Alabama Football: Ranking the Top 10 inside linebackers of the Nick Saban era

6. Rashaan Evans

Career Stats: 150 tackles, 23.5 TFL, 15 sacks, 5 PD, 2 FR, 2 FF across 42 games

Falling just short of the top five with Evans, who originally came to Tuscaloosa as a member of the Crimson Tide’s 2014 recruiting class, rated as a five-star prospect out of in-state Auburn High School. The former five-star was one of Alabama’s most versatile linebackers under Saban, and concluded his four-year Crimson Tide career with a stat line of 150 tackles, 23.5 TFL, 15 sacks, five PD, two FF, and two FR from 2014-17.

A two-year starter in 2016 and 2017, likely the best single-season for Evans at Alabama came as a senior in 2017, compiling 74 tackles with 13 TFL, six sacks, three PD, one FF, and one FR. Evans, a two-time national champion with the Crimson Tide in 2015 and 2017, would also be selected with the No. 22 overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

5. Reggie Ragland

Career Stats: 220 tackles, 17.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 INT, 10 PD, 3 FR, 4 FF across 38+ games

We begin the top five with Ragland, who came to Alabama football as a member of the Crimson Tide’s 2012 recruiting class where he was a highly-rated four-star prospect out of in-state Bob Jones High School. Ragland would be a multi-year starter during his time in Tuscaloosa from 2012-15, and would conclude his collegiate career with 220 tackles, 17.5 TFL, four sacks, one INT, 10 PD, three FR, and four FF.

While his 2014 season was certainly a special one, Ragland, a two-time national champion with the Crimson Tide in 2012 and 2015, was arguably best in 2015 as a senior, amassing 102 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, seven PD, and two FF to be named a Consensus All-American, as well as the 2015 SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Ragland would become a second round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, and is a one-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs.