John Harbaugh Says Alabama Built Like an NFL Program
The Alabama Crimson Tide football program has been wildly successful under current head coach Nick Saban. The Tide has won six national championships, eight SEC championships and has put countless players into the NFL in the last 15 years.
The Tide saw seven players drafted in the most recent NFL Draft, and certain NFL franchises have had a habit of selecting Alabama players during Saban's tenure. Why is that?
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who selected Crimson Tide cornerback Jayln Armour-Davis in the fourth round of April's draft, explained why NFL franchises like Alabama players so much.
"There are certain college football programs that are built like NFL programs,” Harbaugh said to the media on Saturday. “Alabama is one, Michigan is the other one. The two top ones, I would say. Those are the ones I’m thinking of off the top of my head. So those guys generally come in and they know what to expect. It’s a little flatter for those guys in terms of practice and understanding how it works.”
The Ravens have drafted eight Alabama players during Saban's tenure as head coach of the Crimson Tide, due to the Tide's ability to produce pro-ready prospects and the Raven's connection to the Crimson Tide by way of front office executive Ozzie Newsome.
Harbaugh has an obvious connection with the University of Michigan as his brother, Jim, both played for the Wolverines and has been head coach for the Maize and Blue since 2015. The Ravens have selected five Michigan players since Harbaugh assumed the head role in Ann Arbor.