For the first time in decades, Nick Saban will not spend the spring preparing his college football team for the fall. The seven-time national champion retired in January.
Saban is expected to remain involved with the Alabama football program in a “supportive” capacity. But his schedule is no longer filled with the responsibilities that come with being a head coach.
Saban then held a college football analyst role at ESPN. Even while still coaching, Saban appeared on ESPN's “College GameDay” panel multiple times whenever the Crimson Tide were not playing on the same day. He is also a frequent guest on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
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Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 1, 2024 in Indianapolis. (Getty Images)
On Thursday, Saban was featured on the network's 2024 NFL Draft coverage and made a surprising revelation about one of the highly touted defensive prospects.
The Philadelphia Eagles have the 22nd overall pick and selected former Toledo cornerback Kunyon Mitchell on Thursday night.
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Mitchell spent his entire college football career in Toledo and never entered the transfer gate, but that didn't seem to diminish Alabama's interest in the star defensive back.
“He was our No. 1 player in the portal last year that we were trying to get him out of the portal, but he never got in the portal,” Saban said shortly after Mitchell's name came off the draft board. .
He was selected 22nd overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on April 25, 2024 at Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza in Detroit. Quinyon Mitchell (left) poses. (Gregory Shams/Getty Images)
A record number of offensive players were selected in the first round in this year's draft, and Mitchell was one of just nine defensive players selected Thursday.
Fellow cornerback Terrion Arnold, who Saban coached at Alabama, was drafted just two spots after Mitchell. Saban provided no other details about the possible pursuit of Mitchell.
April 25, 2024 Quinyon Mitchell arrives at the Fox Theater in Detroit for the 2024 NFL Draft. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
However, the former coach's comments shed some light on how tactical programs across the country can be put into practice even before players officially enter the transfer portal.
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The Buffalo Bills hold the No. 33 pick, which will be available for the start of the second round. The draft is scheduled to conclude Saturday.
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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.