Alabama Football: Derrick Ansley leaving and an amazing Saban fact
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football losing defensive backs coach and excellent recruiter, Derrick Ansley. Nick Saban has one recruiting record that dwarfs all others.
It was announced Monday morning by FootballScoop.com that Alabama football defensive backs coach, Derrick Ansley is leaving the Tide. Ansley will join Mike Bobo’s staff at Colorado State as defensive coordinator. Ansley is recognized as one of college football’s top young assistants so the promotion is not surprising.
How it will work out for Ansley financially is not yet known. According to USA Today Sports, the Rams defensive coordinator Ansley is replacing made $235,000 last season. Ansley’s Alabama salary was $405,000.
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Big Recruiting Loss for the Tide?
Derrick Ansley is currently ranked by 247Sports as the No. 16 recruiter in the FBS. Other Tide assistants in the Top 25 are Tosh Lupoi at No. 8 and Mike Locksley at No. 24. While at Alabama, Ansley has been the lead recruiter for many top Alabama football recruits. Current Alabama football players, Jedrick wills, Henry Ruggs III and Xavier McKinney were recruited by Ansley.
In the 2018 and 2019 recruiting cycle, Ansley is the lead recruiter for Quay Walker, King Mwikuta, Josh Jobe, Emil Ekiyor, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Tyson Campbell, Patrick Surtain Jr., Issac Taylor-Stuart and Saivion Smith. Alabama football has made signing one or two of the 5-Star CB’s, Campbell, Surtain Jr. and Taylor-Stuart a high priority for the 2018 class.
Nick Saban is the Tide’s Best Recruiter
Losing Ansley’s recruiting skills and established relationships is not beneficial to Crimson Tide recruiting. Another fine young coach will be hired for on-field duties. Under Nick Saban, the coaching transition will not be difficult. Recruiting is entirely different. Connections between recruits and coaches often take years of work.
Fortunately, Nick Saban is still one of, if not the best, closer in the game. The Tide’s regular path of defensive stars to the NFL is a strong pull. In terms of 2018 and the much-needed cornerback additions, recruits understand Saban’s superior coaching skills. Losing Derrick Ansley will diminish but will not derail the pursuit of Campbell, Surtain Jr. and Taylor-Stuart.
A truly amazing Nick Saban fact
Check out this tweet.
If Alabama wins tomorrow, EVERY player Saban recruited since 1999 will have won a National Championship.
— Pick Six Previews (@PickSixPreviews) January 7, 2018
Technically, the tweet should say every player Saban recruited and ‘signed’ for complete accuracy. Nonetheless what an incredible fact. Going back to 2003 at LSU, all of Saban’s signees have played for and depending on Monday night, WON a national championship.
This outstanding achievement includes the 2003 and 2007 LSU national championships and the Alabama football run of 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 and hopefully 2017. Sign with Alabama football and Nick Saban and a recruit enters an NFL pipeline and is almost guaranteed to play for a national championship.
Next: Check out the Bama Hammer staff National Championship predictions
It has been a great season Alabama football fans. More of the same is anticipated in 2018. Coaches and players join the Tide and as much as we regret it, also move on. The excellence of Alabama football remains a constant.