8 Weeks from Kickoff: The Greatest Alabama Football Players to Ever Wear No. 8
With just eight weeks remaining until the start of the college football season, Alabama fans are beginning to feel the anticipation that only fall Saturdays in Tuscaloosa can bring. The countdown has become a tradition of its own, and one of the ways fans celebrate the approach of kickoff is by looking back at the players who wore jersey numbers matching the weeks left until the first game. With that in mind, it’s the perfect time to spotlight some of the most iconic Crimson Tide athletes to ever wear the number 8—a number that’s seen plenty of greatness pass through the program over the years.
Wearing the number 8 jersey at Alabama has often meant playing a critical role on either side of the ball. While it may not be as widely revered as some other numbers in program lore, the athletes who’ve donned it have helped carry the Crimson Tide to championships, made NFL rosters, and created moments that remain etched in the memories of fans. Whether making plays on defense or leading the offense, these players left their mark.
Arguably the most recognizable player to wear No. 8 in recent history is quarterback Blake Sims. His story is one of perseverance and transformation. Sims arrived at Alabama as a dual-threat quarterback but struggled early on to find a place in the offense. He bounced around between quarterback and running back and spent several seasons buried on the depth chart behind big-name passers like A.J. McCarron. But in 2014, Sims finally got his opportunity to lead the offense as the starting quarterback under first-year offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.
That 2014 season became a breakout year for Sims, who shattered Alabama’s single-season passing yards record at the time with 3,487 yards while adding 28 touchdowns through the air and another seven on the ground. He showed poise, leadership, and grit, guiding the Crimson Tide to an SEC Championship and a berth in the inaugural College Football Playoff. Though Alabama fell to Ohio State in the semifinals, Sims’ performance over the course of the season remains one of the best by an Alabama quarterback. His chemistry with wide receiver Amari Cooper helped elevate both players to national prominence, and Sims’ legacy is cemented as a beloved underdog who rose to meet the moment.
Before Sims, another notable No. 8 was receiver Julio Jones during his time with the Crimson Tide. Although Jones wore No. 8 only during his time in high school and switched to No. 8 in spring practice before ultimately wearing No. 8 briefly in practice, it’s important to clarify that Julio wore No. 8 for portions of early camp but officially wore No. 8 in high school, not at Alabama, where he ultimately sported No. 8 only unofficially in brief glimpses. So while many associate Julio with dominance and freakish athleticism, he is more accurately remembered as Alabama’s No. 8 during early practice before switching to his iconic No. 8 with the Atlanta Falcons. Still, it reflects the talent pipeline and greatness linked to the number during moments of transition.
More definitively, John Metchie III was a recent star who wore No. 8 and brought consistency and toughness to the wide receiver corps. A key contributor during the 2020 national championship season and the 2021 campaign, Metchie was a reliable target with excellent route-running skills. He racked up 916 yards and six touchdowns in 2020 while sharing the field with DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. In 2021, with Smith off to the NFL and Waddle gone as well, Metchie became Bryce Young’s go-to option, hauling in 96 catches for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns.
Unfortunately, Metchie’s 2021 season was cut short by an ACL injury in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia, and he later faced an even more difficult challenge when diagnosed with leukemia in 2022. His resilience in the face of adversity and his eventual return to the field with the Houston Texans has made him not just a fan favorite in Tuscaloosa, but an inspirational figure far beyond the football field. Wearing No. 8, Metchie demonstrated heart, skill, and leadership at the highest level.
On the defensive side of the ball, Christian Harris is another standout who wore No. 8 with distinction. A linebacker with tremendous speed and instincts, Harris played a pivotal role in Alabama’s 2020 national title-winning defense. Starting as a true freshman in 2019, Harris made his presence felt early, and by the time he was a junior in 2021, he had established himself as one of the most dependable players on the roster.
Harris finished his final season at Alabama with 80 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. His performance in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against Georgia included a sack and multiple pressures. Drafted by the Houston Texans, he quickly became a key contributor at the NFL level. At Alabama, his intelligence, athleticism, and ability to lead made him an anchor of the defense while donning No. 8.
In recent seasons, the number has continued to hold relevance. One of the young players tasked with upholding that legacy is Ja’Corey Brooks, who wore No. 8 during his time with the Tide. Brooks, a tall and rangy wideout, made one of the biggest plays of the 2021 season when he caught the game-tying touchdown against Auburn in the final seconds of regulation in the Iron Bowl. That dramatic moment helped push the game into overtime, where Alabama eventually secured the win. Brooks showed promise throughout his sophomore campaign and was expected to continue growing into a larger role before injuries and competition for snaps affected his consistency.
Defensive back Josh Jobe, who wore No. 8 in his early career before switching numbers, also deserves a mention. Jobe brought physicality and toughness to the Alabama secondary and was part of a defensive backfield that frequently faced the best receivers in the nation. While not without his struggles, particularly in pass interference penalties, Jobe played an important role in Alabama’s defensive schemes and was a reliable tackler and boundary defender.
There’s also emerging talent like transfer players and young signees who have worn or will wear No. 8 with hopes of continuing its legacy. In modern college football, where roster turnover is high due to the transfer portal and early NFL declarations, jersey numbers can change hands quickly, and yet certain digits seem to carry a legacy no matter who wears them. No. 8 is becoming one of those numbers.
Historically, Alabama’s success has been built not just on the performances of its stars, but on the depth and versatility of players who step up when called upon. The number 8 has seen quarterbacks turn doubters into believers, linebackers dominate opposing offenses, and receivers make clutch plays in critical moments. It represents a certain resolve—players who aren’t always the flashiest names in the preseason but who deliver when the lights shine the brightest.
As fans count down the remaining weeks until the Crimson Tide return to Bryant-Denny Stadium, reflecting on the players who wore No. 8 is a reminder of the diverse talent that has flowed through the program. From Blake Sims’ record-setting year to John Metchie’s resilience, Christian Harris’ defensive mastery, and Ja’Corey Brooks’ clutch heroics, the jersey has seen its fair share of excellence.
Looking ahead, the next player to wear No. 8 at Alabama will inherit not just a number, but a tradition of rising to the moment. That player will be measured not by statistics alone but by their impact—how they handle adversity, contribute to the team, and leave their mark on Alabama football’s storied legacy. In eight weeks, the season begins, and soon enough, another No. 8 will take the field, ready to write their own chapter in Crimson Tide history.
