Alabama Football: Best player to wear each jersey number in Saban era
By Dakota Cox
Alabama football jersey rankings 46-50
No. 46: Michael Nysewander
Honestly, there were practically no players to choose from for this number. Michael Nysewander was a tight end and special teams player that saw action in 10 total games in college. In those games, he made seven tackles, caught three passes, and scored two touchdowns. Nothing too flashy, but he’s the best we’ve got.
No. 47: Christian Miller
Christian Miller had to overcome multiple injuries while he played for the Tide, including one at the end of his senior year that affected his ability to prepare for the NFL Draft. While he was on the field, he spent most of it behind the line of scrimmage. He registered 15.5 tackles for loss and 11 total sacks, eight of which came in his senior year. Miller is simply a monster. Injury concerns kept him from being drafted high, but those concerns also hurt Eddie Jackson’s draft stock, and he is now one of the best safeties in football. If Miller can stay healthy, he will have a stellar NFL career that will leave 31 draft rooms scratching their heads, wondering why they didn’t draft him.
No. 48: Phidarian Mathis
Phidarian Mathis is a sophomore defensive tackle that will play part of the role of replacing Quinnen Williams. He has big shoes to fill, but there is no reason to believe he isn’t capable. He’s one of those players who simply had to wait his turn. Assuming DJ Dale doesn’t steal the job from him, he will make the most of his opportunity this season.
No. 49: Rashad Johnson
Rashad Johnson is one of the few Saban players not to win a ring. This is only because he declared for the draft as opposed to returning for his senior season. He had a lot of talent around him, and his body of work was good enough to have him drafted in the third round. In his two years as a consistent piece in the secondary, he got 12 tackles for loss and 11 interceptions. As a junior, he took two of his interceptions to the house for touchdowns.
No. 50: Alphonse Taylor
Alphonse Taylor started for right guard for two years with the Tide. If you look for him now, you’d probably find him on Twitter as one of the most Twitter famous Alabama players. He tweets about games, news and general support for the Tide. His play at guard would’ve been enough to earn him this designation. His social media presence in the Alabama fan community is simply a bonus.