Alabama’s star-studded 2008 signing class featured seven future All-Americans, including the program’s first Heisman winner and the only three-time All-SEC defensive back in two decades.

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It’s collection of well-rounded linebackers make it the strongest — and most decorated — haul at the position in the SEC during the BCS era:

  • Courtney Upshaw, four-star (All-American 2011; second-round pick 2012)
  • Dont’a Hightower, four-star (All-American 2011, first-round pick 2012)
  • Chris Jordan, four-star (33 career tackles, undrafted)
  • Jerrell Harris, four-star (59 career tackles, undrafted)

As leaders of the one of the nation’s top defenses during their tenure, Upshaw and Hightower shined as seniors during the 2011 campaign, earning All-American status along with their second BCS National Championship at its conclusion.

From 2008 to 2011, Alabama owned the SEC’s stingiest defense three seasons and strengthened Nick Saban’s ascension into coaching greatness, putting him in Bear Bryant’s vicinity as the Crimson Tide’s most impressive sideline leader in program history.

Jordan and Harris were four-year contributors (who didn’t transfer like most highly-recruited non-starters) but never climbed defensive coordinator Kirby Smart’s depth chart impact players.

Upshaw and Hightower were very different linebackers, but each possessed a set of skills that blended nicely with Smart’s multiple complex defense. Saban prefers a 3-4 base alignment, but the Crimson Tide utilized several different looks to confuse and dominate opposing offenses.

In 2011, Alabama’s senior pair combined for 29 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, giving the Crimson Tide a college football rarity by year’s end — two All-Americans in the same position group. During the national championshp game against LSU that season, Alabama’s senior leadership at linebacker came full circle as Saban’s unit posted the only shutout in BCS history.