Nick Saban Admits to Trying to Lure Wyatt Milum to Alabama

Wyatt Milum will represent WVU in the NFL, but he had a chance to be an Alabama product instead. While praising Milum as a prospect during ABC’s NFL Draft coverage, Nick Saban admitted trying to lure Milum to the Crimson Tide every year in the transfer portal after failing to secure him as a high school recruit.

“Another one of those recruits that we lost,” said Saban about Milum. He then dropped tea, which basically admits to tampering since Milum was never officially in the transfer portal.

“But, you know, we tried to get this guy every year in the portal, even when we didn’t get him out of high school.”

Nick Saban said on ABC that Alabama tried to get WVU OL Wyatt Milum every year in the portal

— Nick Kelly (@_NickKelly) April 26, 2025

The Jaguars selected Milum with the 89th overall pick late in the third round.

Milum was viewed as one of the top interior offensive lineman available. Based on the PFF metrics, Milum stands out due to his skills in one particular category.

PFF has Milum graded as the best run blocker on the board. To be exact, Milum holds a grade of 89.2.

To follow a solid showing at the Senior Bowl, Milum was put to the test even more at the NFL Combine.

Milum discussed representing West Virginia, his college career at WVU and why he’s ready for the NFL with reporters, including Sports Now’s Joe Smeltzer, in the video below.

After playing tackle at an elite level throughout his college career at West Virginia, NFL teams tested Milum at guard, the position he’s expected to play with the Jaguars.

WV Sports Now caught up with Milum in Mobile at the Senior Bowl and he explained what the adjustment to guard has been like.

“It’s different, it’s definitely a learning experience. It happens a lot quicker. The space is closed down. You ain’t on an island. So that’s really the biggest difference. And really, just getting used to it. I’ve never taken any live reps at guard. I played tackle my whole college career so just being able to come here and show I can play it, I feel like that’s important,” said Milum.

He wrapped up his college career at the conclusion of the 2024 season as one of the highest graded offensive lineman in the country. According to Pro Football Focus, Milum earned a 91.7 pass blocking grade and a 89.7 as a run blocker, the fourth-highest in the country.

Milum’s overall mark of 91.0 was the third best. And for his work, Milum was honored as a consensus All-American.

Milum earned first-team honors on four of the five teams — Walter Camp, AFCA, FWAA and Sporting News — and was a second-team All-American on the fifth team, Associated Press.

Milum was also named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Lineman of the Yearthis season and was named first-team All-Big 12.

Hailing from Kenova, W.Va., Milum came to WVU from Spring Valley High School in 2021. He started 43 games over the next four years, eventually transitioning from right tackle to left tackle and developing into one of the top pass protectors in the nation.

Milum did not allow a sack in either 2023 or 2024 and has not allowed a sack in 34 of his last 36 games. In 2024, Milum did not allow a quarterback hurry and gave up only seven pressures.

Find more coverage of Wyatt Milum at WV Sports Now. Also, find coverage of Nick Saban at WVSN.

For a related story, Neal Brown shared his thoughts on Milum being drafted to WVSN.