despite his chronic weight problem and inability to play a full set of downs due to fatigue.

Terrence Cody wasn't the strongest member of the team, but for the life of them, opposing offensive linemen couldn't move him.  

His claim to fame was in 2009, when he blocked two field goals—one with four seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter—against Tennessee in one of the most nail-biting games in Alabama history.

I recall a draft pundit calling Terrence a "pile of fat."  Well, he's the starting nose tackle for the Baltimore Ravens now.  Imagine that.  

Linebackers

Alabama under Nick Saban has had a plethora of phenomenal linebackers, often the best linebacker squad in the nation.  Here's my pick for the top four.

Rolando McClain

Rolando was the best linebacker on the team for his entire three years with the Tide, and is one of the best in Crimson Tide history.  His ridiculous 104 tackles in 2009 earned him first-team All-American honors, and he was the second Tide player since Derrick Thomas to win the aptly named Butkus Award.

He now plays for the Oakland Raiders.

Dont'a Hightower

Hightower was supposed to be the "next Rolando McClain" (even though McClain was still on the team), but an ACL tear derailed his sophomore campaign.  To put it bluntly, he sucked when he first came back in 2010.  As he healed, he turned that all around and finished the year strong.  

In 2011, Hightower is back to his old self.  He's an absolute terror on the field.

He's NFL-bound, and while he'll be drafted high, he won't be the first linebacker off the list.  That will likely be Arizona State's Vontaze Burfict's honor. 

Courtney Upshaw

Courtney Upshaw is Alabama's new version of the late Derrick Thomas, though he will never do what Thomas did.  As the hybrid JACK linebacker, he rushes the passer better than most full-time defensive ends, and weighs a lot more than some as well, at 270 lbs.  

For the second year in a row, he is leading the Tide in sacks and tackles for losses.  He's NFL-bound.

Eryk Anders

Eryk is one of the most underrated parts of the 2009 championship team's defense.  Anders was an integral part of the game the entire year as the starting JACK linebacker.  

He was second on the team that year in tackles for losses with 13.5, and tied for second in sacks with five. 

The really good stuff lies in his three forced fumbles in 2009.  

He never quite made it in the NFL, but he sure made it at Alabama.

Cornerbacks

Javier Arenas

Coming out of high school, Javier Arenas didn't have any major offers until then-head coach Mike Shula showed up on his doorstep.  Javy signed with Alabama, and the rest is history.

After beginning his career as a return man (and finishing as the best in Tide history), Javier moved up to being a starting cornerback. 

As one of the most versatile cornerbacks in the nation, Javier earned All-American honors in 2009.

He plays for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Dre Kirkpatrick

Kareem Jackson and a few others have been great Alabama cornerbacks under Nick Saban, but I am giving the nod to Dre Kirkpatrick.  He has all the assets needed to create the perfect cornerback.

He still has some coverage issues to work out, but he is one of the most fearsome corners in the nation, and Saban is lucky to have him. 

He was highly touted coming out of high school, and has lived up to the hype.

He likely wont be returning next year, as he will declare early for the NFL draft. 

Safeties

Rashad Johnson

Johnson racked up 11 interceptions under Nick Saban in 2007 and 2008, and was one of the team's top tacklers as well.  

His height, weight and play made for a dangerous safety, and in 2008, he helped the Tide to the brink of a national championship.  

Johnson began his Alabama career as a walk-on, and looking back, that's pretty mind-boggling.

He now plays for the Arizona Cardinals.  

Mark Barron

Mark Barron has been the Tide's best safety for three years running (I know, Robert Lester had more interceptions in 2010).  

Early in his career, he was one of the hardest-hitting safeties in the nation, though these days, he doesn't go for the big hit as often.  Regardless, he is still considered a headhunter.

He's one of the best coverage safeties, and the All-American would be a match made in heaven for the Pittsburgh Steelers (for Troy Polamalu will eventually retire) when he finally enters the NFL draft.

Punter: P.J. Fitzgerald

It would be tough not to give this spot to P.J., considering he started for three years under Nick Saban (four years starting total).

Punters get overlooked all too often, but Fitzgerald's contributions to the 2009 championship teams certainly weren't.  

He paired with snapper Bryan Selman for most of his career, as P.J. was the holder for field goals.

Like most college football punters, he never made it to the NFL.