ESPN Search

Alabama walked the tightrope to the national championship and found solid footing on the sandy beaches of Miami. The Crimson Tide players can't expect that to happen again.

After bouncing around pro baseball for 10 years, Jai Miller returned to Alabama. The 28-year-old's journey was long but led to a chance with the Tide.

Alabama offensive guard Athony Steen pitched the equivalent of 14 consecutive perfect games: no penalties and no sacks all season. It wasn't enough to get him much recognition on a stellar offensive line, however.

Alabama's defense was No. 1 last season even with a few flaws, a testament to Nick Saban and Kirby Smart's system. This spring, they'll try to improve it.

TideNation's best guess at the top 25 players by position during Nick Saban's tenure at Alabama: 11 on offense, 11 on defense and three on special teams during a six-year span that's produced three national championships.

Alabama's AD knows that the constant turnover among Nick Saban's assistance is certainly nothing to sweat. Moreover, it's something of which the perennial national champs can be proud.

Alabama is known for getting underclassmen ready to play big-time college football, and many of them are already prepared to play in the NFL.

Their Crimson Tide careers over, Nick Saban's players find their coach has prepped them for the NFL's off-field demands.

Nick Saban and John Calipari are opposites personality-wise. But when it comes to building and maintaining an elite program, the coaches have a lot of similiarities.

Alabama and head coach Nick Saban continue to pick from the best of the best recruits because they win national titles and send a large group of players to the NFL.

Alabama AD Mal Moore marvels at Nick Saban's ability to evaluate and coach players, and Moore has made Saban the highest-paid college coach in the nation.

Alabama will get some much-needed workouts for reserve players like Gene Smith as the Crimson Tide prepare for the NCS national title game.

Alabama's veterans knew about them in the spring and preseason. After some amazing performance, culminating in the SEC championship, the football world know about the Tide's super freshmen

With another efficient performance in a dominating win, Alabama QB AJ McCarron quietly inched his way deeper into the Heisman Trophy conversation.

Since playing high school football with and against Julio Jones, Alabama safety Robert Lester has dedicated himself to standing out as the very best he can be. It just took everyone else a little longer to notice.

The gruff, standoffish Nick Saban we grew to love is gone. For now, he's replaced by a head coach at ease with his successes.