Six Weeks Until Kickoff: A Look at the Greatest Alabama Football Players Ever to Wear the Iconic No. 6 Jersey
As the countdown to another electrifying college football season continues, fans across the country are filled with anticipation, none more so than those in Tuscaloosa. With just six weeks left until Alabama football returns to Bryant-Denny Stadium, it’s the perfect time to celebrate the Crimson Tide’s rich legacy by looking back at the best players to ever wear jersey number six. Throughout the decades, Alabama’s No. 6 jersey has adorned some of the most dynamic, game-changing athletes in the program’s storied history. These players weren’t just contributors—they were difference-makers, icons, and legends in their own right.
When you wear No. 6 for Alabama, you aren’t just putting on a number. You’re putting on the weight of expectations built by past stars, the pressure of tradition, and the responsibility to carry one of college football’s most successful brands forward. The athletes who’ve worn No. 6 have embraced that challenge and left behind legacies worthy of remembrance. From clutch wide receivers and elusive running backs to playmaking defensive backs and explosive return men, No. 6 has been represented by talent and toughness that embodies the Alabama standard.
Let’s turn back the clock and revisit the careers of some of the most impactful No. 6s in Crimson Tide history, players whose performances shaped national championship runs, elevated the team in crucial moments, and cemented their place in Alabama lore.
No conversation about Alabama’s No. 6 is complete without starting with DeVonta Smith, the man who redefined excellence at the wide receiver position in college football. Known as the “Slim Reaper,” Smith was not just the best No. 6 to ever suit up in crimson and white—he’s arguably the greatest wide receiver in college football history. His résumé is almost mythic: 235 receptions, over 3,900 receiving yards, 46 touchdowns, and a Heisman Trophy to cap it off.
In 2020, Smith produced one of the most dominant seasons ever seen by a college receiver. He became the first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy since Desmond Howard in 1991. What made his season even more remarkable was his consistency—he posted elite numbers game after game, regardless of opponent, coverage scheme, or pressure. With Jaylen Waddle sidelined due to injury, Smith rose to the challenge and became the focal point of Steve Sarkisian’s explosive offense. His route-running was surgical. His hands, reliable. His poise under pressure, unmatched.
Smith’s most iconic moment may forever be his national championship performance against Ohio State, where in just one half, he hauled in 12 catches for 215 yards and three touchdowns before an injury sidelined him. That first half alone was enough to secure Offensive MVP honors and etch his name into the record books. Beyond stats, Smith’s demeanor and leadership defined Alabama’s 2020 championship run. His legacy is one that future No. 6s will forever chase.
Before DeVonta Smith was dazzling defenders, Mark Barron was striking fear into opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers. The Mobile, Alabama native wore No. 6 during a dominant stretch for the Crimson Tide defense under Nick Saban in the late 2000s and early 2010s. A two-time national champion and two-time first-team All-American, Barron was the heart of a secondary that crushed opposing passing games.
Known for his physicality, intelligence, and leadership, Barron played safety like a linebacker in a defensive back’s body. He had a knack for reading plays, delivering punishing hits, and making critical interceptions in big moments. Barron’s best statistical season came in 2009 when he recorded 76 tackles and seven interceptions—leading the SEC and tying for second nationally. He was a major part of Alabama’s undefeated 2009 national championship team and continued to anchor the secondary through the 2011 title run.
Barron’s legacy is rooted in toughness and dependability. He exemplified what Saban wanted from his safeties: discipline, intelligence, and aggression. His success at Alabama translated into a long NFL career, proving that the instincts and grit he displayed in Tuscaloosa were the real deal.
Long before Alabama was the dominant juggernaut under Nick Saban, David “The Deuce” Palmer was thrilling fans in the early ‘90s with his electrifying play. Though he wore No. 2 for part of his career, Palmer donned No. 6 in his final season, making him eligible for this list—and there’s no doubt he deserves to be on it.
Palmer was ahead of his time: a dual-threat wide receiver, return specialist, and occasional quarterback who could change the course of a game on a single play. In an era when the passing game was less emphasized, Palmer managed to rack up 1,000 receiving yards in a season—an incredible feat in Alabama’s run-heavy offense under Gene Stallings. In 1993, he was a Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing third behind Charlie Ward and Heath Shuler. His ability to impact games in multiple ways made him one of the most exciting players in college football.
Palmer’s versatility and agility made him a nightmare to defend. Whether it was on a jet sweep, punt return, or catching a deep ball, Palmer’s No. 6 blurred past defenders and lit up stadiums. He set the stage for future multi-dimensional weapons in the Alabama offense and remains a fan favorite to this day.
While his name might not come up in every all-time Alabama list, Blake Sims deserves recognition for what he accomplished wearing No. 6 in 2014. After waiting years behind the likes of AJ McCarron and Greg McElroy, Sims finally got his chance to lead the Crimson Tide as a fifth-year senior—and he made the most of it.
Sims defied expectations from the jump. Many assumed Florida State transfer Jake Coker would win the starting job. Instead, Sims won the locker room and coaching staff over with his work ethic, knowledge of the offense, and ability to extend plays with his legs. That season, Sims passed for over 3,400 yards—breaking McCarron’s single-season school passing record—and accounted for 35 total touchdowns.
Under Sims’ leadership, Alabama won the SEC Championship and earned the top seed in the inaugural College Football Playoff. His connection with Amari Cooper was one of the most lethal quarterback-receiver duos in college football that year. Sims’ story is one of perseverance, loyalty, and grit—the kind of player Alabama fans will always root for.
Though not as flashy as others on this list, Trey DePriest was a dependable and physical linebacker who played a crucial role in Alabama’s defense during the early 2010s. Wearing No. 6, DePriest started for multiple seasons at middle linebacker, helping lead Alabama to strong defensive finishes and two national championships.
DePriest was often tasked with making the defensive calls and getting the front seven aligned—an essential job in Nick Saban’s complex scheme. He wasn’t the fastest or most athletic player on the field, but he was smart, physical, and fundamentally sound. His presence helped Alabama maintain its reputation as a defensive powerhouse in the SEC.
Alabama’s tradition of excellence at No. 6 hasn’t stopped. In recent years, players like wide receiver Isaiah Bond have donned the number, looking to carve out their own place in Crimson Tide history. Bond, a speedy and promising deep threat, showed flashes of brilliance in the 2023 and 2024 seasons and could be poised for a breakout year as the offense transitions under new leadership.
In the ever-competitive environment of Alabama football, every jersey number carries weight, but few have as impressive a lineage as No. 6. The players who’ve worn it represent nearly every era of Crimson Tide dominance, from Stallings’ physical ground-and-pound teams to Saban’s modern, high-flying offenses.
As fans count down the final six weeks to kickoff, thinking about the greats who wore No. 6 serves as a reminder of Alabama’s unmatched tradition. DeVonta Smith’s Heisman season, Mark Barron’s defensive leadership, David Palmer’s explosive versatility, Blake Sims’ underdog journey, and Trey DePriest’s steady presence all tell a story of what it means to wear that number in Tuscaloosa.
It means performing under pressure. It means playing for championships. It means stepping into the spotlight and delivering when your team needs you most. The number six isn’t just a digit—it’s a symbol of excellence, toughness, and championship pedigree at the University of Alabama.
As a new wave of talent prepares to take the field this fall, the next No. 6 might just be warming up to leave his own mark. And if history is any guide, greatness could once again be stitched into that jersey come September.
