Minkah Fitzpatrick was a key part of an Alabama defense that helped lead the Crimson Tide to two College Football Playoff titles, so it’s no surprise that Alabama fans still hold a special place in his heart.

As the Miami Dolphins’ first-round pick prepares for his first NFL season, he took some time to look back on his outstanding college career.

As you can see in the video below, shared by The Players’ Tribune on Twitter, Fitzpatrick describes just how special Crimson Tide fans were to him:

“It’s awesome to be a part of the Crimson Tide family,” he says. “The fans love us, good or bad. There were some games where I played and I didn’t play my best and they weren’t bringing me down, they were lifting me up, and there’s not a lot of places that will do that. We walk around town and everyone is very respectful. They look up to us because they don’t have a pro team. They don’t have a baseball team, a basketball team or nothing like that, so we’re kind of like their pro team.”

As Fitzpatrick readies himself for his rookie season in Miami, it’s safe to say he’ll be keeping a close eye on the Tide and cheering them on whenever he has a chance to watch them on TV.