Nick Saban and his coaching staff placed an emphasis on leadership this spring.

And while Alabama’s former players waited to hear their names called during the 2019 NFL Draft this past weekend, some of the Crimson Tide’s returning veterans took part in its annual leadership retreat.

Quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones, wide receivers Henry Ruggs III and DeVonta Smith, tight end Miller Forristall, running backs Najee Harris and Brian Robinson, offensive linemen Alex Leatherwood, Matt Womack and Chris Owens, defensive lineman Raekwon Davis, linebackers Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Lewis and Dylan Moses, defensive backs Xavier McKinney, Shyheim Carter and Patrick Surtain II and long snapper Thomas Fletcher were some of the players that attended the retreat.

Led by strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran, the group of double-digit leaders for the football team visited Escape Tuscaloosa on McFarland Boulevard, which provides an “interactive and exciting escape room experience.” The players also spent part of the weekend fishing.

“I want to see people take leadership roles every day,” Saban said during the spring. “You don't turn leadership on and off. You don't do it during a scrimmage and not do it every day. You do it on the field, you do it off the field. The first part of that is you have to set a good example. You have to be somebody that somebody wants to emulate. To be quite honest with you, we haven't selected a leadership team yet because I told the players on the team you're going to have to earn your way on that by what you do on the field. Being a good player is not going to do it. Being a good leader is going to do it, and we've had some guys step up and do that.

“Hopefully, they'll continue to do it by the example that they set, by how they support other players and try to help other players for their benefit. We're going to continue to try to develop it. We have a leadership seminar that we always have in the spring that we're going to have again this year. But I actually do think that it contributes to a large degree to the success and failure of the team as to what kind of leadership you have on the team. It's going to be important if this team is going to reach its full potential that we have good leadership, and we're going to work really hard to try to develop it.”

Here is what some of the players that attended the trip said about leadership this spring:

Dylan Moses

“I definitely feel like a leader. There are a lot of guys who watch me, look up to me, and they’re trying to see what I’m doing like in adversity situations when those come into play. I take on the leadership role, the bull by the horns. I just do what I have to do. There’s no pressure.”

Raekwon Davis

“That’s the whole reason I came back, to teach the younger guys and help the team as much as I can to the best of my ability.”

Xavier McKinney

“I pride myself on always being a leader. I don’t think anything changes with me now being a junior. I’m always trying to be a leader and make sure guys do the right things.”

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).

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