It’s not easy to come up with a concise list of the best players in the history of Alabama football. We did it anyway. Listed in chronological order, here are our 25 greatest football players to ever suit up for the Crimson Tide. (All stats and all-time leaders are accurate through the 2021-22 season).
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Johnny Mack Brown, Halfback (1924-25) – Football Hall of Fame Legend
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One of Alabama’s earliest football stars. Brown was the star of Alabama’s first recognized national championship team in 1925. Known for his blistering speed, Brown scored twice in the Crimson Tide’s come-from-behind victory over Washington in the Rose Bowl that season. The victory secured Alabama’s national title and essentially opened the door for Southern college football teams to be taken seriously. Although Brown has earned a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame, he is perhaps best known as one of Hollywood’s most prominent Western movie stars of the era.
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Fred Sington, Offensive Tackle (1929-30)
Alabama Sports Football Hall of Fame
Sington was not only a standout on the football field at Alabama, but he was also a star baseball player, eventually playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Washington Senators. On the gridiron, Sington was an All-American in both 1929 and ’30. During the 1930 season, he helped the Crimson Tide win its third NCAA-recognized national championship. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.
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Don Hutson, End/Receiver (1932-34) – Alabama Football History
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Before Hutson achieved legendary status with the Green Bay Packers, he set the ball rolling at Alabama. Considered the first modern wide receiver, Hutson earned All-American status twice while playing for the Crimson Tide. Perhaps Hutson’s shining moment as an Alabama football player came in the Rose Bowl to close the 1934 season, when he caught six passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns in a 29-13 victory over Stanford.
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Harry Gilmer, Halfback/Quarterback/Defensive Back (1944-47) – Alabama Football History
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Gilmer was the do-it-all player for the Crimson Tide. Although listed as a quarterback, he actually played as a single-wing halfback, being the primary ball carrier and passer. Gilmer still holds the school record for a quarterback with 216 rushing yards versus Kentucky in 1945. As a freshman, he recorded 1,457 total yards. In ’45, he passed for 2,894 yards, ran for 1,673, and scored a total of 50 touchdowns. Also, Gilmer has the third-highest average yards per punt return in the history of the school, with 13.4, and he holds the second-highest number of interceptions by any player in Alabama, with 16.
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Lee Roy Jordan, Linebacker (1960-62) – Alabama Football History
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Jordan was an All-American in 1962 and finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy race. He is widely regarded as one of college football’s most ferocious defenders. According to the University of Alabama, legendary Crimson Tide coach Paul “Bear” Bryant once said of Jordan: “If they stay inside the boundaries, Lee Roy will get ’em.” Jordan was credited with an impressive 31 tackles during Alabama’s Orange Bowl triumph over Oklahoma, which concluded the 1962 season.
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Joe Namath, Quarterback (1962-64) – Alabama Football History
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Namath’s college career stats of 2,713 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, 19 interceptions, and 655 rushing yards did not stand out. However, when “Bear” Bryant refers to you as the “greatest athlete I ever coached,” a spot in this list is earned. Namath posted a record of 29-4 in three collegiate seasons before becoming “Broadway Joe” and leading the New York Jets to an improbable Super Bowl victory. He also played an important role in leading Alabama to the 1964 national championship.
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Johnny Musso, Running Back (1969-71) – Alabama Football History
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The 1971 All-American remains one of the top Alabama running backs, a noteworthy accomplishment given the school’s history of producing three Heisman Trophy-winning running backs. Musso gained 2,741 yards, becoming the first in school history to reach 2,000 yards, with an average of almost 4.8 yards per carry and 34 touchdowns during his three-year college career. Additionally, Musso caught 61 passes for 495 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
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John Hannah, Offensive Lineman (1970-72)
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One of Alabama football’s most versatile and celebrated players, Hannah could arguably be the greatest offensive lineman to ever play for the Tide. A two-time All-American, he excelled as both tackle and guard. The New England Patriots drafted Hannah fourth overall in 1973, and he enjoyed a renowned NFL career that included nine Pro Bowl selections and seven appearances on the league All-Pro first-team.
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Leroy Cook, Defensive End (1972-75)
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As a first-team All-American in 1974 and a consensus pick the following year, Cook had a phenomenal career at the University of Alabama. Cook is also associated with an underrated aspect on a national level since he recorded 15 sacks and forced 10 fumbles while playing for the Crimson Tide. He made 200 tackles, 27 of which resulted in a loss. However, his post-Alabama sports career was less notable due to the NFL accomplishments of his former Tide teammates, such as E.J. Junior, Barry Krauss, Bob Baumhower, Woodrow Lowe, and Marty Lyons.
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Woodrow Lowe, Linebacker (1972-75)
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Lowe earned the distinction of being one of only two Alabama players to receive the honor of being named a three-time All-American during their college career. The College Football Hall of Fame inductee stands among the program’s top leaders with a total of 315 career tackles. His performance during the Crimson Tide’s 1973 national championship season alone resulted in 134 tackles, a record that still remains unmatched in school history. In addition to playing a pivotal role on that victorious national championship team, Lowe was an integral part of four SEC championship teams during his time at Alabama.
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Ozzie Newsome, Wide Receiver (1974-77)
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Inducted into both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame, Newsome excelled as a college receiver in the 1970s and later as a standout tight end for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL. In his four seasons with the Crimson Tide, Newsome amassed 102 receptions for a total of 2,070 yards and scored 16 touchdowns, averaging 20.3 yards per catch. Notably, he achieved a career-high 36 catches during the 1977 season.
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Dwight Stephenson, Center (1977-79)
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During his three-year college career at Alabama, Stephenson experienced both individual and team success. He started all three years and was named a second-team All-American twice. Additionally, he was a key player on the Crimson Tide’s national championship teams in 1978 and ’79. Stephenson was known for his impressive blend of strength and speed and won the SEC’s Jacobs Trophy as the best blocker in 1979. He went on to have a Hall of Fame career with the Miami Dolphins.
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Cornelius Bennett, Linebacker (1983-86)
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He earned All-American honors thrice while playing for Alabama, joining Woodrow Lowe as the only two Crimson Tide players to achieve this feat. This includes his unanimous selection in 1986, when he recorded 10 out of his career 15 sacks as well as SEC Player of the Year accolades and the Lombardi Trophy. Bennett, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, ranks as one of the top players in school history with 41 tackles for loss and 287 total tackles.
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Derrick Thomas, Linebacker (1985-88)
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There’s no doubt that Thomas is the Alabama football program’s greatest defensive player ever. He secured his position as the Crimson Tide’s top pass rusher in his four college seasons by recording 52 sacks and 68 tackles for loss, breaking school records. His single-season accomplishments are also noteworthy, as he holds both the No.1 and No.2 spots at Alabama with 27 sacks in 1988 (when he won the Butkus Award) and 18 sacks in ’89.
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Terrence Cody, Defensive Lineman (2008-09)
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Talk about a presence. The 6’5″, 365 lb Cody played only two seasons at Alabama after winning a national title at the junior college level.Nonetheless, he maximized his time with the Crimson Tide, amassing 52 tackles and receiving honors like All-SEC first-team and unanimous All-American recognition for both seasons.
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Mark Ingram II, Running Back (2008-10)
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It’s difficult to believe that Ingram is the first Heisman Trophy winner in Alabama program history. In his 2009 Heisman-winning season, Ingram rushed for 1,658 yards (the third-most for a Crimson Tide season), had an average of 6.1 yards per carry, and scored 17 touchdowns on the ground, leading Alabama to their first national championship since 1992.Ingram finished his time at Alabama with 3,261 rushing yards (seventh-best in school history) and 42 touchdowns (second-most by a Crimson Tide player). He also had 60 career receptions for 670 yards and four touchdowns.
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Barrett Jones, Offensive Lineman (2008-12)
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Jones’ NFL career didn’t live up to his remarkable time at Alabama. He redshirted in 2008 but played in all 14 games during the Tide’s championship run the following year. In 2011, he moved from guard to left tackle and won the Outland Trophy for another championship squad.Finally, as center in 2012, Jones played a crucial role in Alabama’s third national championship in four seasons and won the Rimington Trophy. Jones earned All-American status at each of these positions.
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Amari Cooper, Wide Receiver (2012-14)
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Cooper’s continuing success in the NFL can be traced back to his time with the Crimson Tide. During his three seasons at Alabama, Cooper achieved impressive stats, including 228 receptions, 3,463 yards, and 31 touchdowns each ranked second in school history. In 2014, he was recognized as the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, unanimous All-American, and winner of the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver.
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Derrick Henry, Running Back (2013-15)
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Many Alabama football enthusiasts and historians consider Henry to be the top footballer in Crimson Tide history. There is compelling reasoning supporting this contention. With 3,591 yards, Henry holds the second position on the college’s all-time rushing list. Additionally, his record of 2,219 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns from 2015 stands as the highest tally for a single season in the program’s history since he was only the second Alabama player to win the Heisman Trophy. Henry also clinched the Maxwell, Doak Walker, and Walter Camp Awards in 2015.
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Minkah Fitzpatrick, Defensive Back (2015-17)
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Fitzpatrick made a significant impact at Alabama right from his freshman year. He returned both interceptions for touchdowns while recording 45 tackles.He ranked among the national leaders in 2016, with six interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, setting a school record. Fitzpatrick finished his collegiate career with nine interceptions, 171 total tackles, and 26 passes defended. He won the Thorpe and Bednarik Awards in 2017, making him a two-time consensus All-American.
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Tua Tagovailoa, Quarterback (2017-19)
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Tagovailoa cemented his place in Alabama football history by throwing the game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith in overtime on January 8, 2018. He also won the Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards while playing for the Tide. Ranking third in school history, his 7,782 career total yards of offense and average of 235.7 yards per game make him the top-performing quarterback in Alabama’s football history.His 96 total touchdowns and 87 passing touchdowns set school records, while his 7,442 career passing yards rank third all-time.
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Najee Harris, Running Back (2017-20)
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Harris holds the record for all-time leading rusher among the legendary running backs who played for the Crimson Tide. He achieved this feat after 55 career games, with a school-best of 3,843 rushing yards and 46 career rushing touchdowns.Last year, he won his second national championship for the Tide, rushing for 1,466 yards and 26 touchdowns. In addition, Harris won the Doak Walker Award after catching 43 passes for 425 yards.
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DeVonta Smith, Wide Receiver (2017-20)
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DeVonta Smith made history by becoming Alabama’s first receiver to win the Heisman award in 2020, overshadowing his teammate Najee Harris who was also a candidate. Smith boasts the school’s all-time records for receptions (235), yards (3,965), and touchdowns (46). His game-winning catch during the 2017 championship game remains one of his most memorable performances. Smith excelled in 2020 with an impressive 117 catches, 1,856 receiving yards, and 23 touchdowns, setting a new standard for Alabama’s receivers. Beyond the Heisman, Smith took home the Maxwell, Walter Camp, and Biletnikoff Awards that same year.
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Will Anderson Jr., Linebacker (2000-present)
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Anderson has quickly become a key player for the Crimson Tide in just two seasons. In 2021, he set a record with 17.5 sacks, placing him third in the school’s history. Additionally, his 24.5 career sacks place him fourth among the program’s all-time leaders. Not only is Anderson one of the best edge rushers at the school, but he also possesses a strong sense for the football. His 34.5 tackles for loss in 2021 rank as the second-highest in a single season by a Crimson Tide player. They significantly contributed to his recognition as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and recipient of the Nagurski Trophy as an All-American player.
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Bryce Young, Quarterback (2000-present)
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The Heisman Trophy winner, Young, aims to repeat Archie Griffin’s (1974, ’75) feat as the only player to have done so. Although a tall order, Young is the best quarterback in the game as we head into the 2022 season. He rightfully earns a place on this list even after just one full season as Alabama’s starter. Young threw for the most passing yards (4,872) and touchdowns (47) in a single season by an Alabama quarterback. His 559 passing yards against Arkansas on November 20th, 2021 represent the highest single-game total in school history.
