Even on an Alabama defense full of stars, junior LB Shaun Dion Hamilton stands out. With 63 total tackles, he’s second on the team, behind only Reuben Foster’s 83.

As the Crimson Tide prepare for Saturday afternoon’s SEC Championship Game against Florida, the Gators will be reminded of what could have been.

Hamilton told 247Sports that he almost chose the Gators over the Crimson Tide during his recruiting process:

“It was one of my top schools, I had a lot of love for Coach (Will) Muschamp and the program,” Hamilton said. “Florida, for a long time, was known for having one of the best defenses in the country ever since one of the guys I looked up to in high school, Brandon Spikes, he was a straight dog. So I’ve got a lot of respect for Florida.”

Hamilton’s father, Shelton, said his son simply wanted to play for a top school:

“He grew up where what Alabama is now, that’s what a Florida Gator was,” Shelton Hamilton said. “You dream about going to the best school. … You know kids like champions, and I guarantee a Florida kid is probably, right now, loving Alabama because they’re winning every year and that’s your dream school.”

However, when the Montgomery native eventually decided to stay close to home and attend the University of Alabama, Shelton Hamilton said it was the best option available to his son:

“It was a business decision,” Shelton Hamilton said. “That’s where the best defensive-minded players normally go.”

Florida and Alabama square off in Atlanta at 4 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday. The game can be seen on CBS.