Decade of Dominance: Alabama's All-Nick Saban Team (2007-16)

Now in his 10th season at Alabama, coach Nick Saban has already won four national championships. He could very well be on his way to a fifth.

The Crimson Tide head into their bye week undefeated at 8-0, firmly atop the SEC West and a near-unanimous choice as the No. 1 team in America. Offense, defense, special teams — this might be his most complete squad in Tuscaloosa yet.

Along the way for ‘Bama, Saban has produced 31 All-Americans, 18 first-round draft picks and a pair of Heisman Trophy winners. With the way he’s recruited, stockpiling four- and five-star talent at a dizzying pace, his program resembles an NFL farm club at this point. Only the best of the best at the high school level need apply.

As a result, coming up with an All-Saban team that best represents his tenure with the Tide was a tall task. Some of those All-Americans and first-rounders — even one of said Heisman winners — ended up on the cutting-room floor.

Upon gazing at the list below, perhaps it’s fair to wonder why Saban hasn’t captured six or seven national titles for Big Al.

quarterback

AJ McCarron (2010-13)

Labeled as nothing more than a game manager for the majority of his career, McCarron was actually quite prolific throwing the ball.

A three-year starter, McCarron ended his reign in Tuscaloosa with a completion percentage of 66.9 and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 77-to-15. He was particularly productive as a junior with 30 TDs against only 3 INTs.

Most important, of course, McCarron was under center for two of Saban’s four national championships (2011-12) at Alabama. If not for the infamous “Kick Six” in 2013, he could’ve won three BCS titles in a row. His overall record as a starter was 36-4. With him at the controls, the Crimson Tide were never ranked lower than No. 4.

A fifth-round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2014 NFL Draft, McCarron has started three games and posted a 2-1 mark.

Honorable Mention: Greg McElroy (2007-10)

running back

Derrick Henry (2013-15)
Trent Richardson (2009-11)

Glen Coffee, Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Eddie Lacy, T.J. Yeldon, Derrick Henry — it’s been an embarrassment of riches in the backfield.

All of them assembled at least one 1,000-yard campaign for the Tide, and each was taken no later than the third round of the draft. While their success in the NFL has been hit and miss, they were all sensational in college.

But Henry and Richardson were the best of the bunch. Henry set all-time SEC single-season records in 2015 with 395 carries, 2,219 yards rushing and 28 rushing touchdowns. Finally getting his chance to start in 2011 after backing up Ingram for two years, Richardson amassed 1,679 yards and 21 TDs on 283 attempts.

That leaves Ingram, the program’s first Heisman Trophy winner in 2009, off the roster. Even as he was putting up a 271-1,658-17 stat line on the ground, Richardson sometimes looked like the better back in a reserve role.

While Richardson was a bust in the pros and Henry’s career is off to a slow start, both were just about unstoppable for Saban.

Honorable Mention: Mark Ingram (2008-10)

wide receiver

Amari Cooper (2012-14)
Julio Jones (2008-10)

Jones set the Alabama freshman standard with 924 yards receiving in 2008. Cooper then broke that mark with 999 in 2012.

The best receiver on the team the moment he arrived on campus, Jones registered 179 catches for 2,653 yards and 15 touchdowns in three seasons at Alabama. He ranks third all-time for the Crimson Tide in both receptions and yards receiving.

Cooper authored the most productive campaign Bama had ever seen for a wideout in 2014, reeling in 124 passes for 1,727 yards and 16 TDs. All three figures are school records by a wide margin. Those 124 grabs shattered an SEC record, too.

Both were first-round picks, Jones to the Atlanta Falcons and Cooper to the Oakland Raiders, and each is now a Pro Bowler.

Honorable Mention: Calvin Ridley (2015-16)

tight end

O.J. Howard (2013-16)

A matchup nightmare at 6-foot-6 and 251 pounds, Howard doesn’t necessarily demand the ball and tends to disappear from time to time.

However, when he does get his hands on the pigskin, everyone always wonders why he isn’t the focal point of the passing attack. In the College Football Playoff National Championship Game last January, Howard had 5 catches for 208 yards and 2 touchdowns because Clemson was so worried about Henry on the ground and Ridley out wide.

Howard has been quiet again in 2016, only topping 40 yards twice in eight games, but he’s a stick of dynamite just waiting to explode.

Honorable Mention: Brad Smelley (2008-11)

offensive tackle

D.J. Fluker (2010-12)
Andre Smith (2007-08)

A three-year starter at right tackle, Fluker was an integral part of Saban’s back-to-back national championship teams in 2011-12. A first-team All-American, he went on to be a first-round choice of the San Diego Chargers.

Saban inherited Smith, who was billed as the best offensive line prospect coming out of high school since Orlando Pace. He blocked his way to the Outland Trophy as a junior before being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in Round 1.

Honorable Mention: Cam Robinson (2014-16)

guard

Chance Warmack (2009-12)
Mike Johnson (2007-09)

Like the aforementioned Fluker, Warmack started on the road-grading offensive line that produced a pair of BCS titles in 2011-12. The Tennessee Titans made him a first-rounder, which is rare at the guard position.

Johnson actually preceded Warmack at left guard. Like Smith, Johnson was already in Tuscaloosa by the time Saban arrived. Nevertheless, Saban helped develop him into an All-American and a third-round pick of the Falcons.

Honorable Mention: Arie Kouandjio (2011-14)

center

Barrett Jones (2009-12)

Arguably the most versatile blocker Saban has ever coached, Jones started his first two seasons at right guard, switched to left tackle as a junior and then switched again to center as a senior. In addition to three national championships, he won the Outland Trophy in 2011 at left tackle and the Rimington Award in 2012 at center.

A consensus All-American each of his last two years, Jones went to the next level as a fourth-round selection by the then-St. Louis Rams.

Honorable Mention: Ryan Kelly (2012-15)

defensive tackle

Marcell Dareus (2008-10)

Relatively quiet as a freshman, Dareus burst onto the scene as a sophomore in 2009 with a team-leading 6.5 sacks. After returning an interception 28 yards for a touchdown, he was named MVP of the BCS title game victory.

Dareus was equally dominant as a junior, finishing second on the Crimson Tide with 11.0 tackles for loss and first with 10 quarterback hurries.

Declaring a year early for the draft, Dareus was taken in Round 1 by the Buffalo Bills and earned All-Pro honors in 2014.

Honorable Mention: Terrence Cody (2008-09)

defensive end

Jonathan Allen (2013-16)
A’Shawn Robinson (2013-15)

Allen could have gone to the pros last spring, but he came back to Alabama to prove to scouts that he’s an every-down player. He’s done so, leading an Alabama team that’s currently No. 1 nationally in both rushing defense and sacks.

The Tide have scored nine times defensively in eight games. Allen is responsible for two of them with a pair of fumble-return TDs.

Unlike Allen, Robinson did depart for the NFL following his junior season. A national champion in 2015, he was a productive defender along the D-line for three years and totaled 22 tackles for loss during his time at ‘Bama.

Named an All-American by every service that matters this past year, Robinson was a second-round choice of the Detroit Lions.

Honorable Mention: Wallace Gilberry (2007)

inside linebacker

Reggie Ragland (2012-15)
Rolando McClain (2007-09)

The man in the middle for a defense that won Saban’s fourth national title in seven years, Ragland led Alabama in 2015 with 102 tackles. Also effective against the pass, he had 2.5 sacks, 7 passes broken up and 6 QB hurries.

While he had to wait until his junior season to be a starter, Ragland blossomed into an All-American. He went in Round 2 to the Bills.

McClain was part of Saban’s first recruiting class in Tuscaloosa. In 2007, he was a member of the conference’s All-Freshman Team. By 2008, he had earned First-Team All-SEC honors. Come 2008, he was a consensus All-American.

On the heels of winning a national championship and the Butkus Award, McClain left early for the NFL and was a first-rounder to the Raiders.

Honorable Mention: C.J. Mosley (2010-13)

outside linebacker

Tim Williams (2013-16)
Courtney Upshaw (2008-11)

Williams only played on third down this past season as part of Saban’s substitution package, but he still finished second on the squad with 10.5 sacks. Finally a full-time starter this year, he has 6.5 sacks in eight games.

A pure pass rusher in every sense of the term, Williams is flying up draft boards and looks like a lock for Round 1 this spring.

Upshaw paced Alabama in sacks in 2010 with 7.0, then he recorded 9.5 more in 2011 to again lead the way. He earned MVP honors in the Capital One Bowl as a junior and was named defensive MVP of the BCS title game as a senior.

A second-round selection of the Baltimore Ravens in 2012, he went from national champion to Super Bowl champion as a rookie.

Honorable Mention: Xzavier Dickson (2011-14)

cornerback

Dee Milliner (2010-12)
Dre Kirkpatrick (2009-11)

Starting 11 of 13 games right out of high school, Milliner was recognized as a Freshman All-American. Mostly relegated to nickel and dime packages as a sophomore, he still led that national title-winning team with 3 interceptions and returned one of them 35 yards for a touchdown in the Iron Bowl.

Finally the top corner in Tuscaloosa as a junior, Milliner became an All-American on the strength of his 22 passes defensed, which tied for first nationally. Come draft time, he was a first-rounder to the New York Jets.

Kirkpatrick was the reason Milliner got overshadowed for a large part of his ‘Bama career. While he played sparingly for the 2009 team that won the BCS title, Kirkpatrick had 3 INTs and an impressive 53 tackles in 2010. He didn’t pick off a pass in 2011 because quarterbacks wouldn’t throw at him, but he was an All-American nonetheless.

A member of two national championship teams, Kirkpatrick also declared early for the draft and went to the Bengals in Round 1.

Honorable Mention: Javier Arenas (2007-09)

safety

Landon Collins (2012-14)
Mark Barron (2008-11)

Straight out of high school, Collins mostly contributed on special teams for Saban’s 2012 club that won the national title.

In the starting lineup as a sophomore, Collins proved to be a punishing tackler and was credited with 69 stops. He also put some serious athleticism on display, picking off a pass and returning it 89 yards for a TD.

Collins was an All-American as a junior and led the Tide in tackles with 102. He went in Round 2 to the New York Giants.

As for Barron, he also played sparingly as a freshman. But as a sophomore, he racked up 74 tackles and led the SEC with 7 picks.

Come junior year, his play was enough to warrant an All-American selection by the Football Writers Association of America. By the time his senior season came around, he was a consensus All-American and won a second BCS championship.

Based on his 12 interceptions and 22 passes broken up in 39 starts, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers grabbed Barron in Round 1.

Honorable Mention: Rashad Johnson (2007-08)

kicker

Leigh Tiffin (2007-09)

Although he curiously struggled with extra points as a senior on a team that won the national title in 2009, Tiffin was 30-of-35 on field-goal attempts. That’s a conversion rate of 85.7 percent. For his career he was 83-of-111 on field goals, which equates to 74.8 percent. He is the program’s all-time leading scorer with 385 points.

Honorable Mention: Jeremy Shelley (2009-12)

punter

JK Scott (2014-16)

As a freshman two years ago, Scott led the SEC by averaging an even 48 yards per punt. He fell to fifth in the conference last season, yet his average of 44.2 was more than respectable. Averaging 47.5 in 2016, he doesn’t have enough attempts to qualify for the league lead because Alabama hardly ever needs him.

Honorable Mention: Cody Mandell (2010-13)

specialist

Javier Arenas (2007-09)

Three services named Arenas an All-American in 2009 at cornerback, while two others similarly recognized him as a punt returner. During his stay with the Crimson Tide, he averaged a school-record 14 yards per punt return. He returned at least one for a touchdown in four consecutive years, finishing with 7 total.

Honorable Mention: Cyrus Jones (2012-15)

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John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.