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Four Bama, two Auburn players drafted in first round of NFL Draft as Saban makes history

The state of Alabama had a big night Thursday during the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, which is being conducted remotely due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Four players from the University of Alabama heard their names called, beginning with star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as the fifth overall pick by the Miami Dolphins.

Tagovailoa became the first-ever Tide QB under head coach Nick Saban to be taken in the first round of the draft. With that selection, Saban became the only college football coach in the NFL common draft era to have all 22 positions (every non-specialist position) drafted in the first round, per SEC Network.

“We are certainly very excited for Tua (Tagovailoa) and his family,” Saban said in a statement. “This means as much to me as any player ever for what he was able to accomplish here, not only as a player, but as a person. He was one of the most popular players we ever had with our fanbase. He could not have done more as a player. I think the Dolphins are going to get a great leader and someone who is going to be the face of their franchise, that their fans are going to love in the future. I know he is going to have a great career.”

RELATED: Tua Tagovailoa: ‘The greatest gift that God could have given us was His Son’

Three other Bama players were selected Thursday night.

Offensive lineman Jedrick Wills Jr. went No. 10 overall to the Cleveland Browns, and wide receivers Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy went No. 12 to the Las Vegas Raiders and No. 15 to the Denver Broncos, respectively.

The four first-round selections for the Tide moves Saban’s career total to 38 first-round picks. Alabama has now had 33 players selected in the first round of the last 12 NFL Drafts. Additionally, the pick of both Jeudy and Ruggs III mark the first wide receiver duo in program history to be drafted in round one.

The Auburn Tigers saw multiple players drafted on Thursday, as well.

Star defensive lineman Derrick Brown was drafted seventh overall by the Carolina Panthers.

Later in the round, cornerback Noah Igbinoghene was taken with the No. 30 overall pick. He will join Tagovailoa in Miami.

Rounds two and three of the draft will be held Friday, with the fourth to seventh rounds being held Saturday.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

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