Former Alabama Linebacker to be Inducted into Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Fame

Former Alabama linebacker DeMeco Ryans is among eight inductees to the Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Fame, according to a press release by the University of Alabama.

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Joining Ryans in the Hall of Fame class of 2025 are:

Notre Dame fullback Jerome Bettis
Texas linebacker Randy Braband
Ole Miss head coach David Cutcliffe
Nebraska running back Tony Davis
Cotton Bowl Athletic Association Chief Ambassador, Past Chair, and former Team Selection & Playoff Committee Chair Fin Ewing III
CBAA Historian Charlie Fiss
Auburn running back Bo Jackson

Ryans contributed to the Crimson Tide for four seasons, totaling 307 tackles, 6.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions. The Houston Texans drafted Ryans in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft.

During his 10-year NFL career, Ryans spent six seasons with the Houston Texans and four with the Philadelphia Eagles. He totaled 971 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 57 tackles for loss, 45 pass breakups, 10 fumble recoveries, seven forced fumbles, and seven interceptions.

Ryans is a member of several halls of fame, including the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame, the Alabama Leadership Hall of Fame, and the National Football Foundation's College Hall of Fame for Scholars.

During his days in college, Ryans won several awards. He was a two-time Second-Team All-SEC selection (2003, 2004), a First-Team All-SEC selection (2005), a unanimous All-American (2005), SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2005), and won the Lott Trophy (2005).

In the NFL, he won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 while being named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and leading the NFL in solo tackles (126). He was a second-team All-Pro in 2007 and a Pro Bowler in 2007 and 2009.

Since his playing days, Ryans took to the coaching ranks in the NFL, spending six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, and two as the Niners' defensive coordinator in 2021-22. He was named Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022.

In 2023, he was hired as the head coach of the Houston Texans, where he has amassed a career record of 22-16. He is 2-2 in playoff games.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.