Nick Saban downplays recruiting rankings, shades Damien Harris
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Nick Saban dominated college football recruiting during his legendary career, particularly during his decorated Alabama tenure. If any fan thinks Saban was influenced by star-ratings, they couldn’t be more wrong.
Saban was on The Pat McAfee Show ahead of Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship between No. 1 seed Indiana and No. 10 seed Miami. Looking at the rosters from a recruiting perspective of “star-power,” they couldn’t be further apart. That topic led Saban to call out recruiting rankings. He also made a curious comparison sure to get the attention of Crimson Tide fans.
“Well, you know, I got a little theory about the first part of what you said about the stars,” Nick Saban said. “We never, ever looked at, I know (Indiana coach Curt Cignetti) doesn’t either, at how many stars a guy has, because I think what you all need to do is look at who’s giving out the stars. They don’t know their ass from a handful of sand when it comes to what a football player is. So why would you as a coach depend on somebody who’s not even a coach evaluating players to give them stars?
“You know, I say all the time, Josh Jacobs had no stars. Damien Harris was a 5-star. They were both really good players, don’t get me wrong, but Josh Jacobs was a first-round draft pick and Damien Harris was a third-round pick. Josh Jacobs (is) still playing. Damian Harris is not.”
While Jacobs wasn’t a 5-star recruit, Saban’s “no stars” description is a bit exaggerated. He was rated 4-stars, the No. 2 player in Oklahoma and No. 6 all-purpose back by 247Sports. He was, however, just a 3-star on the industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings, checking in at No. 463 overall in his class.
Saban’s mention of Damien Harris is sure to turn some heads. Harris is now a CBS Sports analyst, and the former Alabama running back has offered his share of hot takes, including that Notre Dame deserved to make the Playoff over the Tide.
Nick Saban went there. pic.twitter.com/KMAbOe5Bm1
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) January 19, 2026
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
