Multiple NFL beat writers recently voted Nick Saban as college football’s top-ranked coach, when it comes to developing talent for the professional level.
Saban does the heavy lifting, but it is worthwhile when a coach has talented players that win with hard work and leadership. Pro Football Focus, a website that dives into NFL analytics, named four Crimson Tide standouts to its best 101 NFL players for 2016 list. Wide receivers Julio Jones and Amari Cooper both made the list as former Saban players, as well as linebacker Dont’a Hightower.
Julio Jones, WR—Atlanta Falcons
While Antonio Brown (Pittsburgh Steelers) is widely-regarded as the best wide out in the National Football League, Jones is nothing to sneeze at. He is a physical specimen—6-foot-3, 220 pounds—that attacks the ball at its highest point. Jones is coming off a monster season in 2015, where he set a franchise record for receiving yards (1,871) and totaled eight touchdowns on 136 receptions.
He was named first team All-Pro in 2015 and has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times.
Dont’a Hightower, LB—New England Patriots
Hightower is quickly becoming one of the best linebackers in the NFL.
He’s been to the playoffs four times, with an AFC Conference championship and a Super Bowl title both occurring during the 2014 season. The former first pick (2012 NFL Draft) totaled 61 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in 12 regular-season games last year. Hightower has accounted for 307 tackles, 14.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and 10 passes defended in four seasons.
Amari Cooper, WR—Oakland Raiders
Cooper became the first rookie target and first wide receiver since Randy Moss (2005) to post a 1,000-yard season for the Oakland Raiders. He had five 100-yard performances in the 2015 season, until a knee injury slowed him down late in the year. Cooper had a few games in which he suffered some dropped passes, but overall he brought in 72 receptions for 1,070 yards and six touchdowns.
Evan Mathis, OG—Arizona Cardinals
At age 34, Mathis continues to be a dominated road grader and effective pass protector.
He was named first team All-Pro during his third year with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013; the last time the team made the playoffs. Mathis signed a one-year, $2,5 million contract with the Denver Broncos on Aug. 25, 2015, after disputes with the Eagles concerning a new deal led to his release.
He was a critical part of Denver’s 2015 Super Bowl championship, blocking for 107.4 rushing yards/game and 13 touchdowns. Mathis guided Broncos’ running back C.J. Anderson to 90 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in its 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
He would end up signing a one-year, $6 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals on March 16.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
