In the age of graduate transfers, Landon Dickerson is the second to leave Florida State for Alabama.

Jake Coker did it first after winning a title in Tallahassee as a backup, then another as a starter in Tuscaloosa. As an offensive lineman, Dickerson’s arrival didn’t come with quite the public fanfare, but he’s already competing for a prominent role in a positional group with strong talent returning.

Asked about his progress in the two weeks since joining the program, Saban on Thursday added another level of significance to Dickerson’s addition.

“I think he has a unique perspective coming from someplace that maybe,” Saban said, pausing for a moment, searching for the right way to word it.

“…the players didn’t have it quite as good as they have it around here. And I hope our players really understand what they have, the opportunities that they have and that their focus is really in the right place, which is on our team being good.”

The Seminoles went 22-17 in Dickerson’s three seasons with the program. The 5-7 mark last year was FSU’s first losing season since 1976 and broke the bowl participation streak that started in 1982. Things had slipped after Coker departed before the 2014 season as the Jimbo Fisher era trailed off.

Alabama’s played in the last four national title games, winning two.

“I think sometimes players don’t realize -- they get a little self-absorbed and they think about how things affect them,” Saban continued, “but really playing good and winning help players more than anything else. And the reason our players get all the accolades that they get and all the notice and attention that they get, is because they’re good players. But it’s also because we win.

“And I think players need to keep that in perspective because that’s a very important part of why we have so many players that get opportunities at the next level and get recognized for what they do here as a football player while they’re at the University of Alabama.”

Dickerson was the starting left guard for Florida State when it opened the 2017 season with a 24-7 loss to Alabama.

Dickerson has been with the first team at center the last few practices after getting some time at guard. He was a starter at times in all of his three FSU seasons, though injuries took him off the field in each of those years. He got a medical redshirt in 2018 giving him two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.