With Nick Saban at the helm of the Alabama football program, Alabama has consistently pumped players into the NFL, and this year will be no different.
The 2023 NFL Draft will begin Thursday, April 27, and conclude Saturday, April 29, with Alabama expected to have over 10 players selected.
Leading up to the draft, Alabama led all teams with 13 players invited to participate in this year's NFL Scouting Combine. If all 13 players are selected, Alabama will surpass its program record of 12 players drafted in 2018. Georgia set the overall record last year with 15 players taken in one draft.
Here are the 13 players that are projected to get taken in the 2023 NFL Draft:
Bryce Young - QB
Bryce Young is considered to be one of the best quarterbacks in this year's draft, and if it weren't for him being considered slightly undersized by his critics, he would be a slam dunk No. 1 overall pick. Despite the knock on Young for his size, he is still expected to be taken either No. 1 overall by the Carolina Panthers or with the No. 2 pick by the Houston Texans. If Young is selected No. 1 overall, it would be the first time in the modern era that Alabama has had a player selected No. 1 overall.
Will Anderson, Jr. - LB
Some experts would argue that Anderson is deserving of the No. 1 overall pick, but the heavy need for quarterbacks has pushed him down to most likely either the No. 3 pick by the Arizona Cardinals or the No. 5 pick by the Seattle Seahawks. Anderson and Georgia's Jalen Carter are expected to be the first two defensive players off the board, and in which order they go in will be decided by the team's positional needs.
Brian Branch - Safety
The second defensive player projected to be taken is Brian Branch. Branch possesses versatility in both pass coverage and defending the run, and these tools will most likely make him the first safety off the board around the middle of the first round.
Jahmyr Gibbs - RB
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs is expected to be the second offensive player selected from the Crimson Tide, being selected either at the end of the first or early second round. Currently, experts are torn between Gibbs and Texas running back Bijan Robinson as to which player will be the first running back taken in the draft. Robinson is a more powerful back, while Gibbs is a more shifty runner and great pass catcher out of the backfield. A team's offensive play style will determine how high or low Gibbs goes in the draft.
Henry To'o To'o - LB
After transferring to Alabama from Tennessee, Henry To'o To'o spent his two seasons with the Crimson Tide as the signal caller of the defense. His combination of speed and sure tackling has him projected to go somewhere around the third or fourth round.
Jordan Battle - Safety
After earning a starting safety spot his sophomore season, Jordan Battle provided consistency in the Alabama secondary while earning First Team All-SEC in both 2021 and 2022. Battle is projected to be selected in the second or third round.
Tyler Steen - OL
Tyler Steen transferred to Alabama and provided immediate help on the offensive line, starting 13 games at left tackle for the Crimson Tide. At the next level, Steen could be converted to play guard, and his versatility has him projected to be selected in the fourth round.
Emil Ekiyor, Jr. - OL
After earning a starting spot his sophomore season with Alabama, Ekiyor made a total of 41 game appearances for the Crimson Tide and earned First Team All-SEC in 2022. Ekiyor is projected to be selected in the middle rounds of the draft.
Byron Young - DL
Byron Young has lots of experience, with over 45 game appearances for the Crimson Tide, with 2022 being his best season. Throughout his career at Alabama, he accumulated 130 tackles and 7.5 sacks and is currently projected to be taken in the middle rounds of the draft.
Eli Ricks - DB
The former LSU defensive back didn't quite have the type of season that he hoped he would have with Alabama, making just 13 tackles and defending just four passes. Despite a disappointing final season, Ricks' talent and upside have him projected in the draft's middle rounds.
Cameron Latu - TE
In his first season at Alabama, Cameron Latu swapped positions from linebacker to tight end and continued to grow every season. Latu's inexperience at the position could be a negative, but his raw athleticism and growth potential, combined with his work ethic, should get him selected in the late rounds of the draft.
DeMarcco Hellams - Safety
DeMarcco Hellams made 255 tackles in 40 games with Alabama and earned a starting role in 2021. Hellams is projected to be selected in the late rounds of the draft and, if selected, would be the third safety taken from the Crimson Tide this year.
D.J. Dale - DL
D.J. Dale has four years of experience and 39 games played on the defensive line for the Crimson Tide. When it comes to rush defense, Dale is a dominant force on the defensive line but lacks a bit in the pass rush. Being selected in the draft is a toss-up for Dale as he is projected to be either a last-round pick or undrafted, but if he goes undrafted, he is projected to be a free agent that would eventually be picked up.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
