30 best Alabama football players to play for Nick Saban

Best Alabama football players under Nick Saban: 28. Reuben Foster

Reuben Foster was the best linebacker of his high school class, which is something that always catches the eye of Saban. He usually gets the linebacker he wants in the door. Foster would become a legend for what he could do at Bryant-Denney Stadium.

He debuted for Alabama right away, playing special teams and getting in some plays as a freshman. It was still a slower start than other linebackers who came through the Saban system. He was fighting with first C.J. Mosley and then Reggie Ragland for the middle linebacker position. He finally got his shot in his junior season, and it was clear he was worth the wait.

Foster was all over the field that season. He made 73 tackles in every single way possible. He kept that momentum into his senior season, winning the Butkus Award and becoming a dominant force in the middle of the field. It took him a while to be as great as he was projected to be coming out of high school, but by the time he was a senior, he was that player. Running backs were scared to run against Alabama because of what Foster could do.

Of course, Foster’s name went through the dirt in the NFL because of a long history of arrests and failed drug tests. His history of domestic violence rightfully ended his career. It puts a damper on a tremendous talent.