Nick Saban raves about type of player Dallas Cowboys got in Quinnen Williams

The Dallas Cowboys made a splashy acquisition before the trade deadline this year when they acquired New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. The former Alabama star headed to Dallas intent on making an impact.

So far he’s done just that. In two games so far he has racked up five tackles and 1.5 sacks.

“First of all, Quinnen is one of those guys that he wasn’t a highly recruited guy in high school,” said former Alabama coach Nick Saban on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday. “I don’t even know if he had any stars, but we liked him as a player. He came here, he worked his tail off to become what he is. He got bigger, he got stronger.”

By the time Quinnen Williams left Alabama he was a bona fide star. He was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, going to the New York Jets.

And he’s been remarkably good in the NFL, too. Williams has made the last three Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 2022.

“The guy is a very good player and he has got the right work ethic, attitude, because he developed and came up from nothing in terms of his athletic career,” Saban said. “It wasn’t like he was some high-profile guy that everything was kind of laid out for him. He worked his way into being something that people didn’t think he could be. And I think that carries over in his competitive personality, how he gets along with people.”

Quinnen Williams has been remarkably productive during his seven years in the league. He has tallied 326 tackles, 60.0 tackles for a loss, 41.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, an interception and 14 passes defended.

Better yet, though, Saban described Quinnen Williams as the ultimate team player. He’s a locker room glue guy.

“I mean this guy is a joy to be around,” Saban said. “I know his teammates will love him. And I think he’s going to be a great addition for that team chemistry, not just as a player.”