Saleem Rasheed Was Early Star

Earlier this year, ’BAMA Magazine continued a long tradition of having its readers select the Alabama Team of the Decade. The team was previously announced, but this summer we are revisiting and taking a deeper look at those selected. Linebacker Rolando McClain was the Player of the Decade.

Readers of ’BAMA Magazine had the opportunity to select four linebackers when they chose the Alabama football Team of the Decade for the first ten years of the New Millennium (2000-2009). One of those selected was Saleem Rasheed, who played for the Crimson Tide 1999-2001.

Rasheed elected to turn professional following his junior season, when he led Alabama with 114 tackles, including seven for losses. He also had two sacks and caused two fumbles.

Rasheed was Freshman All-SEC and Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in his first season with the Tide as turned in 84 tackles, including eight for losses totaling 39 yards, and had three sacks and a fumble recovery in 1999. Rasheed had 13 tackles against Tennessee as a freshman.

He started in the first game of his freshman year at middle linebacker and would start 35 games in his Bama career. He was the first Tide freshman to start his first game on defense in the modern era.

Rasheed, an Academic All-SEC performer, had 81 tackles as a sophomore.

Editor’s Note: This is one in a series on members of the Alabama Team of the Decade.