HERO Sports is counting down the days until the kickoff of the 2018 college football season on Saturday, Aug. 25, by featuring the best player in the FBS at each jersey number, from 99-1. Each day, from May 18 through Aug. 24, we'll publish one article showcasing the best player whose jersey number matches the number of days remaining.
[divider]RANKINGS: Top 100 Teams for 2018
TRIVIA: Daily FBS Trivia Question
MORE: Best FCS Player for Each Jersey Number[divider]
No. 49 Isaiah Buggs
Alabama – DE
Isaiah Buggs had 10 tackles in his first five games at Alabama last year following his transfer from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where he was a four-star prospect and the top-ranked strong-side defensive end in the 2017 class. He showed quickness and power in those first five games but was largely overshadowed by the Tide's throng of All-American-caliber players.
Then came the Texas A&M game, when Buggs had 10 tackles, including this bone-crushing hit on Trayveon Williams:
"He's a very instinctive player," Saban said of Buggs, who played on the edge and inside last year. "He's strong. He's got athletic ability to finish on the quarterback."
The 6-foot-5, 293-pounder finished the season with 51 tackles, four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks and enters his senior campaign as the best No. 49 in college football.
