Saban discusses importance of leadership but also self-motivated players

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Nick Saban has compared Alabama’s quarterback competition to baking a cake this summer, letting the battle play out until a player separates themselves as the starter rather than rushing things. Quarterback has been a widely-discussed topic this offseason, as the Crimson Tide looks to replace former Heisman winner Bryce Young behind center.

But what about leadership? Saban was asked how close that cake was to being baked following Alabama’s 11th preseason practice on Tuesday, and he touched on two important factors.

“How many guys on the team need to be led?” Saban said. “If you’ve got a bunch of guys that are mature and going about things the right way, they’re all setting a good example, they’re all buying in, they’re all doing the things that they need to do, so they don’t really necessarily have to have somebody impact them every day to do the right things. 

“And the more guys that we have that fit in that category, that’s more important than the guys that are the leaders on the team because I think that’s what you’re trying to get.” 

His initial point was one of self-motivation, but Saban also stressed the importance of having leaders emerge throughout the roster and shared some positions he sees that happening.

“There are some guys that have an impact on other players, and I think that there’s a couple guys on the offensive line that has provided some really good leadership,” Saban said. “I think there’s some guys on defense that have some maturity that’s provided some leadership. We actually need it at every position because if you have guys at every position that are setting a good example every day by what they do, it gives young players somebody to emulate. And I think that’s important. 

“But I’ll go back to my original point – the fewer guys that we have that need somebody to emulate, the better off we’re going to be.”

In addition to Young, Alabama has to replace its other two permanent captains from last year’s team with Will Anderson Jr. and Jordan Battle also moving on after the 2022 season. A number of other veterans that provided leadership, like DJ Dale, Henry To’oTo’o and Byron Young, are now on NFL rosters, as well. On its 2023 roster, the Tide has 14 seniors and 15 juniors that can step into the leadership roles left vacant at various positions prior to the season.

In the spring, Saban highlighted the offensive line as an overall group for creating the type of character and toughness that Alabama wants to have as a team. He mentioned that unit again Tuesday, and it is a position room that returns several experienced players, including centers Darrian Dalcourt and Seth McLaughlin, guard Tyler Booker or tackle JC Latham.

Latham is now in his third year in the program but rather than say being more vocal or setting an example for his teammates was a challenge, he simply said it was the expectation for him.

“The older guys left, obviously, so younger guys gotta step into the role, and I was that younger guy,” Latham said Monday. “Just understanding that there’s gonna be guys who, whether they’re 5-stars or not, coming in as a freshman, looking for somebody to guide them on what they’re supposed to do because nobody really knows the answers to the test.

“So just being that guy to help them out and get them to understand that, ‘Hey, this is what you’re supposed to do. If you wanna play, you wanna be great, this is the blueprint to it,’ and showing them ways and different outlooks to do it.”

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