Nearly one year after stepping down as head coach of Alabama, Nick Saban found himself reflecting on one missed recruitment opportunity during a recent episode of ESPN's College GameDay. Ahead of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal showdown between Oregon and Ohio State, Saban shared his regret over not bringing Birmingham native Tez Johnson to the Crimson Tide.
Johnson, now thriving as Oregon's star wide receiver, was overlooked by Alabama during his high school recruitment. "What I'm sitting here thinking about is Tez Johnson's in Birmingham, 45 minutes away from Alabama. We didn't recruit the guy," Saban expressed during the show. "Who was recruiting Birmingham? And I should have fired their ass." His candid remarks drew laughter from host Rece Davis and the GameDay panel.
Tez Johnson's path to success has not been typical for many elite athletes. Coming out of Pinson Valley High School, he was considered only a two-star recruit, ranked as the nation’s 208th wide receiver and the 1,467th overall prospect according to 247Sports. Despite scholarship offers from Troy and several smaller programs, Alabama had signed three four-star receivers around the same time—Javon Baker, Traeshon Holden, and Thaiu Jones-Bell—none of whom turned out to be significant contributors for the team.
After spending three seasons at Troy, where he accumulated 141 receptions for 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns, Johnson entered the transfer portal. His move to Oregon proved to be pivotal, allowing him to showcase his abilities to a much wider audience. At Oregon, Johnson's performance has skyrocketed: he recorded 164 receptions for 2,048 yards and 20 touchdowns over two seasons.
Saban's regrets compounded when considering the performance of Johnson against the backdrop of his Alabama squad’s challenges at the wide receiver position. "Could you just see how much he would have added to the roster?" Davis joked with the panel after Saban's outburst, underscoring the miscalculation made by Alabama's recruitment efforts.
Johnson’s breakout year with the Ducks came after his stand-out rise led him to catch 78 passes for 866 yards and 10 touchdowns this past season alone. Interestingly, these statistics would have made him the leading receiver for Alabama as well. Freshman Ryan Williams led the Alabama squad with 865 yards, yet Johnson’s catch count alone would have dwarfed contributions made by anyone else.
The successful transition from Troy to Oregon is particularly notable for Johnson, considering how the Dukes have catapulted themselves back onto the national stage. With Oregon now featuring prominently in discussions of national championship contenders, Saban cannot help but look back at Johnson and think of what might have been.
With the added dimension of Johnson's relationship with Oregon's quarterback, Bo Nix, and the contributions he has made throughout the season, the Ducks represent both triumph and frustration for Saban. Johnson's pivotal role has pushed Oregon to become the only undefeated team heading to the playoff chase, stirring intense excitement for their upcoming clash with Ohio State.
This situation brings to light not just Saban's frustration but also the realities of college football recruiting, where even the most elite programs like Alabama can miss on local talent. It's not uncommon for powerhouses to overlook players who have immense potential but come with less-established profiles.
Johnson's experience serves as both an inspiration for young athletes and as cautionary advice for college programs. The pressure of recruiting success weighs heavily on coaching staffs, making it clear how easily potential stars can slip through the cracks.
Beyond just player stats and recruitment drama, the overarching story here is one of redemption and second chances—for Johnson and for programs like Alabama, which must continually adapt and reassess their strategies under the relentless spotlight of modern college football.
Reflecting on all of this, Saban’s comments serve as both humorous and telling; even at the pinnacle of success, there are inevitable regrets and wonderings about the “what ifs.”
Whether Johnson’s story influences future recruitment strategies remains to be seen, but it certainly signifies the importance of paying attention, even to local talent, lest it lead to another regrettable oversight.