Alabama Football: 30 Tide Greats who exceeded their 3-Star high school rankings
By Ronald Evans
Alabama football players who exceeded 3 star ranking: 6. Terrence Cody
- Fort Myers, FL
- Nose Tackle, (2008-2009)
- 2006 Player Ranking: Not Rated
- 2008 Player Ranking: 3-Star
- 2008 All-American
- 2009 Unanimous First-Team All-American
To whom should Alabama football fans attribute the turning point in building the Alabama football – Saban Dynasty? The question is unanswerable if the purpose is to name one player. Fans could choose Mark Ingram, Rolando McClain, Julio Jones and others.
Another option would be a mountain of a young man, “Mount Cody.” Terrence Cody had to go the junior college route to big-time college football. When he arrived at Alabama, he tipped the scales at over 400 pounds. He looked more like a circus sideshow actor than a football player.
Even after he shed over 50 pounds, Cody was never a three-down player for Alabama football. Cody continually lobbied Nick Saban for more game action. Saban told Terrance that first, he would have to beat Nick in a foot-race on the practice field. The two offer differing versions of the races, but it is not likely the player ever out-ran the coach.
Terrence Cody had two well-honed skill sets. He was the ultimate run-stuffer and also an unstoppable lead blocker in goal-line sets.
But those skills were not the ones used when Terrence Cody made his name in Alabama football history. In October 2009, against Tennessee in Tuscaloosa, Terrance Cody blocked two Vols field-goal attempts. Both kicks were less than 45 yards, one of them was kicked a low angle, and Cody, after penetration past the line of scrimmage, blocked it with his armpit.
Those two blocks were the key plays in the 2009 Alabama football National Championship season. Without the Cody blocks, the Tide would not have played for a national championship.
Terrance Cody was drafted in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Cody played in 57 games for the Ravens over five seasons. Continued struggles with his weight, injuries, and an off-the-field issue hampered his NFL career.