I believe that Alabama’s Nick Saban is the greatest college football coach ever.

I wouldn’t get an argument from several media analysts and the coaching fraternity across the country.

When Saban believes that a player shouldn’t declare for the NFL Draft and stay in school, they should listen. Saban usually gives his blessing for juniors to turn pro early, especially if they’re first-round locks.

Crimson Tide linebacker Mack Wilson, defensive backs Deionte Thompson and Saivion Smith didn’t have Saban’s approval to leave and pursue an NFL career.

The decision blew up in their faces. They were all bypassed and two players lasted until Day 3 of the draft.

Thompson was selected by the Arizona Cardinals on the first pick of round five. Wilson was also picked in the fifth round, going to the Cleveland Browns.

Smith went undrafted, but signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Saban, who’s led Alabama to five national titles, explained his criteria during spring practice.

“If you look at the number of guys that were first- and second-round draft picks, there were very few guys that had failed careers,” Saban said. “Now, we have guys that have no draft grades, seventh-round grades, free-agent grades, fifth-round grades that are going out of the draft. And the person that loses in that is the player.”

Had Thompson and Wilson remained at Alabama, they would’ve been in position to get picked in the first two rounds. According to SportRac, late first-round and second round picks’ contracts range between $7 million and $15 million over four years.

SportsRac projects Thompson’s contract will be in the $2.8 million range over four years, with an annual salary over $582,000. Wilson’s deal is projected at $2.827 million over four years, with an annual salary over $571,000.

Smith’s road to making the Jaguars’ roster will be tougher. The Jaguars are loaded in the secondary. Undrafted free agents earn an initial contract between $15,000 and $40,000. Practice squad players earn a salary of $100,000. If Smith makes the regular 53-man roster, he will earn a salary over $500,000.

If I were either Smith, Thompson or Wilson, I would’ve returned to school and try to erase last year’s 44-16 loss against Clemson in the national title game on Jan. 8. Clemson exploited the Crimson Tide’s defense.
Images of the Tigers’ receivers racing past Alabama’s secondary at Santa Clara’s Levi Stadium remain fresh in my mind. NFL scouts apparently saw the same thing I did, which is why they lasted until the final day.