Four UA Players Selected In Round One Of 2017 NFL Draft
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania - The 2017 NFL Draft is in full swing. After round one, four Crimson Tide football players are ready to suit up for their respective teams. Alabama players selected in round one on Thursday evening were Marlon Humphrey selected at 16th (the first Tide player to be picked), Jonathan Allen at No. 17, O.J. Howard was 19th and finally Reuben Foster was No. 31. This year's draft venue is the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The four first round selections for the University of Alabama are the most for any team in this year's opening round, and also equals the most selections for the Crimson Tide in the first round under Alabama football head coach Nick Saban. Four UA players were drafted in the first round of both the 2011 and 2012 drafts.
Bama has now placed 22 players in the first round of the last nine drafts. Andre Smith was selected in 2009. Rolando McClain and Kareem Jackson were picked in 2010. Marcell Dareus, Julio Jones, James Carpenter and Mark Ingram all went in round one in 2011, while Trent Richardson, Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick and Dont'a Hightower were taken in 2012. Dee Milliner, Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker were selected in 2013 while C.J. Mosley and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix were chosen in 2014. Amari Cooper was selected in 2015. Ryan Kelly was selected just this past year, 2016.
Here is a look at Alabama's four 1st-Round NFL Draft Picks:
The four first round selections for the University of Alabama are the most for any team in this year's opening round, and also equals the most selections for the Crimson Tide in the first round under Alabama football head coach Nick Saban. Four UA players were drafted in the first round of both the 2011 and 2012 drafts.
Bama has now placed 22 players in the first round of the last nine drafts. Andre Smith was selected in 2009. Rolando McClain and Kareem Jackson were picked in 2010. Marcell Dareus, Julio Jones, James Carpenter and Mark Ingram all went in round one in 2011, while Trent Richardson, Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick and Dont'a Hightower were taken in 2012. Dee Milliner, Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker were selected in 2013 while C.J. Mosley and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix were chosen in 2014. Amari Cooper was selected in 2015. Ryan Kelly was selected just this past year, 2016.
Here is a look at Alabama's four 1st-Round NFL Draft Picks:
16th Selection: Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens
The first University of Alabama Crimson Tide player to be selected last night was cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Of note is the fact that the general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, Ozzie Newsome, is a former player and College Football Hall of Fame member for UA. became the first Alabama player
picked in the 2017 NFL Draft. He started all 29 games during his tenure with the Crimson Tide.
Humphrey did something his father, Bobby Humphrey, didn't do. Marlon was selected in the regular NFL Draft, while Bobby was selected in the 1989 NFL Supplemental Draft. Humphrey the elder was a big-time running back for the Crimson Tide and NFL. Bobby rushed for 2,353 yards in his first two seasons in the National Football League.
Marlon Humphrey was selected by the Football Writers Association of America as a first team All-American in 2016. He was a three-time All-State selection in football as well as a track star at Hoover High School, and, in his senior season, won seven events at the AHSAA indoor and outdoor track championships.
It should be noted that the Ravens' first-round pick was announced by 14-year old T.J. Owuanibe, an eighth-grader from Baltimore, Maryland who had been diagnosed with brain cancer two years ago. Owuanibe's wish come true in making the announcement last evening.
Marlon Humphrey was selected by the Football Writers Association of America as a first team All-American in 2016. He was a three-time All-State selection in football as well as a track star at Hoover High School, and, in his senior season, won seven events at the AHSAA indoor and outdoor track championships.
It should be noted that the Ravens' first-round pick was announced by 14-year old T.J. Owuanibe, an eighth-grader from Baltimore, Maryland who had been diagnosed with brain cancer two years ago. Owuanibe's wish come true in making the announcement last evening.
17th Selection: Jonathan Allen, Washington Redskins
Allen was the second player from Bama to be selected in last night's draft. He had been projected to be selected higher, but will be a good fit with the 'Skins.
Allen won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award as the
nation's best defensive player and the Ted Hendricks Award as the
nation's best defensive end during the 2016 season with the University of Alabama. Allen was also the Defensive Player of the Year for the Southeastern Conference as well as a unanimous All-American.
He also led the Tide in sacks and quarterback hurries last season as well as returning two of his three fumble recoveries for touchdowns of 75 and 30 yards.
19th Selection: O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He also led the Tide in sacks and quarterback hurries last season as well as returning two of his three fumble recoveries for touchdowns of 75 and 30 yards.
19th Selection: O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
University of Alabama tight end O.J. Howard was the third player from the Crimson Tide selected last night. Howard is expected to be a great addition to the receiver corps, since the Bucs had recently picked up wide receiver DeSean Jackson from the Washington Redskins. It gives the Buccaneers quarterback, Jameis
Winston, what he needs to be more successful.
Howard caught 45 passes for 595 yards and three touchdowns for Alabama in 2016. He was the Most Valuable Player in the Alabama win over Clemson in the 2015 National Championship game as well as the top player during the week of prep for the annual all-star game at the Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile back in January. Howard was also a three-time All-State selection at Autauga Academy.
Howard was a finalist for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation's top top linebacker.
31st Selection: Reuben Foster, San Francisco 49ers
Howard caught 45 passes for 595 yards and three touchdowns for Alabama in 2016. He was the Most Valuable Player in the Alabama win over Clemson in the 2015 National Championship game as well as the top player during the week of prep for the annual all-star game at the Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile back in January. Howard was also a three-time All-State selection at Autauga Academy.
Howard was a finalist for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation's top top linebacker.
31st Selection: Reuben Foster, San Francisco 49ers
The fourth player from the Crimson Tide selected in last night's first round of the NFL Draft was linebacker Reuben Foster. With his selection, Alabama once again tied the Southeastern Conference record for most first-round
selection from one team in one draft. The marks the third time that the UA football program has earned this accomplishment.
Foster was a unanimous All-American for the Crimson Tide this past season, as well as picking up the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker. Most had projected Foster, and other Crimson Tiders, to go higher in the first round of the draft. Most believe an altercation with a hospital worker , a failed drug test, being sent home from the NFL Scouting Combine as well as shoulder surgery after the season dropped the young man's stock.
In order to pick up Foster, the San Francisco 49ers made a trade with the Chicago Bears. The Niners held the second selection, but made the trade and picked third instead. Then the 49ers got the 31st pick from the Seattle Seahawks to make their second first-round selection.
Foster was a unanimous All-American for the Crimson Tide this past season, as well as picking up the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker. Most had projected Foster, and other Crimson Tiders, to go higher in the first round of the draft. Most believe an altercation with a hospital worker , a failed drug test, being sent home from the NFL Scouting Combine as well as shoulder surgery after the season dropped the young man's stock.
In order to pick up Foster, the San Francisco 49ers made a trade with the Chicago Bears. The Niners held the second selection, but made the trade and picked third instead. Then the 49ers got the 31st pick from the Seattle Seahawks to make their second first-round selection.
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Alabama Baseball Falls To LSU
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – Alabama baseball is now looking at a 15-7 season slate, with only winning 2-of-17 in Southeastern Conference play thus far. The Crimson Tide lost again last night, this time to 15th-ranked LSU by a score of 8-2.
Alabama baseball head coach Greg Goff said, "I think (Alex Lange) is a really good arm and a true Friday night guy. I felt like we had some really good at-bats tonight. When you've got a
good arm on the mound like (Lange), you've got to be able to get
situational hits; those are the little things that we have to do. You're
not going to get four or five hits off of that guy in the same inning,
so you've got to be able to situational hit, and we just didn't come
through tonight."
LSU starter Alex Lange (5-4) picked up his fifth win of the season with 7.1 innings of two-run baseball. The Tiger
right-hander allowed eight hits and issued one walk while striking out
10 Bama players. Tide starter Dylan Duarte (2-5) suffered the loss in the Thursday evening contest, exiting the game early after 3.0 innings. Following Duarte on the mound were Sam Finnerty, Zac Rogers and Mike Oczypok for the final 6.0 innings.
Bama picked up two hits apiece from Alex Webb, Cody Henry and Kyle Kaufman, with Webb completing the evening two-for-four with a double, a home run, both of Alabama's RBIs as well as one run scored.
The second game of the series between Alabama and LSU return to the field tonight at 6 p.m.
CT at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The game will air nationally on the SEC Network.
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2019 Football Prospect Puts Tide In Top 10
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| Arjei Henderson Twitter Photo |
One target-prospect for University of Alabama football for the Class of 2019 has released his top 10, or as he calls it, his big 10. Arjei Henderson is listed as one of the top prospects in the country for 2019, and he has narrowed his list to ten schools.
Henderson is listed as a four-star receiver out of Richmond, Texas. Via Twitter he listed his favorites.
Henderson has listed as his top ten The University of Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Penn State, USC, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan and Ohio State.
The young man had originally committed to Oklahoma back in February, but then decommitted in April. The 6' 1", 190-pounder reportedly holds approximately 40 offers in all, and is rated by 247Sports as the No. 9 wide receiver and No. 37 overall prospect in the country for 2019.
Last season Henderson hauled down 100 passes for 18 touchdowns and 1,400 yards.
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Expect More Players Arriving This Summer
Looking To Break Into Crimson Tide Football Lineup
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - For die-hard University of Alabama football fans, we have now entered sort of a "dead period." Not dead, yet, for overall sports at UA, what with some of the sports programs still competing, but admittedly, an overall dead period will be here in a matter of weeks.
But football. I understand your thinking. Even on Twitter many accounts go dormant after the bowl games. Then some will put in another appearance when spring training comes, only to drop out again when the A-Day game is past.
Alabama had a good crop of signees go ahead and enroll at The Capstone after the first of year. That gave them a jump on the student-athletes that still needed additional credits in high school in order to graduate and then enroll at Bama. This group gets a head start, including many that were able to play in the A-Day Game. But, remember, there are some great players still to arrive on campus this summer and begin preparations for the fall. And there are some who didn't sign, but are coming.
Case-in-point, kicker Joseph Bulovas. Bulovas wasn't included as a part of the 2017 National Signing Day, but is scheduled to arrive on campus this summer. He went with the blue shirt option. The young man can kick.
Also arriving this summer will be offensive tackle Jedrick Wills. He's a big, strong young man who could contribute to the Tide this fall. He will enroll this summer, and though the offensive line is looking good, it's never a bad thing to have someone else ready to come in each game, sometimes for short periods and sometimes for longer...and heaven forbid in the event of injury along that front line.
At 6' 5", 310 pounds, he would be a really good one to have up front. In fact, according to Rivals.com, he is a five-star recruit.
Turning to the defensive line, there's a pair that will be looking to break into the rotation. Arriving this summer will be LaBryan Ray and Phil Mathis. Both big and strong, both with a positive mental attitude and both hungry to play for the Crimson Tide.
Ray was rated as a five-star prospect, and took down ball carriers 124 times in 2016, 25 of which were tackles-for-loss. He also contributed 13 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and even blocked a punt.
Last season Mathis recorded 41 tackles, of which 12 were for a loss, as well as seven sacks and six quarterback hurries. He was listed as a four-star prospect by 247Sports.
Others are coming. Bama once again had the number one recruiting class this past year and really loaded up. It will be interesting to see which of them actually are able to make a place for themselves. Competition is sure to be fierce.
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Alabama Track & Field Head To SEC Relays
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The University of Alabama men's and women's track
& field teams are set to compete in the SEC Relays on April 28-29 at LSU's
Bernie Moore Track & Field Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Other Southeastern Conference schools
scheduled to compete include Arkansas, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi
State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. This weekend's
meet will be the final scheduled regular season meet for Bama prior to the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
The Crimson Tide men's track and field team is ranked fifth this week, while
the women are 10th in the U.S. Track & Field Cross
Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Team Rankings. The men's team scored 204.45 points while the women's team picked up 135.07 points. Regionally, the men are ranked No. 1 in the South
region for the third-consecutive week, while the women remain No. 3 for the
second-consecutive week.
