Alabama had five players selected on the final day of the 2013 NFL Draft Saturday afternoon in New York City
The five selections Saturday gave Alabama a total of nine players taken in the 2013 NFL Draft, setting a new modern-era school record. The old mark was eight set in 1987 and 2012. The Tide had 10 players selected over 30 rounds in 1945.
30 rounds??? OMG! That is insane.
Who would actually sit through that? And this is THE NFL DRAFT GEEK speaking too.
7 rounds, as it is today is just fine, thank you. Anyway’s Dixie’s football pride well again well represented at Radio City Music Hall; so let’s look at which members of the Tide rolled on to the NFL.
Linebacker Nico Johnson was the first ‘Bama player off the board Saturday, going to Kansas City with the second pick of the fourth round (No. 99 overall). Center Barrett Jones then went to the St. Louis Rams with the 16th pick of the fourth round (No. 113). I was really high on that kid, very very surprised he lasted so long. Jones is a guy who was very accomplished; in the field and in the classroom.
Two more Crimson Tide defensive linemen, Jesse Williams and Quinton Dial, were taken in round five. Williams was chosen by the Seattle Seahawks with the fourth pick of round five, No. 137 overall. Again, Williams I had ranked much higher, he’s a bit of a shock too. I coulda seen Jesse with an early second round placement, so this was shocking.
Dial was taken by the 49ers at No. 157 overall. Tight end Michael Williams was the final Alabama player selected, going to the Detroit Lions with the fifth selection of the seventh round (No. 211 overall). The Lions could really use his blocking skills. The more help the better to keep China Doll Matt Stafford upright.
In the last five NFL Drafts, Alabama has had 33 players selected, including 14 in the first round, four in the second and third rounds, two in the fourth, four in the fifth and five in the seventh round. Yeah, that’s a whole boatload of NFL Draft picks. They are to the NFL Draft what Kenyans are to marathon running.
I cover the Big Ten regularly, so when I read numbers like these I’m like WOW, the SEC plays a whole different sport.
The Crimson Tide had a run of three straight players selected in the first round Thursday evening with Dee Milliner going to the Jets at No. 9, Chance Warmack to the Titans at No. 10 and D.J. Fluker to the Chargers at No. 11. That was really really cool, as that kind of thing doesn’t happen often. But for ‘Bama this is pretty standard, just par for the course. No big deal. Happens every year.
Reminiscent of Barry Sanders when he would reach the end zone. “Act like you’ve been there before.” And Alabama does.
Eddie Lacy was taken in the second round on Friday by the Green Bay Packers.
Three more Alabama players announced free-agent signings on their Twitter accounts Saturday evening. Safety Robert Lester signed with the Carolina Panthers, defensive end Damion Square inked with the Philadelphia Eagles and long snapper Carson Tinker (is that the fat kid on Friday Night Lights? No, sorry that’s “Tanker” my bad. God I really miss that show) agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net. He’s also an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
Banks has appeared on Comcast SportsNet and the History Channel, as well as Clear Channel, ESPN and CBS radio all over the world. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@PaulMBanks)