Ranking the 16 Alabama players of all time, from Derrick Henry to Jonathan Allen

How much of an impact did Nick Saban have on the Alabama football program? 

Imagine what the list of greatest players looked like before his arrival. Of course, there are program legends from the Bear Bryant era such as Lee Roy Jordan, Joe Namath and John Hannah. Derrick Thomas is a mainstay under coach Ray Perkins, and Antonio Langham was among the brightest spots of the Gene Stallings' era. 

The rest of Sporting News' list is composed of former Saban players. There are four Heisman Trophy winners, including Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, DeVonta Smith and Bryce Young. There were some tough decisions when balancing out that list — which is loaded. 

Here was the formula Sporting News used to determine the top players for each school: 

• Heisman Trophy winner: 10 points
• Heisman top-five finish: 2nd place (4 points), 3rd place (3 points), 4th place (2 points), 5th place (1 point) 
• Major awards (3 points): Maxwell, Walter Camp, Doak Walker, Davey O'Brien, Unitas, Biletnikoff, Mackey, Outland, Lombardi, Rimington, Outland, Bednarik, Nagurski, Butkus, Thorpe, Groza, Guy, Hendricks, Campbell, Lott, Hornung, Wuerffel, Manning
• Consensus All-American: 3 points
• Legacy (15-1 points, AP Poll style with first place receiving 15 points): A subjective ranking of those players' standing in school history. 
• Stats (15-1 points, AP Poll style): A subjective look at a player's statistics by era. Are they a school record-holder? 

MORE: Ranking the 15 greatest Ohio State players of all time

16. Jonathan Allen, DE (2013-16) 

Alabama accolades: Lombardi Award (2016), Bednarik Award (2016), Nagurski Trophy (2016), Hendricks Award (2016), Consensus All-American (2016) 

Why he made SN's list: Allen developed into one of Nick Saban's best defensive lineman with a dominant two-year stretch from 2015-16 where he totaled 22.5 sacks and 31 tackles for loss. He played in the first three College Football Playoffs from 2014-16 and led Alabama to a national championship in 2015. 

Place in Crimson Tide history: Allen and Quinnen Williams are the last two Unanimous All-Americans on the defensive line for Alabama — and both have gone on to successful NFL careers. Allen had the more decorated college career, so he gets the edge. 

MORE: Jonathan Allen's 'business decision' to stay at Alabama pays off

15. John Hannah, G (1970-72) 

Alabama accolades: Consensus All-American (1972) 

Why he made SN's list: Hannah played tackle and guard for Alabama during a three-year run in which the Crimson Tide compiled a 21-3 record in his final two seasons. Hannah was part of two SEC championship teams, and he went on to a Pro Football Hall of Fame career.  

Place in Crimson Tide history: Hannah epitomized the toughness of the Bear Bryant era more than any other offensive lineman. "(Bryant) demanded that we practice harder than we played, and he believed strongly that you're not going to play unless you practice hard," Hannah told AL.com. "So he brainwashed me into believing that, I guess. That's just the way I had to go after it."

MORE: The best two-way players in NFL history

14. Najee Harris, RB (2017-20) 

Alabama accolades: Heisman Trophy fifth place (2020), Doak Walker Award (2020), Consensus All-American (2020) 

Why he made SN's list: Harris was a versatile four-year running back for the Crimson Tide, and he is the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,843 yards. Harris also averaged 35 catches and 365 receiving yards in his final two seasons.

Place in Crimson Tide history: Harris is one of three Alabama running backs on this list, and he left with two national championships in 2017 and 2020. He was a key piece on one of the best offenses in FBS history in 2020. 

MORE: Revisiting Jim Harbaugh's attempt to recruit Najee Harris to Michigan

13. Mac Jones, QB (2017-20) 

Alabama accolades: Heisman Trophy third place (2020), Davey O'Brien Award (2020), Unitas Golden Arm Award (2020), Manning Award (2020), Consensus All-American (2020) 

Why he made SN's list: Jones filled in for Tua Tagovailoa in 2019, which launched one of the best single seasons in Alabama history. Jones passed for 4,500 yards with 41 TDs and four interceptions as part of a Crimson Tide offense that averaged 48.5 points per game. 

Place in Crimson Tide history: Jones passed for 464 yards and five TDs in the 52-24 blowout against Ohio State in the CFP championship game. Yes, Jones played with a loaded cast that included DeVonta Smith and Najee Harris, but Jones deserves credit for that outstanding season with the Crimson Tide. 

MORE: Why did the 49ers draft Trey Lance over Mac Jones?

12. Mark Ingram, RB (2008-10)

Alabama accolades: Heisman Trophy winner (2009), Consensus All-American (2009) 

Why he made SN's list: Ingram rushed for 1,658 yards and 17 TDs in 2009 and led the Crimson Tide to their first national championship under Nick Saban. Ingram's hard-nosed running style was a hit — and he rushed for 116 yards and two TDs in the 37-21 victory against Texas in the BCS championship.   

Place in Crimson Tide history: Ingram's legacy as the school's first Heisman Trophy winner stands, and he's visible today as an analyst on Fox's "Big Noon Kickoff" show. Ingram ranks seventh all time in school history with 3,261 yards and 42 TDs. He set the tone for the lineage of All-American running backs at Alabama that followed. 

MORE: 16 NFL stars you didn't know were also drafted by MLB teams

11. Joe Namath, QB (1961-64)

Alabama accolades: National champion (1964) 

Why he made SN's list: Namath was a three-year starter at Alabama, and the Crimson Tide had a 29-4 record in those three seasons. Namath became the star quarterback for Bear Bryant, and he led Alabama to the 1964 national championship despite the 21-17 loss to Texas in the Cotton Bowl. 

Place in Crimson Tide history: Namath is the ultimate legacy pick. He does not have a collection of awards, but there is no question he belongs on this list — and most old-school Alabama fans will think this ranking is too low. Namath's swagger and down-field passing translated at the next level with the New York Jets. 

MORE: Joe Namath says alcoholism would have killed him if he hadn't stopped drinking

10. Antonio Langham, CB (1990-93) 

Alabama accolades: Thorpe Award (1993), Consensus All-American (1993) 

Why he made SN's list: Langham still holds the school record with 19 career interceptions, and he was the best defensive back in the nation during Alabama's national championship run in 1992 for a defense that allowed just 9.1 points per game. Langham helped Alabama beat No. 1 Miami 34-13 in the 1993 Sugar Bowl. "I expected it to be a whole lot tougher," Langham said afterward. "But we rattled them before they could think clearly."

Place in Crimson Tide history: Langham's 27-yard interception return in the 1992 SEC championship game — the first of its kind — is one of the most-memorable plays in school history. Langham was found to receive improper benefits the following season, which forced Alabama to forfeit eight wins that season. 

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9. Barrett Jones, C (2008-12)  

Alabama accolades: Rimington Trophy (2012), Outland Trophy (2011), Wuerffel Trophy (2011), Campbell Trophy (2012), Consensus All-American (2011, 2012) 

Why he made SN's list: Perhaps no player represented the Crimson Tide on and off the field better than Jones, who started at tackle, guard and center for three BCS national championship teams, and he emerged as the best center in the country in 2012. He is the most-decorated offensive lineman of the Saban era. 

Place in Crimson Tide history: This is about right. Jones always will be remembered for playing through a foot injury in his final college game — a 42-14 victory against Notre Dame. Jones also carried a 4.0 GPA and won the Wuerffel Trophy and Campbell Trophy, awards that recognize excellence in the classroom and community.  

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8. Will Anderson Jr., LB (2020-22) 

Alabama accolades: Heisman Trophy fifth place (2022), Nagurski Trophy (2021, 2022), Lombardi Award (2022), Bednarik Award (2022), Lott Trophy (2022), Consensus All-American (2021-22) 

Why he made SN's list: Anderson had 27.5 sacks and 52 tackles for loss during a dominant two-year stretch where he was the best edge rusher in college football. He helped Alabama win the 2020 CFP championship against Ohio State. 

Place in Crimson Tide history: Anderson's consistency off the edge stood out most during that two-year stretch — where he had at least one tackle for loss in all but two games. He has 18 sacks in two seasons with the Houston Texans. 

MORE: Why Will Anderson picked Alabama over Georgia

7. A.J. McCarron, QB (2009-13) 

Alabama accolades: Heisman Trophy second place (2013), Maxwell Award (2013), Unitas Golden Arm Award (2013) 

Why he made SN's list: McCarron had a 36-4 record as a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide, and he was a member of three BCS championship teams. That might have been four if not for the "Kick Six" against Auburn in 2013. He is the school's all-time leader with 9,019 career passing yards. McCarron averaged 249 passing yards with four TDS and no interceptions in BCS championship victories against LSU and Notre Dame. 

Place in Crimson Tide history: McCarron was the Heisman Trophy runner-up as a senior, and he stands out as the ultimate winner under Saban. McCarron was 13-4 against ranked teams in his three seasons as a starter — and you could make an argument he should be higher than the other two QBs on this list. 

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6. Bryce Young, QB (2020-22) 

Alabama accolades: Heisman Trophy (2021), Maxwell Award (2021), Davey O'Brien Award (2021), Manning Award (2021), Consensus All-American (2021)

Why he made SN's list: Young was the backup QB on the CFP championship team in 2020 before a prolific two-year run as the starter where he compiled a 23-4 record. Young set the Alabama single-season record with 47 TD passes in 2021 and led the Crimson Tide to the CFP championship game in 2022.  

Place in Crimson Tide history: Would you flip Young and McCarron? It's a fair argument given the championship separator, but our formula favors Young. He finished with 80 TDs, 12 interceptions in three seasons. The five-star quarterback lived up to the hype and was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

MORE: Alabama quarterback Bryce Young named Sporting News' 2021 Player of the Year

5. Lee Roy Jordan, LB (1960-62)  

Alabama accolades: Heisman Trophy fourth place (1962), Consensus All-American (1962) 

Why he made SN's list: Jordan was the driving force of Alabama's defense during a three-year period in which the Crimson Tide allowed 3.5 points per game through 33 games from 1960-62. That run led to the first national championship under Bear Bryant in 1961. 

Place in Crimson Tide history: Jordan capped his career with 31 tackles in a 17-0 victory against Oklahoma in the 1963 Orange Bowl — which still stands as one of the greatest individual efforts in bowl history. He earned high praise from his coach. Bryant said, "He was one of the finest football players the world has ever seen."

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4. Tua Tagovailoa, QB (2017-19) 

Alabama accolades: Heisman Trophy second place (2018), Maxwell Award (2018), Walter Camp Award (2018), Consensus All-American (2018) 

Why he made SN's list: Tagovailoa split time with Jalen Hurts as a freshman before launching his career with the 26-23 victory against Georgia in the CFP championship. He hit DeVonta Smith for the game-winning TD on second-and-26 in overtime. From there, Tagovailoa — who finished 22-2 as a starter — emerged as one of the best QBs in college football for the next two seasons. 

Place in Crimson Tide history: Tagovailoa finished with 7,442 yards, 87 TDs and 11 interceptions. He led Alabama to the CFP championship game as a sophomore, and his junior season was cut short by injuries. Alabama averaged 46.4 points per game in the two seasons where Tagovailoa was the starter. 

MORE: Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa named Sporting News' 2018 Player of the Year

3. Derrick Thomas, LB (1985-88)

Alabama accolades: Butkus Award (1988), Consensus All-American (1988) 

Why he made SN's list: Sacks were not tracked by the NCAA, but Thomas has the unofficial NCAA single-season record with 27 sacks in 1988. He finished with 52 sacks for the Crimson Tide. Those numbers remain the standard for edge rushers today. 

Place in Crimson Tide history: If you want to put Thomas at No. 1 on this list, then we will not put up a fight. He is on the short list of most-dominant defensive players in college football history. Thomas had 126.5 sacks with the Kansas City Chiefs — a career that was cut short when he died in 2000 two weeks after a car accident. Thomas' legacy remains as the best defensive player in program history. 

MORE: Ranking the 16 greatest Chiefs players of all time

2. DeVonta Smith, WR (2017-20) 

Alabama accolades: Heisman Trophy (2020), Walter Camp Award (2020), Maxwell Award (2020), Biletnikoff Award (2020), Hornung Award (2020) 

Why he made SN's list: Smith played on two CFP championship teams — and he became the first receiver to win the Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard in 1991. Smith put together a remarkable 2020 season that included 117 catches for 1,856 yards and 23 TDs. He also had a punt return for a TD. He holds Alabama school records for receptions (235), receiving yards (3,965) and TDs (46). 

Place in Crimson Tide history: Smith made the legendary catch to beat Georgia in the CFP championship game as a freshman, and he closed his career with 12 catches for 215 yards and three TDs in the CFP championship against Ohio State. Alabama produced eight first-round receivers under Saban. Smith stood out the most. 

MORE: Alabama WR DeVonta Smith named Sporting News' 2020 Player of the Year

1. Derrick Henry, RB (2013-15) 

Alabama accolades: Heisman Trophy (2015), Maxwell Award (2015), Walter Camp Award (2015), Doak Walker Award (2015), Consensus All-American (2015) 

Why he made SN's list: Henry rushed for 2,219 yards and 28 TDs as part of one of the best individual seasons in college football history — and he led Alabama to the CFP championship that season. He scored at least one TD in every game that season — and closed his career with 158 yards and three TDs in the 45-40 victory against Clemson in the CFP championship. 

Place in Crimson Tide history: Henry finished with 3,591 yards and 42 TDs in three seasons. That one season, however, helped re-establish the Saban dynasty in the CFP era, and Henry lived up to the hype from his record-setting high school career. That continues in the NFL, where he rushed for 11,423 yards and 106 TDs.

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