30 best Alabama football players to play for Nick Saban

Best Alabama football players under Nick Saban: 5. Barrett Jones

How well does a center have to be to get this high on the list? Barrett Jones was one of the best centers in college football this era. However, he wasn’t just a center. Jones played every offensive line position for Alabama. In his second year, he started as a guard but moved to left tackle because of injuries to the position. This was after winning a national title in his first year while playing guard. He helped Alabama win another title in his sophomore season.

Jones switched from tackle to center, an unprecedented move and one that would likely hurt his draft stock, but it’s something he did for the good of the team. Jones was a team player from day one, and it helped Alabama win another national title.

Jones is one of the most decorated offensive linemen in the history of college football. In 2011 alone he won the Wuerffel Trophy, Outland Trophy, Jacobs Blocking Trophy, and the Jim Parker Trophy. Then, in his senior season, he added to his trophy case. He won the William V. Campbell Trophy and the Rimington Trophy. He was a two-time All-American and an academic All-American on top of that.

Jones was one of the greatest representations of what Alabama wanted its players to represent. His greatness on the field was only outdone by his greatness off of it. To be such a huge part of the community while also showing his smarts in the classroom and dominating for a three-time national champion at three different positions is just a gigantic accomplishment.