Tampering is as common in college football as the RPO and realignment, but speaking the quiet part out, especially on public television, is not what we’ve come to expect from Nick Saban. However, this Nick Saban is not the same as the Alabama head coach we’ve come to know. He is now on network television and can express his unvarnished view on topics he was previously unable to discuss.
Saban’s recent interactions with NFL Draft candidates provided him a considerable advantage over his colleagues and commentators, as seen by a flawless ESPN debut. He not only fought them on the field this season, but he also directly tutored players like as JC Latham, Terrion Arnold, and Dallas Turner. Furthermore, his recruiting background gives him important insight into other prospective prospects who may not have worn the Crimson Tide uniform.
Tampering is in the big don’t ask, don’t tell category. But if you ask Saban about a draft prospect now that he’s retired, he’s probably more inclined to share his interactions with said prospect — and that may or may not include tampering.
When the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Toldeo’s Quinyon Mitchell with the No. 22 overall pick, Saban made a bit of a stunning admission.
Mitchell’s loyalty to Toledo paid off, as he turned down NIL money to finish his college career elsewhere and wound up being a first-round pick anyway.
It’s a bit ironic in the sense that Saban recently lobbied Congress for measures to improve college football. However, his public comments about Alabama’s efforts to influence Mitchell’s transfer decision raise questions about his commitment to said reforms.
In any case, it demonstrates how Saban saw Mitchell as a possibility and the lengths Alabama was willing to go to get him there. Last season, Alabama started Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry at cornerback. The Detroit Lions selected Arnold 24th overall, while McKinstry will almost certainly be selected on Day 2.
