Alabama Football: Ranking the Top 10 inside linebackers of the Nick Saban era
By Matt Melton
8. Christian Harris
Career Stats: 220 tackles, 26 TFL, 10 sacks, 1 INT, 6 PD, 1 FR, 2 FF across 40 games
Sitting at No. 8 is Harris, who originally came to Alabama as a four-star prospect in the Crimson Tide’s 2019 recruiting class out of University Lab School in Louisiana. A day one starter as well, Harris would spend three seasons in Tuscaloosa from 2019-21, amassing a combined 220 tackles, 26 TFL, 10 sacks, one INT, six PD, one FR, and two FF.
Harris, who was a one-time national champion at Alabama in 2020, likely posted his best single-season in Tuscaloosa as a junior in 2021, where he amassed 80 tackles, 11.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks, and three PD, while also ranking No. 5 in the SEC with two FF. The former four-star would later go on to be selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
7. Henry To’oTo’o
Career Stats: 205 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 1 PD, 1 FF across 28 games
The most recent Alabama football inside linebacker to make this list is To’oTo’o at No. 7, who was a former highly-rated four-star prospect out of De La Salle High School in California in 2019 prior to attending Tennessee for his first two collegiate seasons. To’oTo’o would transfer to Alabama prior to the 2021 season, and would go on to start for two seasons for the Crimson Tide, amassing 205 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, one PD, and one FF from 2021-22.
To’oTo’o’s best season at Alabama likely came in 2021, where he would rank No. 4 in the SEC with 111 tackles, while also compiling 7.5 TFL, four sacks, one PD, and one FF. After his two seasons at Alabama, To’oTo’o would be selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.