Clemson and Alabama players have seen some pretty good competition. But who's been the best?
We wanted to find out the answer to that question so we asked players from both teams on Saturday who the best player they've ever faced has been. We let them pick between players they've played against in high school or college; we wanted to give them as many options as possible.
Here are their answers. Spoiler alert, Alabama's players think highly of their team's talent on the other side of the football.
• "That's easy, I'd say [Ole Miss defensive end] Robert Nkemdiche," Clemson left tackle Mitch Hyatt said. "I played him my sophomore year in high school. He's a man. He's ridiculous."
"I could have told you he was going in the first round of the NFL in high school."
• "[Houston Texans LB Jadeveon] Clowney in high school," Clemson running back C.J. Davidson said. "He was already the No. 1 player in the nation then I came here and played against him. Probably one of the best athletes I've played against."
"We lost by a touchdown. I had like 180 yards. You could tell he was so much ahead of everybody else. He was just bigger and stronger."
• "Our own guys," Alabama defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson said.• "I'd probably say the linebacker from Notre Dame, Jaylon Smith," Clemson tight end Jordan Leggett said. "He was an animal, he was a different breed. Just on the field he was fast. Normally linebackers aren't that quick and as big as he was."
• "I'm going to say my old teammate [Tennessee Titans offensive lineman] Chance Warmack," Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland said. "He made me so much better as a person, taking on blocks.
• "I would say [Florida State running back] Dalvin Cook. He was a different kind of player. He's a special kind of player," Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins said. The key to defending Cook?
"Just be disciplined. He's explosive, he's fast he's dominant while he's out there. Just have to close up the holes I guess."
• "To tell you the the truth, the two I go against every day," Alabama defensive lineman D.J. Pettway said. "[Alabama offensive linemen] Cam Robinson and Lester Cotton make the game easier. Dead serious."
• Both Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander and safety Jayron Kearse mentioned former Tiger and current Buffalo Bills wide receiver Sammy Watkins. They played Watkins in high school.
"My sophomore year I played against Sammy Watkins in high school," Alexander, who is not low on confidence, said. "Did a great job. Again, he's a great player, you guys see what he's doing in the league right now, that's the best player I've ever faced."
So how great of a job did Alexander do?
"I did my job," Alexander said. "Oh he scored. He scored but I got a pick also. They ended up getting the W but they had players too."
Kearse said Watkins was a great two-way player in high school. Kearse was also playing quarterback when he played Watkins' team.
"Sammy. He just does everything good," Kearse said. "I played him in high school and when I got to college I practiced with him. So just him, the type of player he is, the type of things he can do with the ball. He was also good at defense. He's just an all-around great athlete."
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
