Alabama football had three dominant linebackers in the 1980s.
Derrick Thomas was a legend, Cornelius Bennett was a legend, and Keith McCants was a legend.
Sadly, Bennett is the lone living legend of the three. Crimson Tide fans mourned Thomas’ death on Feb. 8, 2000, as he tragically passed away from a blood clot that developed after being paralyzed in a car accident. On Thursday, the University of Alabama received painful news.
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According to reports, McCants was found dead in his home at St. Petersburgh, Fla. He was 53 years old. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the situation, and it believes McCants’ death was caused by a drug overdose.
McCants, a native of Mobile, Ala., was a star athlete in football and basketball at Murphy High School. He was a dominant linebacker for the Crimson Tide from 1986 to 1989. Despite the accolades from Thomas and Bennett, McCants finished second on the team in total tackles (78) in 1988. He led Alabama in tackles during four games — Tennessee, Mississippi State, Auburn, and Texas A&M — that year. McCants was the Most Valuable Player in the 1989 Iron Bowl, totaling 18 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble against the Tigers. He collected 119 tackles in 1989, which is sixth all-time in school history for a single season.
McCants was a Unanimous First-Team All-American (1989), first-team All-SEC (1989), SEC co-champion (1989), Dick Butkus Award runner-up (1989), and CBS National Defensive Player of the Year (1989). The talented linebacker was taken at No. 4 overall in the 1990 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played seven years in the pros and totaled 184 tackles with 13.5 sacks.
McCants was a special player, and he will be missed.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “watch” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
