Former Alabama Crimson Tide football star Rolando McClain signed a deal with the Oakland Raiders.

The AP has the details, “The Raiders got the deal done with their starting middle linebacker before taking the field for their first training camp practice on Thursday morning. It was not immediately known if McClain would make it to the team’s facility in the wine country in time for the first session. …McClain was part of Nick Saban’s first recruiting class at Alabama, spending three years learning under one of the game’s most respected defensive coaches. McClain was one of the key cogs in Saban’s rapid turnaround at Alabama, helping the Crimson Tide win the national championship last season.

“Alabama ranked 46th in the nation in run defense before McClain arrived. The Tide improved to 28th in his freshman year and second in his final two seasons. He won the Butkus Award as the top college linebacker, recording 105 tackles, including 14.5 for losses.” (read the entire AP report below)