Tyler Booker’s connection with Nick Saban runs deep, long before he ever suited up for the Crimson Tide. It all started back in 2015 when a wide-eyed kid from New Haven, Connecticut, showed up to one of Saban’s football camps. The bond stuck. Fast forward to 2022, and that same kid was a rising star in Tuscaloosa, bulldozing defenders and earning Freshman All-SEC honors. However, his playing style? All gas, no brakes. Even Saban had to pump the brakes on him in practice. “Coach Saban didn’t say it as nice as I’m saying it now,” joked Booker. Adding, “I’d rather be told to calm down than to pick it up.”
By year two, he was a full-time starter—gritty, sharp, and seasoned beyond his years. Every rep at Bama was a battle, especially going head-to-head with monsters like Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner. Honestly, Booker embraced the grind and credits that Alabama edge for shaping him into a next-level talent. Now, heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, he’s not just a name on the board—he’s a top-tier lineman built for Sundays, forged in Saban’s fire. And the most intriguing part? Nick Saban dropped a major Tyler Booker revelation just hours before draft day.
Nick Saban on ABC about Tyler Booker: “This guy is a fantastic young man. I mean, smart — and you talk about a good leader. Very physical, very tough. Gets movement in the run. That’s why people like him so much. This guy’s got tremendous muscle mass, which I think is very…
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) April 25, 2025
On April 25, just moments after Booker was selected 12th overall by the Dallas Cowboys, SportsCenter shared a special moment from ABC’s NFL Draft broadcast. A photo montage lit up the screen, capturing years of memories between Saban and a young Booker, dating all the way back to his football camp days. One standout photo showed an 11-year-old Booker standing next to Saban, prompting a playful comment from the legendary coach: “It feels good to be bigger than him.”
But Saban didn’t stop at jokes—he gave Booker serious praise, calling him the full package. Alabama insider Mike Rodak shared the moment. “This guy is a fantastic young man. I mean, smart — and you talk about a good leader. Very physical, very tough. Gets movement in the run. That’s why people like him so much. This guy’s got tremendous muscle mass, which I think is very important to being a power player in the NFL,” Saban said. So, from childhood camps to the draft stage, Booker’s journey came full circle, with Saban proudly cheering him on every step of the way.
(This is a developing story…)
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