Since Nick Saban won his first Alabama football national title on Jan. 7, 2010 in Pasadena, Calif., the Crimson Tide has had champions on the roster. That continues into the 2025 season, but barely– just one player remains who won a CFP championship with the Crimson Tide.
Jah-Marien Latham is the lone remaining player from the 2020 title team. Several other players on the current team won titles elsewhere, but Latham is the last Alabama champion.
After UA’s third and final spring scrimmage on Thursday, the sixth-year senior was asked how he felt about being one of the team’s oldest players.
“Last year I was kind of one of the oldest,”Latham said. “I was still the oldest of the class of 2020. Now, make me feel like an uncle around everybody who’s younger than me. It just motivates me every day to know it’s a lot of young guys looking up to me. They’re watching to see how I live my life and how I go about things. Just being a role model to them.”
Latham said that he’s been getting jokes from all angles about his advanced age. Even from outside linebackers coach Christian Robinson, who has plenty of years on Latham.
However, defensive lineman Tim Keenan, another veteran on the team, said he wasn’t joining in on the jokes.
“Nah, because if he’s ‘Paw Paw,’ I’m ‘Unc,‘” Keenan said. “So that’s how we go. But he’s for sure Paw Paw.”
Latham redshirted a season, and had a COVID waiver year, granting him his longevity. He pondered leaving to try the NFL after the 2024 season, but opted to hang around after consulting with his loved ones.
“That was just a decision that I had with my family and something that I talked to the coaches about,” Latham said. “We felt like it was best for me to come back and see what I can do this next year.”
The answer will involve a new position for Latham. After five years on the defensive line, he moved full time to outside linebacker for 2025, taking the position defensive coordinator Kane Wommack calls the “wolf.”
As spring practice gets close to its end, Latham said he was feeling comfortable at the new spot.
“I feel like it’s just another position,” Latham said. “I the reps. I got all the mental reps, so now it’s just making sure I keep getting the repetition so I can know what’s coming.”
Alabama will close out spring practice with Saturday’s A-Day events at Bryant-Denny Stadium. A-Day will not be a game or scrimmage this year, and won’t be televised, but admission at the stadium will be free.
