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

2. Rolando McClain

Career Stats: 274 tackles, 31.5 TFL, 8 sacks, 5 INT across 41 games

One of the earliest defensive stars of the Nick Saban era, McClain originally came to Tuscaloosa in the Crimson Tide’s 2007 class out of in-state Decatur High School, where he was rated as a four-star prospect. McClain would certainly go on to become one of the most impactful names of the early Saban era in Tuscaloosa as well, compiling a combined 274 tackles, 31.5 TFL, eight sacks, and five INT’s across his three seasons from 2007-09.

A one-time national champion in 2009, arguably McClain’s best season at Alabama was that junior campaign, a year in which he ranked No. 5 in the SEC with 105 tackles, along with owning 14.5 TFL (No. 3 in SEC) and four sacks. Also receiving honors that season such as Consensus All-American, SEC Player of the Year, and Butkus Award winner, McClain would go on to be selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

1. C.J. Mosley

Career Stats: 317 tackles, 23 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 5 INT, 17 PD, 1 FF across 51 games

Sitting in the No. 1 spot as Alabama’s top inside linebacker under Saban is Mosley, who originally came to Tuscaloosa as a four-star prospect in the Crimson Tide’s 2010 recruiting class out of in-state Theodore High School. Once at Alabama, Mosley would be a major four-year impact player for the Crimson Tide, and would conclude his collegiate career from 2010-13 with a stat line of 317 tackles, 23 TFL, 6.5 sacks, five INT’s (three of which were returned for a TD), 17 PD, and a FF.

A two-time national champion with the Crimson Tide in 2011 and 2012, Mosley was also a two-time Consensus All-American during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, with his 2013 campaign likely the most memorable in which he compiled 106 tackles (No. 4 in SEC) with nine TFL to be named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Butkus Award winner. Mosley’s second-straight 100+ tackle season (also had 107 in 2012), the former four-star would also be selected with the No. 17 overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, where he has made five Pro Bowls since.