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NFL playoffs: Alabama still No. 1 in postseason players

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NFL playoffs: Alabama still No. 1 in postseason players


After having the most players on the active rosters of the playoff teams for the Wild-Card Weekend of any college program, Alabama will have the most representation in the Divisional Weekend, too.

With 31 former players on the original 14 postseason teams, Alabama now has 19 on the active rosters of the NFL playoffs’ remaining eight teams – and that doesn’t include Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, but only those players who went directly from the Crimson Tide to the NFL. Hurts played a season at Oklahoma between his three at Alabama and his second-round selection by Philadelphia.

But it’s still possible for Super Bowl LIX to go off without an Alabama alumnus because neither the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC nor the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC have a former Crimson Tide player on their roster.

The playoffs started with Florida and Michigan as the college programs guaranteed to have a representative at this season’s NFL championship game. The results of the Wild-Card Weekend assured six other college programs of having an alumnus in Super Bowl LIX – Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma, Penn State, Washington and Wisconsin.

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But no college program is guaranteed of having an alumnus on the winning team yet.

In addition to Alabama, colleges with at least 10 alumni remaining on the playoff teams’ active rosters are Georgia with 15, Oklahoma with 12, Florida, Ohio State and Penn State with 11 apiece and Notre Dame with 10.

The Wild-Card Weekend results were hard on other colleges’ representation. For example, former Hewitt-Trussville standout and Washington Commanders cornerback Noah Igbinoghene is the only Auburn alumnus still playing. Five of the six teams that lost on Wild-Card Weekend had Auburn alumni on their active rosters, and former Tigers offensive tackle Jack Driscoll was placed on injured reserve by the Philadelphia Eagles.

The playoffs began with 65 players from Alabama high schools and colleges on the active rosters. Now there are 34. Here are the players with Alabama football roots on the remaining postseason teams:

Baltimore Ravens

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  • Reserve/injured: Jalyn Armour-Davis, cornerback, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Alabama
  • Practice squad: Malik Cunningham, wide receiver, Park Crossing
  • Practice squad: Darrian Dalcourt, guard, Alabama
  • Derrick Henry, running back, Alabama
  • Marlon Humphrey, cornerback, Hoover, Alabama
  • Michael Pierce, defensive tackle, Daphne, Samford

Buffalo Bills

  • Amari Cooper, wide receiver, Alabama
  • Tylan Grable, offensive tackle, Jacksonville State
  • Practice squad: Kareem Jackson, safety, Alabama
  • Practice squad: Tyrell Shavers, wide receiver, Alabama
  • Javon Solomon, edge, Troy

Detroit Lions

  • Terrion Arnold, cornerback, Alabama
  • Brian Branch, defensive back, Alabama
  • Reserve/injured: Carlton Davis, cornerback, Auburn
  • Jahmyr Gibbs, running back, Alabama
  • Brodric Martin, defensive lineman, Northridge, North Alabama
  • Za’Darius Smith, defensive end, Greenville
  • Jameson Williams, wide receiver, Alabama

Houston Texans

  • Will Anderson Jr., defensive end, Alabama
  • Practice squad: Anthony Averett, cornerback, Alabama
  • Nico Collins, wide receiver, Clay-Chalkville
  • Reserve/injured: Tank Dell, wide receiver, Alabama A&M
  • Christian Harris, linebacker, Alabama
  • Tytus Howard, offensive lineman, Monroe County, Alabama State
  • Kamari Lassiter, cornerback, American Christian
  • John Metchie III, wide receiver, Alabama
  • Irv Smith Jr., tight end, Alabama
  • Henry To’oTo’o, linebacker, Alabama
  • Reserve/injured: Jimmie Ward, safety, Davidson
  • Practice squad: Kilian Zierer, offensive tackle, Auburn

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Practice squad: Chris Oladokun, quarterback, Samford
  • Practice squad: Justyn Ross, wide receiver, Central-Phenix City
  • Practice squad: Montrell Washington, wide receiver, Samford

Los Angeles Rams

  • Darious Williams, cornerback, UAB

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Reed Blankenship, safety, West Limestone
  • Practice squad: Khari Blasingame, fullback, Buckhorn
  • Reserve/injured: James Bradberry, cornerback, Pleasant Grove, Samford
  • Landon Dickerson, guard, Alabama
  • Reserve/injured: Jack Driscoll, offensive lineman, Auburn
  • Bryce Huff, defensive end, St. Paul’s Episcopal
  • Jalen Hurts, quarterback, Alabama
  • Eli Ricks, cornerback, Alabama
  • DeVonta Smith, wide receiver, Alabama
  • Tyler Steen, offensive lineman, Alabama
  • Reserve/injured: C.J. Uzomah, tight end, Auburn
  • Reserve/injured: Byron Young, defensive tackle, Alabama

Washington Commanders

  • Jonathan Allen, defensive tackle, Alabama
  • Noah Igbinoghene, cornerback, Hewitt-Trussville, Auburn
  • Daron Payne, defensive tackle, Shades Valley, Alabama
  • Jeremy Reaves, defensive back, South Alabama
  • Brian Robinson Jr., running back, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Alabama
  • Trent Scott, offensive lineman, Lee-Huntsville

The Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs take the field for the postseason this weekend. The No. 1 seeds on each side of the Super Bowl LIX bracket, they received a first-round bye through the Wild-Card Weekend.

The results and schedule for the NFL postseason include (with all times CST):

WILD-CARD WEEKEND

Saturday, Jan. 11

  • AFC: No. 4 Houston Texans 32, No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers 12
  • AFC: No. 3 Baltimore Ravens 28, No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers 12

Sunday, Jan. 12

Monday, Jan. 13

  • NFC: No. 4 Los Angeles Rams 27, No. 5 Minnesota Vikings 9

DIVISIONAL WEEKEND

Saturday, Jan. 18

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  • AFC: No. 4 Houston Texans (11-7) at No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (15-2), 3:30 p.m. (ABC, ESPN)
  • NFC: No. 6 Washington Commanders (13-5) at No. 1 Detroit Lions (15-2), 7 p.m. (FOX)

Sunday, Jan. 19

  • NFC: No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (11-7) at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (15-3), 2 p.m. (NBC)
  • AFC: No. 3 Baltimore Ravens (13-5) at No. 2 Buffalo Bills (14-4), 5:30 p.m. (CBS)

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Sunday, Jan. 26

  • NFC, 2 p.m. (FOX)
  • AFC, 5:30 p.m. (CBS)

SUPER BOWL LIX

Sunday, Feb. 9

  • AFC champion vs. NFC champion, 5:30 p.m. at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans (FOX)

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.





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Alabama edge to pattern his game after 2-time Super Bowl Champ

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Alabama edge to pattern his game after 2-time Super Bowl Champ





Photo comes via Rodger Champion of Alabama athletics

How electric could Alabama football be on defense this season?

Alabama edge updates development of 4-star inside linebacker

The answer comes down to how many players Kane Wommack can produce to affect opposing quarterbacks in the pocket.

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He returns Yhonzae Pierre, a fourth-year edge rusher, following a season where he collected eight sacks (team-high), 14.5 tackles for loss (team-high), nine quarterback hurries (team-high), and three forced fumbles. Pierre will draw much attention from offensive coaches; however, the Crimson Tide has a sophomore ready to help him on the outside.

Justin Hill, a former four-star from Cincinnati, Ohio, has made it his mission to become a complete pass rusher.

Alabama edge Justin Hill (#8) is modeling his game after a former two-time Suer Bowl Champion.

3/25/25 MFB Spring Practice
Alabama Linebacker Justin Hill (8)
Photo by Kent Gidley

He provided some excitement in 15 games last year, posting 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a pass breakup.

Former 4-star edge “will stand out” at Alabama in 2026 season, per Yhonzae Pierre

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Who is Justin Hill modeling his game after?

The 6-foot-3, 244-pounder had a good spring, and the coaching staff looks at him as someone that brings speed, power, and edge-bending abilities to harass quarterbacks. Hill mentioned to reporters after A-Day that he wants to ‘go through’ quarterbacks in generating pressure.

He also wants to pattern his game after a former two-time Super Bowl Champion.

Hill detailed the former two-time Butkus Award winner he’s emulating.

“I am watching guys like Von Miller,” Hill said. “I’m watching a lot of speed to power guys.”

Hill stated Nik Bonitto of the Denver Broncos as another National Football League pass rusher he is studying. Bonitto has 37 sacks and 44 tackles for loss in four seasons with the Broncos – including a career-high 14 sacks in 2025.

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Miller is one of the greatest pass rushers in the history of the league. He has 138.5 career sacks, including seven seasons with 10-plus sacks. 

Miller has two Super Bowl rings, a Super Bowl Most Valuable Player honor, three first-team All-Pro honors, eight Pro Bowl nods, and is on the NFL’s 2010 All-Decade Team.

Hill learned to ‘cut it loose’ as an edge rusher from Pierre, so the combination of that and studying film on Miller should prepare him to be a force in the fall.

*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*

Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine.  You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.

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Stephen Smith is a 2015 graduate of the University of Alabama.
He is a seasoned writer that has covered Alabama football for Touchdown Alabama Magazine since 2009. Smith has extensive knowledge within the program, which has made him among the most respected journalist in his field. Throughout his career, Smith has been featured on ESPN and several other marquee outlets as an analyst.






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YMCA of South Alabama holds Healthy Kids Day in Spanish Fort

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YMCA of South Alabama holds Healthy Kids Day in Spanish Fort


SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WALA) – The YMCA of South Alabama held a Healthy Kids Day at Spanish Fort Town Center Park.

Saturday’s event featured games and demonstrations, along with interactive activities featuring police and fire vehicles.

“I think just seeing so many organizations come together that serve kids, and just seeing kids have fun,” said Gwen Summer, CEO of the YMCA of South Alabama.

Marissa Rennaker, director of development for the YMCA of South Alabama, said the event exposed children to new activities.

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“I think it’s been seeing all the kids laugh and try different things that they probably haven’t tried before,” Rennaker said. “There was a big group doing pickleball and yoga. We had ballet earlier, so just getting them out and exposed to things, I think it’s been great.”

The event was designed to kick off a healthy, active summer.

The YMCA of South Alabama is located at 27080 Pollard Road in Daphne.

Copyright 2026 WALA. All rights reserved.



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Former Alabama superstar signs massive extension with NFL team

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Former Alabama superstar signs massive extension with NFL team


Former Alabama star Will Anderson Jr. has reportedly signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Houston Texans, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 

Anderson instantly solidified himself as one of the top defensive players in football throughout his rookie campaign in 2023. The star defensive end was named as the Rookie of the Year in 2023, as Anderson’s extension will officially keep him in Houston long-term, as well as make him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Anderson recorded an impressive 12 sacks on the Texans’ defensive line in 2025, as the former Alabama star has made history following his head turning extension with Houston. 

Anderson was nothing short of a superstar throughout his time at Alabama.  Houston drafted the talented lineman with the third overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, as Anderson was widely regarded as one of the top overall selections from his class. 

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The former Crimson Tide superstar has officially inked a massive extension with the Texans, as Anderson will undoubtedly continue playing a critical role on Houston’s defensive line over the coming seasons. 

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.





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