NIL deals are now a thing of the past for three former Crimson Tide players.
Former quarterback Bryce Young was the No.1 overall pick Thursday in the 2023 NFL Draft and fellow Alabama teammate Will Anderson quickly followed as the No. 3 pick overall. Another teammate, Jahmyr Gibbs, joined the first-round party when he was taken 12th overall.
Young was selected by the Carolina Panthers, making him Alabama’s first No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft since 1948.
Anderson was the first defender selected and was picked up by the Houston Texans in a surprise move after the Arizona Cardinals sent their pick to Houston after the Texans had already selected a new quarterback – CJ Stroud.
Gibbs by the Detroit Lions.
“It’s surreal,” Young said of being drafted No. 1. “As amazing a moment as this is, I can’t wait to get to work and start building on things.”
Anderson echoed Young’s desire “to get to work.”
“It means they just see how special I am,” said Anderson. “I’m so appreciative of the coach, GM, coaching staff. I’m gonna work my butt off, you won’t regret it.”
There they go ? #RollTide | @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/7QxsJ1hUwh
— Alabama Athletics (@UA_Athletics) April 28, 2023
Young was the first Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy. He holds the school record for passing yards and touchdowns in a single season and is second in overall career passing yards.
Anderson is Alabama’s highest-drafted edge linebacker in program history.
Joe Namath was selected No. 1 in 1965 during the American Football League Draft prior to the two leagues sharing a common draft.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.
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