Move To Defense Worked Out Well

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 defensive backs 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 Rashad Johnson of Sulligent, who played for the Crimson Tide 2005-08.

Rashad Johnson came to Alabama as a walk-on running back and finished his career as a key defensive player, the “quarterback of the defense” for the 2008 Bama team that went 12-2.

He was first team All-America and SEC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.

He was a unanimous All-SEC selection as he ranked second on the team with 82 tackles.

As a senior safety he had three of his five interceptions in a key win at LSU. Against the Bengal Tigers he returned one interception for a touchdown. His third came in overtime as Alabama took the victory.

He became one of just eight players in Alabama history to be elected permanent team captain both as a junior and a senior. For his career he was in on 217 tackles, broke up 19 passes, caused six fumbles, and had 11 interceptions.

Johnson has gone on to a professional career with the Arizona Cardinals.

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