Former Alabama linebacker defends Nick Saban against attacks on his stance on NIL

Former Alabama football linebacker and host of “The Millers’ Edge” Christian Miller came to the defense of his college head football coach Nick Saban on Wednesday.

Saban talked to several United States Senators on Capitol Hill and testified at a hearing about the Protect College Sports Act in hopes it could put guardrails around the NIL and transfer portal era. The former Alabama coach’s statement was met with different responses. Some of those responses attacked Saban, who some feel benefited from a system where college athletes were not able to make money. Miller defended Saban against those claims.

“People really believe Coach Saban had to throw money around to get top recruits,” Miller posted to X. “Being developed by the best, competing for national championships every year, and all the NFL draft picks was the selling point. The dynasty spoke for itself. Was a no-brainer once I got my offer.”

Miller played for Saban from 2015 to 2018 before getting drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Saban discussed the current landscape of college athletics during the hearing.

“It’s become an arms race, who spends the most has got the best chance to win,” Saban said. “But I think it’s a race to the bottom because if you don’t spend to win, you lose your fan base and you don’t have any revenue.”