Nick Saban is no longer the head football coach at Alabama after retiring a year ago.
But that doesn’t mean the first-year ESPN College GameDay analyst doesn’t have some regrets, especially when it comes to the Crimson Tide’s in-state recruiting of Oregon receiver Tez Johnson, or lack thereof.
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Following a GameDay segment on Johnson, an under-recruited senior from Pinson, Ala., the former Alabama coach hilariously questioned how the 2020 Tide coaching staff failed to recruit the budding NFL prospect.
“What I’m sitting here thinking about is Tez Johnson is from Birmingham, 45 minutes away from Alabama, and we didn’t recruit the guy,” Saban said to laughs from the GameDay crew. “Who was recruiting Birmingham? And I should’ve fired their ass!”
Rece Davis, GameDay host and an Alabama alum himself, pointed out Johnson originally signed with in-state Troy, much to Saban’s chagrin.
“He went to Troy first, and we didn’t recruit when he left there either!” Saban answered.
Johnson was a three-star recruit in the 2020 class out of Pinson Valley (Pinson, Ala.) High, which is located roughly 75 miles and an hour and 15 minute drive East on I-20 from the Alabama football complex. Pinson signed with Troy out of high school and eventually transferred to Oregon in late December 2022, following his adopted brother and former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix to Eugene.
While Nix entered the NFL after the 2023 season, Johnson remained in Eugene for his senior year and has been the go-to receiver for Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel, leading Oregon with 78 catches for 866 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
Suffice it to say, that sort of production would have been welcomed in Tuscaloosa this season, where true freshman Ryan Williams led the Tide in receiving with 48 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Oregon Ducks have been without star wide receiver Tez Johnson for the last two games as he’s battled injury. So, when he posted to social media a picture of himself and the words “He’s back,” it got Ducks fans excited.
At his press conference on Wednesday, head coach Dan Lanning was pressed about Johnson’s status. However, he insisted that he doesn’t talk about injured players. So, everyone would have to wait and see if he made his way onto the field on Saturday.
“Yeah, I’m not gonna talk about injuries,” Lanning said. “You guys will see them on the field when they’re ready to go.”
