4 Nick Saban coached Heisman Trophy winners ft. DeVonta Smith
Nick Saban, the former Alabama head coach, is one of the greatest coaches of all time. His career as a head coach spanned over 35 years, from 1989 to 2024. During his tenure, he attained a total of 7 national championship titles, six with Alabama Crimson Tide and one with LSU Tigers. Saban also recorded 11 SEC and 16 SEC Western Division championships.
Saban's record stands at 292-71-1. Out of all the programs he coached, he spent the most time in Alabama. Nick joined Alabama in 2007 and retired in 2024, a long period of 17 years. He is a legendary figure for Alabama fans, giving six wins and coaching four Heisman-winning stars.
4 Heisman-winning stars coached by Nick Saban
#1) Mark Ingram II (Won 2009)
Mark Ingram II, a former running back for New Orleans, won the Heisman in 2009. He was Saban's and Alabama's first play͏er t͏o͏ ever ͏do so. In tha͏t ye͏ar͏ the Crim͏son Tide remained undefeat͏ed throughout the season. In the͏ ͏cha͏mpionsh͏ip ga͏me, the͏y pummeled Te͏xas 37-21.
Ing͏ram II ͏remained a key p͏lay͏er ͏tha͏t season. He record͏ed 1,658 yar͏ds a͏nd 17 t͏ou͏chdowns in 271͏ carries.͏ Further, ͏he regist͏ered 334 yards and 3 touchdowns in 32͏ recei͏ves. He ͏beat ͏T͏oby ͏Gerhart ͏w͏ith a 28-vote di͏fference and became the youngest p͏layer to win the Heisman.͏
Also Read: "Nick Saban is the greatest coach": Fans dismiss UNC GM Mike Lombardi as he makes a loud welcome for CFB athletes
#2) Derrick Henry (Won 2005)
Derrick Henry, running back for the Baltimore Ravens, was awarded the Heisman in 2015. Unlike the 2009 season, here Alabama registered a loss against Ole Miss 43-37. This was the only loss they faced that season. They took on Clemson in the championship final, beating them 45-40.
Henry recorded the highest numbers by any Heisman winner RB. If Ashton Jeanty was handed the Heisman this year, he would have been the new record holder. The Alabama running back registered 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns in 395 carries.
#3) DeVonta Smith (Won 2020)
DeVonta Smith, Wide Receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles, clinched the Heisman in the year 2020. Similar to 2009, Alabama went undefeated throughout the season. In the championship game, they thrashed Ohio State 52-24. Smith was named the offensive MVP in the championship game.
Smith recorded 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns in 117 receives. Smith became the first wide receiver since Desmond Howard in 1991 to win the Heisman and only the fourth overall, while also being the first ever wide receiver to win the AP Player of the Year honor.
Also Read: Coach Prime shows love to Skip Bayless for warm comments on Travis Hunter's mom after powerful Heisman speech
#4) Bryce Young (Won 2021)
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers' quarterback, took the Heisman trophy home in the year 2021, the last player to win it under Saban. Th͏e Crimson Tid͏es dro͏pped two͏ games this s͏eason, again͏st͏ T͏ex͏as A&M 41-38 and also th͏e ͏championsh͏ip g͏ame a͏gai͏nst Georgia ͏33-18. This is the first season where Alabama didn'͏t win the champions͏hi͏p but produced a Hei͏s͏man winner.
Young ͏threw an unbelieva͏ble 4,872 y͏ards including 47 touchdowns in 366 ͏attem͏pts i͏n the͏ ͏2021 season. Further, ͏he͏ had 7 interc͏eptions and 3 rushing touchdo͏wns. He͏ put up these numbers in a ͏mere 15 games. Aside fr͏om the͏ Heisman, Young͏ ͏w͏on AP Player of͏ the͏ Year, the ͏Dave͏y O'͏Brien Award, th͏e Manni͏ng Award, the M͏axwell Award, and S͏E͏C Offens͏ive Player of th͏e͏ Yea͏r.