Flashback: The 2011 secondary Fab Five

Has there ever been a better group in the defensive backfield in Alabama history?




The 2011 secondary led the Crimson Tide to the nation's number one ranked pass defense, yielding only 111.5 yards per game, an amazing mark considering the modern era of football. They also led the nation in pass efficiency defense, yielding only an 83.69 mark, on average. The next best that season belonged to the South Carolina Gamecocks, at 94.22. They led the nation in pass yards per attempt defense at 4.3, next best being the Gamecocks at 4.9. They gave up only 6 passing scores, best in the nation. They allowed opposing QBs to complete only 49.1% of their passes, second in the country behind Nevada at 48.3.


The five DBs shown combined for 8 INTs and broke up a total of 37 passes. 45 total passes defended, opponents attempted a total of 334.

They combined to account for 202 total tackles, 15.5 of which came in the backfield, 2.5 of those were sacks.


They forced a combined 3 fumbles, and had 1 hurry on opposing QBs.


From left to right:

Robert Lester: Undrafted Free Agent, signed with the Carolina Panthers and saw action as an extra DB in Dime situations.

DeQuan Menzie: Fifth round draft pick by the Kansas City Chiefs

Dee Milliner: 1st round draft pick by the New York Jets

Dre Kirkpatrick: 1st round draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals

Mark Barron: 1st round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers