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Alabama Football: Ten greatest Tide linebackers from past 30 years

By Ronald Moody

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 07: Lineman Lorenzo Washington #97 and linebacker Rolando McClain #25 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate a play against the Texas Longhorns during the Citi BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl on January 7, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 07: Lineman Lorenzo Washington #97 and linebacker Rolando McClain #25 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate a play against the Texas Longhorns during the Citi BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl on January 7, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
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Alabama Football
TUSCALOOSA, AL – NOVEMBER 10: Linebacker C.J. Mosley #32 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 10, 2012, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /

For the past thirty years, Alabama football has produced mighty linebackers that have shredded opposing offenses either by sacking the quarterback or applying violent takedowns of bruising runners.

Linebacker University is a moniker rightfully bestowed for Alabama football. On this revered list of great Alabama football players are consensus All Americans, SEC Defensive Players of the Year and Butkus Award winners.

Linebackers are the heart and soul of the defense. Their ability to swiftly diagnose the offense, drop into pass coverage to cover a receiver or tight end or put their hand into the dirt to relentlessly terrorize the quarterback are priceless.

An Alabama football linebacker must possess Samson like strength to barrel over 300-pound offensive linemen, nimbleness to dart past blocking running backs and the smarts to mentally challenge the quarterback by changing the defense.

Although a majority of the players on this list come from the Nick Saban era, the best did not play for him.

Current Crimson Tide backers Mack Wilson and Dylan Moses could inhabit this list once their careers have ended at the Capstone.

Dwayne Rudd, Saleem Rasheed, Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson narrowly missed the cut.

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