Some Alabama players saw the signs of Nick Saban’s impending departure from college football long before his January retirement announcement.
Others were every bit as surprised as the general public.
Still, the Crimson Tide players attending this week’s NFL annual scouting combine shared one sentiment: Without Saban’s mentorship, they might not be here — preparing for a pro career.
“It kind of hurt a lot of people’s hearts,” linebacker Dallas Turner said when asked about his reaction to the decision. “A lot of people think you can coach college football forever, but you really can’t. I feel like he opened up a lot of opportunities, touched a lot of hearts and touched a lot of minds, the players he’s coached.”
He credits Saban with helping him find the self-discipline to transform himself from a highly touted prep prospect into a college star and eventually into a 6-foot-3, 247-ound edge rusher who is projected to be a first-round pick in April’s draft.
Turner also sensed there had been changes in his college coach over the past three seasons, and he wasn’t alone.
Defensive tackle Justin Eboigbe, who overcame a career-threatening neck injury to receive one of the precious combine invites, also detected a difference when he viewed an image of a rain-drenched Saban walking slowly toward the locker room during a game last fall.
“When I saw that picture of him when we had that rain delay against USF, I kind of knew something was up,” Eboigbe said. “But it’s like anything. If you can’t give it your full go, you’re never going to cheat the game. I feel like once he realized he couldn’t give it his full go, it was time for him to step away.”
