The Alabama football program has acted like a stepping stone to the National Football League, and they can thank Nick Saban for that. Saban’s first year in Tuscaloosa in was 2007, and in 2008, the Crimson Tide had zero players drafted into the NFL for the first time since 1961, giving you an idea of the lack of talent Alabama had when Saban arrived.
But since then, things have changed. Alabama has put together top recruiting class after top recruiting class, which has led to national championships, and ultimately Crimson Tide players being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.