After dropping a number of prime gamers to the 2021 draft, it was anticipated that Alabama would take a step again. That was not the case, as they gained an SEC Championship and made it to the Nationwide Championship. The Crimson Tide, per common, is the favourite to win all of it subsequent season they usually have the expertise returning to Tuscaloosa to go undefeated. If Alabama’s offensive line can maintain up, they’ve the prospect to go down as one of many higher groups Nick Saban has coached, which is saying quite a bit. Listed below are their prime prospects to look at this fall (in alphabetical order).
Prime Alabama Prospects to Look ahead to 2023 NFL Draft
DE Will Anderson Jr.
The time period “generational expertise” will get thrown round quite a bit, however Anderson Jr. has the tape to again up that label. He’s proper up there with Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney as top-of-the-line go rush prospects, and with a great season, he’ll be considered greater than them by the NFL. Relying on how the quarterbacks carry out this fall, Anderson Jr. might be the primary total choose within the upcoming NFL Draft.
DS Jordan Battle
Had Battle come out final 12 months, he would have been a possible first-round choose. By returning to high school, Battle has the chance to finish up as the highest security on this class. Battle does every part at a excessive stage, from tackling, man and zone protection in addition to creating turnovers. He might be a day one starter on the subsequent stage and scheme versatile. Whoever selects Battle within the draft is getting a stud who will play within the NFL for a very long time.
DS Brian Department
There are a variety of actually intriguing instruments that Department brings to the desk. He’s implausible in man protection, with the flexibility to come back downhill and sort out. He’s versatile and might play nickel or security. Department is a unfastened athlete who effortlessly adjustments route. Like Daxton Hill, who the Bengals simply took within the first spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft, a workforce might want to outline Department’s function earlier than deciding on him that prime.
WR Jermaine Burton
Final season, Burton was hindered by poor quarterback play at Georgia. He determined to switch and is now the highest receiver on the Crimson Tide and will get to play with an elite quarterback. Burton has all of the instruments to be the following switch first-round choose from Alabama. His fingers are wonderful, and he’s already a complicated route runner. It was a wise transfer for Burton to switch to Alabama, and that transfer can pay dividends this fall.
OG Javion Cohen
Based mostly on final season’s movie, Cohen is Alabama’s prime returning offensive lineman. He’s an excellent athlete who persistently received the job completed in go safety final season. Cohen nonetheless must get higher at sustaining blocks and bettering his play power, however for a sophomore within the SEC in 2021, Cohen held his personal.
RB Jahmyr Gibbs
After Texas operating again Bijan Robinson, Gibbs seems like the favourite to be the second again off the board. His explosiveness and skill within the passing sport are good for the trendy NFL. Gibbs can simply break off huge runs and is a mismatch nightmare for defenses as a receiver. It wouldn’t be stunning to see Gibbs land within the again half of the primary spherical, and he’s a excessive second-round choose at worst.
WR Tyler Harrell
Velocity, velocity and extra velocity is the easiest way to explain Harrell’s sport. He’s a blazer who can take the highest off the protection. Harrell determined to switch from Louisville to Alabama and may see an uptick in snaps and manufacturing. With a expertise like Younger at quarterback, Harrell ought to have a number of big-time receptions. Like many observe athletes, Harrell isn’t a refined route runner and must proceed to enhance his play power. Anybody who can threaten the 40-time document needs to be a participant to look at, particularly in this type of high-powered offense.
TE Cameron Latu
The previous go rusher, Latu, remains to be newer to tight finish. He brings wonderful athletic capacity and separation abilities to the desk. As anticipated, there may be nonetheless some rawness to his sport, however the instruments are there for Latu to be a strong starter on the subsequent stage. He nonetheless has to enhance as a blocker and enhance his fingers to achieve his upside as a prospect.
DS Malachi Moore
After an unbelievable freshman marketing campaign, it regarded like Moore was on his technique to being a prime 15 choose. Not enjoying at 100% and inconsistent tape final season creates some uncertainty for Moore’s projection. That stated, he can play as a single excessive security, with distinctive vary and athleticism. There’s a probability Moore returns to first-round standing, however he’s a excessive upside day two prospect for the NFL Draft.
CB Eli Ricks
In all probability extra of a day two cornerback proper now; Ricks has a variety of work to do subsequent season. Ricks isn’t a burner, which can damage his upside as a prospect, however he has pure ball abilities and instincts to create turnovers. Coming off of a down 12 months in 2021, if Ricks can return to his freshman kind, he’ll be extremely considered by zone-heavy groups.
LB Henry To’o To’o
There isn’t a clear-cut prime linebacker within the draft, and To’o To’o has the prospect to achieve that rating with one other good season. He improved drastically from his sophomore season to his junior, and with one other leap, To’o To’o might be considered as probably the greatest defenders within the draft. He’s on an identical trajectory to Devin Lloyd from Utah, who went twenty seventh on this previous draft.
QB Bryce Younger
The one actual knock on Younger is his dimension. With the success of Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson and Drew Brees, the NFL might be extra open to taking a participant like Younger excessive within the 2023 NFL Draft. He has the make-up to be the primary choose, however even when he isn’t, Younger might be an excellent professional.
Different Gamers to Maintain an Eye On:
DJ Dale DT
Justin Eboigbe DL
DeMarcco Hellams DS
Traeshon Holden WR
Miles Kitselman TE
Tyler Steen OT
Byron Younger DL
Down the Line Prospect to Watch: DE Dallas Turner
It wouldn’t be stunning to see Alabama have the highest edge rusher in back-to-back drafts. Turner has particular bend and explosion to get after the quarterback. He wins the skin observe and does an amazing job of ending performs. It will likely be not possible for opposing groups to cease him and Anderson Jr. subsequent season, making them arguably the perfect go rush duo in latest reminiscence. Turner has the expertise to be the highest prospect for the 2024 draft.