The 50 Greatest Players in Alabama Crimson Tide History

Alabama has a rich history of success and tradition.

Normally, I would write this article based solely on college accomplishments, but that's not how 'Bama works, so why should I?

I worked out a points system to reward players for making it into the record books at the Capstone, the CFB Hall of Fame, the NFL Hall of Fame and for having "Seasons of Distinction" at Alabama. (Multipliers were awarded for number of decades since a player last wore crimson and white.)

When I say the phrase "record book," I'm referring to the Individual Records section of the 2011 Alabama Record Book.

As some of the records are kept as deep as the Top 10, players' names may appear more than once in the same category.

(Just because someone's name appears 60-plus times doesn't mean they have 60-plus No. 1 rankings.)

So, without delay, the 50 greatest players in Crimson Tide history.

Happy reading!

(DJ Hall got a 36-point deduction for being DJ Hall.)

*Statistics from the Alabama Record Book were used in this article and all photos not from Getty Images were Google search results.

50: D.J. Hall (WR 2004-2007)

D.J. Hall was an amazing receiver. He is on this list because of his accomplishments at Alabama.

Hall's name appears 36 times in the record books and twice for Seasons of Distinction for receiving for 1,000-plus yards. (2006 and 2007)

Notable records for Hall include:

1) Most career receptions (No. 1) with 194.

2) No. 2 on the list for career touchdown catches with 17.

Hall comes in at No. 50 on this list because he is a great example to people of all ages.

His attitude during his senior season (Saban's first at Alabama) preceded him in the NFL. He was one of the greatest WR talents to ever grace the Tide's field. He bucked any system that didn't treat him like a star, and Saban's system is one of those.

We are the fans. We treat them like stars, not the coaches.

D.J. Hall is a fine example of what can happen to people with a sense of entitlement. At no age is it acceptable not to work for respect and position.

D.J. will have records standing at the Capstone for a long time. His legacy has not lasted as long as his records will.

T-48: P.J. Fitzgerald (P 2006-2009)

P.J. Fitzgerald appears three times in the record books:

1) Tied for ninth place with 64 punts in a season.

2) First place for number of punts in a career with 238.

3) First place for career punt yards with 9,485.

My favorite play is in the video—P.J.'s touchdown-saving tackle against Florida in the SEC Championship Game, 2009.

He was an excellent punter, and his presence is missed.

Kickers are normally known for bumping the returner out of bounds. The returner in the video looks almost astonished that the kicker put that kind of tackle on him.

T-48: Terrence Cody (DT 2008-2009)

Terrence Cody was a beast on the defensive line. He was the anchor of the D-line in 2008 and 2009.

He was used frequently in short-gain and goal-line situations to push the opposing D-line back.

The fact that he commonly drew two defenders when he was placed on the offensive side of the ball was a significant part of Mark Ingram's Heisman-winning 2009 season.

Other than the fact that he was a giant on the field, he will have his place in Alabama lore for the infamous 2009 'Bama-Tennessee game. In that 12-10 victory, he blocked two field goals to secure the win. One of those blocks came as time expired.

It wasn't the best 'Bama performance of the season, but Cody was key in the undefeated road to the BCS National Championship Game against Texas.

Cody was an All-American in both of his seasons at the Capstone, and his name appears twice in the record books. (Both appearances having to do with the blocked kicks against Tennessee.)

47: George Teague (CB 1989-1992)

George Teague's record still standing in the record book is tied for the No. 5 spot for career interceptions with 14.

I put Teague on this list for his intangibles. He was true to himself, and true to his team. (Which he carried over into the NFL as well.)

The video is a short highlight reel (property of UA) ending with "the strip."

Teague was a key component of the 1992 Championship team that "had no business" stepping onto the field against the "far superior" Miami Hurricanes.

"The strip" was called back due to a 'Bama offsides penalty, but Teague stripped Miami of the will to win on that play.

He started the George Teague & Friends Foundation with other former UA football players.

46: DeMeco Ryans (LB 2002-2005)

DeMeco Ryans' name appears six times in the record books.

He was a beast at the linebacker position.

Records of note include:

1) Most tackles in a game (No. 1 spot) with 25.

2) Most tackles in a season (No. 2 spot) with 126.

3) Career tackles (No. 4 spot) with 309.

Ryans graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama and has endowed a $300,000 scholarship to UA. (To be given to a deserving student studying in the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration.)

One of the finest players ever to wear crimson and white, Ryans said the scholarship was something he had dreamed about doing ever since attending UA.

Ryans has also created the DeMeco Ryans Foundation in his hometown, which is geared toward the development of youth in the community.

45: Tyrone Prothro (WR 2003-2006)

Tyrone Prothro's name appears eight times in the record books.

Most notable records are:

1) No. 2 on the list for most career yards per kickoff return in the minimum 15 returns category at 26.6.

2) Tied for first place for longest kickoff returns with a 100-yard return against Kentucky in 2004.

The video is of Prothro's catch that went on to become the ESPN catch of the year. That moment is burned into the minds of anyone who saw it, especially Alabama fans. Prothro was one of the best. 

Prothro's career ended on a fourth-down pass to the end zone when the Tide was already up 31-3 against Florida. Prothro landed awkwardly, broke his leg in two places and never recovered. Prothro's injury is a big reason that coaches are ensuring that the top talent is off the field when they're not needed.

The risk of injury has always been a consideration. Prothro's career-ending injury was a wake-up call for college football.

I'm glad the league is concerned with safety, but I wish it hadn't cost Prothro his career.

('Bama allowed him to finish his degree on scholarship.)

44: Trent Richardson (RB 2009-Present) (2011 Performance Not Calculated)

Richardson sits at the No. 1 spot for rushing touchdowns in a season with 20. Shaun Alexander set the mark at 19. Richardson still has the BCS National Championship Game left to play in January, which will count toward this season as well.

Richardson's name appears 18 times in the record book. If he were to return next year, he would write his name all over the record books.

Richardson is only 106 yards short of the most all-purpose yards in a season. (Bobby Humphrey has 2,016.)

He is also tied for No. 1 for most 100-yard rushing games in a season with nine. Again, he could take the lead with one game remaining.

He is sitting at the No. 5 spot for career rushing yards as well, with 3,034. He is 531 yards short of the No. 1 spot.

I wouldn't advise him to stay for his senior season. If he does, he would likely set records beyond grasp for years to come.

As it is, he's made a case for a new section in the record books: yards after contact.

They may have to contact scouts for Ingram's and Richardson's stats, but it should definitely be a category.

43: Antonio Langham (CB 1990-1993)

Antonio Langham appears in the record book eight times.

Notable records include:

1) Interceptions returned for touchdowns in a career (No. 1, with three).

2) Career interceptions (No. 1, with 19).

Langham was featured in the last "SEC Storied" episode entitled "The Play That Changed College Football."

It tells the story of how Florida came back in the inaugural SEC Championship Game to knot the score at 21.

Langham's pick-six put the Tide up for good 28-21.

Alabama got to add another feather in its cap. "Championship Weekend" was born that day with the Alabama victory.

42: Paul "Bear" Bryant (E 1933-1935)

Bryant is, without a doubt, the most influential man in Crimson Tide history. I wish there were a way to move him up the list for developing a large portion of the men on this list.

No matter how you look at it, developing the top players in history doesn't change what happened on the field when you were there.

I wonder how far up he would be if he hadn't shared the gridiron with Don Hutson.

41: Leigh Tiffin (PK 2006-2009)

Leigh Tiffin followed in the footsteps of his father, becoming a kicker for the Crimson Tide. Leigh's name appears in the Special Teams section of the record book 23 times.

His father held the record for career PAT's at 135.

Leigh passed his father's 135 mark with 136 at the end of 2009. Leigh converted 136/142 PAT's while his father converted 135/135.

Leigh Tiffin owns the third-longest field goal in Tide history at 54 yards. 

He owns the Nos. 1, 2, and 3 spots for most points kicking in a season with 132 (2009), 111 (2007) and 106 (2008) respectively.

He is the highest-scoring PK in Tide history with 385 total points. Philip Doyle comes in second with 339.

Tiffin is sorely missed this year at the Capstone, but Cade Foster could still pull through for the Tide.

40: Javier Arenas (CB/PR/KOR 2006-2009)

Arenas returned seven punts for touchdowns in his career, breaking the previous SEC record set by Derek Abney.

He currently plays football on the Kansas City Chiefs as a cornerback and return specialist.

His name appears in the record book 34 times.

His most notable records are:

1) All-purpose yards in a career, No. 3 with 4,006. (Out of 12 men, the other 11 have either rushing or receiving yards that count toward their totals. Arenas has only return yards.)

2) Most punt return yards, No. 1 with 1,752. (This also set an SEC career record and was nine yards short of the NCAA record.)

39: Julio Jones (WR 2008-2010)

Julio Jones is a ridiculous specimen of a wide receiver.

He loves catching, he loves running after the catch and he loves blocking when he's not receiving.

His name appears 28 times in the record book, and he has one Season of Distinction for 1,000-plus yards receiving in 2010.

He had 1,133 receiving yards in 2010, which is first place on the list for receiving yards in a single season.

He also holds first place for number of receptions in a season with 78 in 2010.

Julio was one of those players who was highly valued for his "intangibles."

He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, who recognized his prowess with or without the ball. He has been a good fit there.

He never ceased to entertain the 'Bama fans with his athletics on the field. He should not disappoint his NFL fans, either.

38: Jay Barker (QB 1991-1994)

Jay Barker appears in the record book 26 times, including winningest quarterback with a record of 35-2-1.

Barker quarterbacked the first national championship since Bryant's departure from the Tide.

He is tied for No. 2 in single-game yardage with 391 yards against Georgia in 1994. (He shares that with John Parker Wilson.)

In his 1994 season, he joined the ranks of the Crimson Tide elite by finishing fifth in Heisman voting.

A Heisman wouldn't come to the Capstone until 2009.

(If you're wondering where he is today, he's married to country music star Sara Evans. They live near Birmingham, AL.)

37: Ken Stabler (QB 1965-1967)

Ken Stabler's name is still in the record book seven times, including a No. 1-rank in completion percentage (single-season, 50-99 completions category) with 64.9 percent.

Ken Stabler's place in Tide lore was cemented with his famous "Run in the Mud" against Auburn in 1967. (Video at top, if you missed it/weren't born yet.)

The Bryant era was filled with talent and great moments in 'Bama history.

Ken Stabler is the star of one of the most famous plays in one of the most heated rivalries in all of college football.

If you've watched an Iron Bowl comeback victory, you can relate to what the 1967 Alabama fans were feeling when they watched this run unfold.

36: Philip Doyle (K 1987-1990)

Philip Doyle holds the record at Alabama for points in a single game by kicking with 19.

Doyle's name appears 18 times in the record book.

Doyle was one of the most prolific kickers in 'Bama history and lost a few first-place spots to Leigh Tiffin.

(He now sits at No.2  for career field goals made with 78.)

He has one thing Leigh doesn't have: a game-winning field goal.

He won the 1990 'Bama-Tennessee game with a 47-yarder in the final seconds.

35: Van Tiffin (PK 1983-1986)

Van Tiffin's name appears 18 times in the Special Teams portion of the record book.

His most famous record is the 135/135 PAT statistic. Nobody's perfect, right? Well, no one told Van that.

He was 59/88 on Field Goals in his career, though his most memorable performance was huge.

Memorable performance: game-winning last-second 52-yard field goal against Auburn to win the 1985 Iron Bowl. (AKA: "The Kick.")

Van owns the longest made field goal in Tide history at 57 yards (off a tee).

Not an unbreakable record, but not an easy one to break. I think it's safe to say it will survive the 2011 season.

You other 'Bama fans are out there wondering if he has another son, aren't you?

34: Dwight Stephenson (C 1977-1979)

Stevenson was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1998.

Dwight was an All-American under Bear Bryant, who called Dwight the best player he ever coached.

Stephenson took everything he learned from Bear and applied it vigorously to the next level.

Dwight was part of a record-setting Miami Dolphins team from 1982-1987.

Stephenson wasn't used anywhere but special teams until late 1981.

Dwight was starting center for the Dolphins in their last two Super Bowl appearances.

33: Freddie Kitchens (QB 1993-1997)

Freddie Kitchens' name appears 27 times in the record book. He has one Season of Distinction for throwing for more than 2,000 yards in 1996.

He holds the record for longest-scoring pass play at 94 yards.

He threw the game-winning touchdown pass in the 1996 Iron Bowl.

Freddie Kitchens hosted the 12th-annual Freddie Kitchens Football Camp in the summer of 2011, an annual tradition he has no intention of stopping anytime soon.

32: Lee Roy Jordan (LB 1960-1962)

Lee Roy Jordan was a huge part of the 1961 championship team. (The defense that allowed only 25 points for the entire season.)

Jordan is a CFB Hall of Fame inductee and registered a ridiculous 31 tackles in the 1963 Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma.

Jordan is also Alabama's Player of the Decade for the 1960s.

31: Mark Ingram (RB 2008-2010)

Mark Ingram earned his spot on this list in the trenches. His name appears 42 times in the record books, and he has a Season of Distinction for rushing for more than 1,000 yards. (2009)

That season, he made a statement against South Carolina. That statement was, "When this team needs me, I'm there." He had been there all season but wasn't needed as much in any game as that one.

That game was his Heisman statement. The voters listened. Mark Ingram brought the first-ever Heisman to the Capstone.

He won the Heisman in the closest race in Heisman history (1304 points to Toby Gerhart's 1276) by a margin 28 points, or 1.01 percent of the votes.

Mark's most notable records include:

1) All-purpose yards in a season (No. 2 spot) with 1,992.

2) Yards in a single game (No. 3 spot) with 246 on 24 carries against South Carolina in 2009.

3) Rushing yards in a season (No. 1 spot) with 1,658.

30: Billy Neighbors (OT 1959-1961)

Billy Neighbors played in three bowl games during his three-year tenure at the Capstone.

Neighbors won the Jacobs Trophy in 1961, which is given to the SEC's top blocking lineman.

Neighbors played both sides of the ball in his career at 'Bama. This is significant, as he was a part of the 1961 championship team that allowed only 25 points the entire season.

He was inducted into the CFB Hall of Fame in 2003.

He earned All-Pro honors twice in his pro football career and remains a successful businessman today as V.P. of Prudential Securities.

29: David Palmer (WR 1991-1993)

Palmer is in the record book 34 times and has a Season of Distinction at the Capstone for a 1,000-plus receiving-yard season in 1993.

Records of note are:

1) No. 2 in single-game receiving yards with 217.

2) No. 3 career receiving yards per game with 122.4.

3) No. 5 in career all-purpose yards with 3,916.

"The Deuce" had an excellent season in 1993, finishing third in Heisman voting that year and becoming the first-ever 1,000-yard single-season receiver.

Nice follow-up to a championship season, don't you think?

28: Brodie Croyle (QB 2002-2005)

Brodie Croyle's name appears 41 times in the Tide's record book, and he has two Seasons of Distinction for throwing for 2,000-plus yards in 2003 and 2005.

Croyle led the Tide to the 2006 Cotton Bowl and was named the game's offensive MVP.

Croyle's Crimson career was troubled, to say the least. He sat under three different head coaches in three years.

It's hard to say what he could have done with some consistency above him, but his records speak for themselves:

1) Most consecutive passes without an interception (No. 1): 190 spanning 2002-2005.

2) No. 2 on the career touchdown pass list with 41.

3) No. 2 on the list for most yardage in a career with 6,205.

27: Marty Lyons (DT 1976-1978)

Lyons was inducted into the CFB Hall of Fame in 2011. He was the defensive team captain of the 1978 championship team.

He received All-American honors in 1978 and was an All-SEC selection in both 1977 and 1978.

He is a member of the Tide's Team of the Century and the 1970's All-Decade team.

His name appears twice in the record book:

1) Tied for the No. 2 position with four forced fumbles in a single season.

2) Tied for the No. 5 position with 119 tackles in a single season.

26: Woodrow Lowe (LB 1972-1975)

Lowe's name appears twice in the record book:

1) No. 1 for tackles in a single season with 139.

2) No. 3 for tackles in a career with 315.

Though it's only two times, his records are standing the test of time quite well.

He was an All-American three times from 1973-1975 and is one of only two 'Bama players in history to accomplish that.

He took the field for an SEC Championship in all four of his years at the Capstone, with the most successful season being the 1973 national championship.

He was inducted into the CFB Hall of Fame in 2010.

25: Cornelius Bennett (OLB 1983-1986)

One of only two Alabama players ever to be named to three All-America Teams.

Bennett was an All-American in 1984, 1985 and 1986.

Bennett's name appears six times in Alabama's Individual Records.

He is still on the lists for tackles in a season, career tackles, tackles for loss in a season and sits at fourth place in career tackles for loss at Alabama with 41.

In 1986, Bennett finished seventh in the Heisman voting. (We know how hard it is for a linebacker to even get on that list.) He won the Lombardi Trophy and SEC Player of the Year honors as a senior as well.

24: Vaughn "Cisco" Mancha (C 1944-1947)

Mancha was an All-American in 1945 and selected for the Tide's All-Century Team.

He centered the Tide to a perfect 10-0 season in 1945, including a Rose Bowl victory over Southern Cal.

He played every play in the 1945 Sugar Bowl. (Not necessarily a record, but definitely worth mentioning as it likely had an effect on his selection to the All-Time Sugar Bowl Team.)

Mancha was inducted into the CFB Hall of Fame in 1990.

23: Don Whitmire (OT 1941-1942)

Don Whitmire was only at 'Bama for two years.

In that time, 'Bama went 17-5 and won a National Championship in 1941.

He transferred to the Naval Academy in Annapolis after World War II began and achieved All-American honors at both schools.

He went on to a distinguished career in the Navy, retiring as a Rear Admiral.

He was inducted into the CFB Hall of Fame in 1956.

22: Pat Trammell (QB 1959-1961)

Pat Trammell appears 10 times in the record book.

Notable records include:

1) No. 2 spot for interception percentage (1.8) in a career with a minimum 200 completions.

2) No. 4 spot for winningest quarterbacks (.875), tied with Terry Davis and Joe Namath.

He led the Tide to an undefeated season in 1961, which culminated in a unanimous National Championship (AP, UPI, and NFF).

Trammell was part of the team that Bryant promised would win a National Championship within four years if they would just stick it out. Three years later, they did.

Trammell was the signal caller, and team co-captain (with Billy Neighbors) of the 1961 team.

Trammell's 1961 National Championship would end a 16-year drought for Tide fans.

21: Bart Starr (QB 1952-1955)

Bart Starr's name only appears once in the record book. He is tied for the No. 4 spot with 3 TD passes in a single game.

Though he is tied with a lot of QBs in that regard, you have to give him credit for being one of the greatest unused talents in 'Bama history.

He was benched in his senior season by J.B. "Ears" Whitworth. (Depicted in photo.)

For whatever reason, after replacing a mediocre Red Drew, Whitworth decided to bench all seniors in his first year.

After an 0-10 season, Whitworth improved and went 2-7-1 two times in a row. He was promptly fired and replaced by Bear Bryant.

Oh, the things we could have seen from Starr had his college stars not aligned with those two coaches!

He would later lead Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers to victories in Super Bowls I and II. (He was the MVP of both.)

Greatest 'Bama QB ever? Not in the record books, but how many records are you setting from the bench?

Starr's career at Alabama is not underrated, it's academic.

He was Academic All-SEC in 1953. That may be the UA record he's proudest of today.

I'd love to ask him.

20: Riley Smith (QB 1933-1935)

Smith's career at Alabama started with him as a HB. He was converted to QB in his second season.

Riley Smith was inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1985.

He is known as one of the best blockers in Alabama history and was a consensus All-American in 1935.

He was also the first recipient of the Jacobs Award (1935), voted on by SEC coaches to recognize the player with the most outstanding blocking ability.

To top it all off, Smith kicked the go-ahead field goal in the 1935 Rose Bowl stomping of the Stanford Cardinal.

T-18: Fred Sington (OT 1928-1930)

Sington was a two-time All-American in 1929 and 1930 (unanimous selection in 1930).

He is on Alabama's Team of the Century, in the CFB Hall of Fame and is on the all-time team for the first 50 years of Alabama football.

He was a member of the team that destroyed unbeatable Washington State 24-0 in the 1931 Rose Bowl to bring Alabama its third National Championship.

Knute Rockne referred to Sington as "the greatest lineman in the country."

Sington was inducted into the CFB Hall of Fame in 1955.

T-18: Frank Howard (G 1928-1930)

Howard's senior year ended in a 24-0 shutout of Washington State in the Rose Bowl to take home the 1930 Championship.

That's a heck of an exclamation point for a college career.

He went on to coach after college at Clemson, whose football stadium bears his name.

His record while head coach at Clemson was 165-118-2. (1940-1969)

He was inducted into the CFB Hall of Fame in 1989 as a guard, not a coach.

T-16: A.T.S. "Pooley" Hubert (QB 1922-1925)

Hubert was only the second 'Bama player in history to earn All-American honors. He did it in 1925.

He quarterbacked the Tide to their first-ever national championship. That's a mark in the 'Bama annals that will never go away.

Hubert led the Tide to an undefeated season in 1925, and the championship victory was over a Washington team they supposedly had no business even challenging for the title.

His career record at 'Bama was 31-6-2.

T-16: Johnny Mack Brown (HB 1923-1925)

The 20-19 victory over Washington in the 1926 Rose Bowl featured Brown on the receiving end of two long TD passes. One for 58 yards and the other for 62.

That Rose Bowl victory not only put 'Bama on the map, but Southern Conference football on the map. (The Southern Conference gave birth to the SEC, though the Southern Conference still exists in the FCS and is affectionately called the "Little SEC.")

That particular performance caused him to be selected to the All-Time Rose Bowl Team. He was a two-time All-Southern-Conference Team selection.

He was inducted into the CFB Hall of Fame in 1957.

15: Siran Stacy (RB 1989-1991)

Stacy's name appears numerous times in the record book, and he has one Season of Distinction for 1,000-plus rushing yards in 1989.

Though he doesn't have any first-place records, he has his name all over the book. He was a force on offense and made his name memorable with only two official seasons at the Capstone. (Medical redshirt in 1990.)

He had big shoes to fill, as the open spot for him at Alabama was vacated by Bobby Humphrey.

Had he gotten three full seasons at Alabama, his name would be at the top of numerous lists.

As it stands, 20 years later, he still has it in 35 spots. That's not shabby at all for a career interrupted by injury.

14: John Parker Wilson (QB 2005-2008)

John Parker Wilson's name appears 72 times in the record book. That's mind-blowing. Alabama isn't known for being an NFL quarterback assembly line, but Harry Gilmer still has records all over the 'Bama books.

Gilmer was one of the greatest of all time, and is listed in the record books as a QB due to the fact that he was the teams primary passer back when he played.

Wilson has three "Seasons of Distinction," in which he threw for 2,000-plus yards.

His records of note are as follows:

1) Most career plays, No. 1 with 1,413.

2) Most career yardage, No. 1 with 8,099.

3) Yards per game over entire career, No. 1 with 180.0.

The picture up top is of Wilson in the 2009 Under Armour Senior bowl.

Wilson was one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to stand under center at 'Bama. With Namath, Starr, and Gilmer all playing for the Crimson Tide, that is some seriously elite company.

13: Joe Namath (QB 1962-1964)

Joe's name still appears in the record book seven times.

He is tied for third in the winningest quarterbacks category with a .875 winning percentage.

He still holds the No. 1 spot for most passing TDs in a quarterback debut with three.

Joe Namath was the signal caller for the 1964 National Championship team.

Bryant referred to him as the greatest athlete he ever coached.

Namath was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1985.

Namath is one of the most iconic NFL quarterbacks ever to play the game.

12: Shaun Alexander (TB 1996-1999)

Shaun Alexander's name appears 65 times in the record book, and he has two Seasons of Distinction for rushing for 1,000-plus yards.

Shaun's notable records, in no particular order, are:

1) Career touchdowns, No. 1 spot with 50.

2) Career 100-yard rushing performances, tied for No. 1 with Bobby Humphrey at 15.

3) Rushing touchdowns in a season, No. 1 (No. 2) with 19. (Richardson has 20 with one game left in 2011.)

4) Career rushing yards, No. 1 with 3,565.

Shaun Alexander's records still stand after Ingram's Heisman season, though Ingram has some of his own records. Alabama has always been known for its rushing game.

To set that many records is quite an accomplishment at the Capstone. Tailback is a position that Saban is recruiting heavily, and Alabama will be deep at that position for years to come.

His records have survived Ingram's career and will weather Richardson's career quite well.

It will be a long time before we see a rusher better than Alexander.

I'm not in any hurry to forget this electric rock-toter.

11: Derrick Thomas (LB 1985-1988)

Derrick Thomas still appears in the record book 20 times.

Records of note are:

1) Blocked kicks in a career, No. 1 with five.

2) Tackles for loss in a career, No. 1 with 68.

3) QB sacks in a season, No. 1 with 27.

4) QB sacks in a career, No. 1 with 52.

This guy was a monster.

The second-place finishers aren't even that close. The second-place position for career sacks is 25 and the second-place position for sacks in a season is 18.

He bested his five-sack single-game Tide record in the NFL with seven. That is an NFL record. Thomas' career was cut short in early 2000, when he died after a traffic accident.

Derrick Thomas was inducted posthumously into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2009.

10: John Hannah (OG 1970-1972)

John Hannah would become "Bear" Bryant's "greatest lineman I ever coached."

That is high praise.

John Hannah, elected into the CFB Hall of Fame, went on to the NFL and didn't disappoint his waiting fans.

John Hannah is one of only three Crimson Tide players to be inducted into both the CFB and NFL Halls of Fame.

He was an All-American in 1971 and a consensus All-American in 1972. He was appointed to the 1970s All-Decade team at Alabama and also placed on the Alabama All-Century Team.

He went on to the NFL to play a key role in an offensive line that set an NFL-record 3,165 rushing yards in 1978. That record stands today.

9: Greg McElroy (QB 2007-2010)

Greg McElroy's name appears 60 times in the record book.

This does not count the two Seasons of Distinction he was rewarded with in the record book for passing for more than 2,000 yards.

McElroy owns the first (1.2 percent) and third (1.6 percent) positions for interception percentage in a season when throwing a minimum of 100 passes.

He sits at first place in interception percentage in a season when throwing a minimum of 200 passes with 1.5 percent.

He sits at No. 1 in career interception percentage with 1.5 percent. (10 of 658)

He also has the third-, fourth-, sixth- and seventh-longest streaks of passes without an interception.

His first-place position of note is in completion percentage. He is first in the "season" and "career" categories when throwing a minimum of 200 passes. (Season: 70.9 in 2010 and career: 66.3)

He took Alabama all the way in his first year as a starter, with a more-than-memorable performance against a BCS No.-1-ranked Florida squad in the 2009 SEC Championship Game.

McElroy received recognition for his performance off the field as well. He was Academic All-SEC in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

He was Academic All-America in 2010, and ESPN Academic All-America of the Year.

McElroy was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in 2010, received a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award in 2010, and an NCAA Top VIII Award in 2010 as well.

8: Johnny Cain (FB 1930-1932)

Three-time member of the All-Southern Conference Team, two-time All America selection known for his powerful punts.

He had a monstrous 48.1-yard-per-punt average against Tennessee on 19 punts—in a torrential rainstorm.

That 48.1-yard-per-punt single-game average stands at not only No. 1 in the 10-punt-minimum category, but the only man in that category is Johnny Cain.

He holds the record for punts in a single game at 19 for that game, and punted for 914 yards. He is also the only man on that list.

Other fact of note: Cain was the only sophomore starter on the 1931 Championship team at the Rose Bowl.

Inducted into the CFB Hall of Fame in 1973, he was also inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, the highest honor available to a college football player.

7: Scott Hunter (QB 1968-1970)

Scott Hunter became the first-ever 'Bama quarterback to throw for 2,000-plus yards in a single season. (Season of Distinction honors.)

Scott's name appears 31 times in the record book.

Notable records:

1) Single-game passing yardage, No. 1 with 484 in the 1969 Iron Bowl.

2) Career average yards per game, tied for No. 2 with 170.9. (Tied Gary Hollingsworth.)

6: Bobby Humphrey (RB 1985-1988)

Bobby Humphrey's name appears 56 times in the record books. He has two Seasons of Distinction for rushing 1,000-plus yards in 1986 and 1987.

The 1986 season marked the third time in 'Bama history that a player rushed for 1,000-plus yards. (Both of the previous instances belong to Johnny Musso.)

Humphrey's records of note are:

1) Tied for No. 1 with 15 100-yard rushing games. (Shaun Alexander shares this record.)

2) Most career 200-yard rushing performances with four. (No. 1 spot.)

3) No. 1 in career all-purpose yards with 4,958.

Bobby was selected for the All-American Team in 1986 and 1987. He was also the 1987 UPI offensive player of the year.

5: Don Hutson (E 1932-1934)

Don Hutson is one of the elite 'Bama players to earn both CFB and NFL Hall of Fame honors.

Don Hutson is one of the very few people to cast a shadow on Bear Bryant.

Many consider him to be the first "modern" wide receiver. He is given credit for inventing most of the pass routes that are run by WRs today.

He was truly a game-breaking talent at his position.

Hutson was key in the 1935 Rose Bowl win over Stanford (29-13), with six receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns.

Hutson had many NFL records that stood for more than four decades after his retirement. Most of those records were shattered as a result of the evolution of the game over the years.

Now the NFL has a playoff and is much more pass-friendly.

Basically, they had to change the game for his records to go away. If we were still in the rush-first, pass-later NFL, Hutson's records would likely still be standing.

Hutson was the reason that Bryant referred to himself as the "other end."

4: Millard "Dixie" Howell (HB 1932-1934)

Howell is a member of both the CFB Hall of Fame and the all-time Rose Bowl team.

For playing in an era during which statistics were rarely kept, his eight appearances in the 'Bama record book become even more impressive.

He still owns the longest punt in 'Bama history at 89 yards against Tennessee in 1933.

That record alone puts him near the top of this list, but the other major record that caught my eye was his No. 2 standing in the winningest quarterbacks section of the book.

With a 22-2-1 record, his .900 winning percentage will stand for many decades to come.

He quarterbacked Alabama in 1933, earning the Tide the first-ever "SEC Champion" title.

3: Ozzie Newsome (SE 1974-1977)

Ozzie Newsome "The Wizard of Oz" was one of the greatest players ever to take the field for the Crimson Tide.

For those of you keeping track, Newsome's name still appears 16 times in the Individual Records section of the Alabama Record book.

He still holds third place for career receiving yards with 2,070. (Only D.J. Hall and Julio Jones are in front of him.)

He holds first place for career yards per catch (minimum of 100 catches category) with 20.3.

It's hard enough to set records at Alabama, much less have them stand for almost 40 years.

Newsome also went on to earn spots in both the CFB and NFL Halls of Fame.

Newsome was named player of the decade for the 1970s and was named the Cleveland Browns' offensive player of the year in his rookie season of the NFL.

That was the first time in 25 years that a rookie had won that honor.

2: Johnny Musso (HB 1969-1971)

Johnny Musso's name still appears 33 times in the record book. After 40 years have passed since he last wore crimson and white, that's simply astounding!

His two Seasons of Distinction were for 1,000-plus rushing yards in 1970 and 1971. He was the first to rush for 1,000 yards in a season at the Capstone.

Musso was an All-American in 1970 and 1971, SEC Player of the Year in 1971 and Academic All-America that year as well.

His records have slipped from the No. 1 spots they used to occupy, but he's far from being out of the record book.

Honorable Mention: Forrest Gump (RB 1960-1964)

While he was clearly a fictional character, Forrest's Crimson Tide career actually lines up pretty well with true Crimson Tide history. (The link to support that claim is here.)

Running onto a high-school field in khakis and a polo shirt, he was recognized by the coaches because he was beside the QB as he released a pass and passed the receiver before the ball got to him.

Bear Bryant then proceeds to recruit Gump into one of the greatest eras of 'Bama football.

If nothing else, Forrest gave Alabama haters a player to love on the Crimson Tide, and that's quite an accomplishment.

Honorable mention: Forrest Gump, because we can't be serious 100 percent of the time. Life would be pretty boring if we were.

1: Harry Gilmer (SWHB 1944-1947)

Harry Gilmer played halfback in the single-wing formation.

In Alabama record books he is listed as a quarterback because he was the team's primary passer.

He was proficient in passing, tackling, kicking, running and returning kicks. This is absolutely ridiculous by today's standards.

People my age can't even relate to that kind of prowess outside of the neighborhood-style football games.

In 1946, he led the Crimson Tide in passing, rushing, punt returns, kickoff returns and interceptions. His career 52 touchdowns is still No. 1 in the books. Shaun Alexander almost eclipsed that mark, compiling 50 between 1996 and 1999.

It still doesn't really compare, as Gilmer didn't play in as many games during his career.

Gilmer still has his name come up 36 times in the 'Bama Individual Records section of the record book.

His last season was in 1947. In 64 years, 36 of his records still haven't been pushed off the lists.

He still holds the record for yards-per-play in one game (eight-play minimum) at 33.3.

He still holds the No. 1 spot for career touchdowns at 52.

His No. 2-ranked 95-yard touchdown rush will stand for a long time as well. (You can't rush for more than 99.9, right?)