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Former Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson and defensive back Brian Branch signed with the same NFL agent ahead of the league's Jan. 16 deadline for underclassmen to officially enter the draft. NFL agent Nicole Lynn shared photos Friday afternoon of Anderson and Branch signing with Klutch Sports. Lynn represents 21 current NFL players according to NFLPA records, including three former Alabama players in Quinnen Williams, Jalen Hurts and Phidarian Mathis.

Anderson verbally declared for the 2023 draft at a news conference alongside teammates Bryce Young and Jahmyr Gibbs on Jan. 2, and Branch announced the same later that day on social media. The NFL gives until Monday for juniors to finalize their decisions, with a full list of underclassmen entering the draft distributed next Friday. - Birmingham News

(DS#1 DE) Jr/2023

DE *Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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01/14/23 - Trezmen Marshall, rSr/2024, Alabama, 6-1, 225 (DS#16 ILB) + More +

Two more Georgia Bulldogs entered the transfer portal on Friday morning, with senior linebacker Trezmen Marshall and freshman offensive lineman Jacob Hood both entering the transfer portal. Marshall signed with Georgia in the 2019 signing class out of Homerville, Ga. He battled injury throughout his Georgia career, missing time during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He bounced back to see more snaps in 2022, playing in 14 games and registering 19 tackles as a rotation piece at linebacker.

Hood missed the entire 2022 season after undergoing ankle surgery in the spring. He signed as a member of the 2022 signing class out of Nashville, Tenn. He will have four years of eligibility at his new school. The Bulldogs will also bring back starting inside linebackers Smael Mondon and Jamon Dumas-Johnson. They ranked first and second on the team in tackles. Marshall will have two years of eligibility remaining at wherever he ends up. - Dawgnation.com

(DS#16 ILB) rSr/2024

ILB Trezmen Marshall, Alabama
News Source: Dawgnation.com
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01/05/23 - Jalen Milroe, rJr/2025, Alabama, 6-2, 217 (DS#6 QB) + More +

So, the inevitable is now a reality. Bryce Young's time at Alabama is over and so the conversation begins. The 2023 Alabama quarterback competition is on. It's been a while since the Crimson Tide had a real battle for QB1 and it's certainly the first since transfer rules were loosened so the dynamic will be somewhat different than in the past. That said, two quarterbacks -- Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson -- with a combined 65 collegiate passing attempts, are set to be joined by two signees from the 2023 class. The transfer portal, of course, is the wildcard added to the mix -- new since Tua Tagovailoa beat Jalen Hurts for the Alabama starting gig entering the 2018 season. That makes handicapping the race a little more complicated but the next man up for the 2022 season was Jalen Milroe. A redshirt freshman, the Katy, Texas product took all the meaningful snaps after Young's shoulder injury at Arkansas. That included a start against Texas A&M in a wild ride of big plays and costly turnovers.

Milroe spoke with AL.com for a few minutes in the locker room after the 45-20 Sugar Bowl win over Kansas State about the season that ended and the offseason to come. Simpson said he was unavailable when approached in the locker room open for 20 minutes to reporters. Milroe spoke about the emotional moment in the fourth quarter of the bowl game when he replaced Young after the game was in hand. "Yeah, it was definitely a moment for both of us," Milroe said. "Just to have that moment with him. It was definitely teary eyes, for sure. That's my brother. We had a relationship beyond football so just to have that moment with him, that one final time, it meant a lot to me." The conversation shifted to the offseason. His goal is simple. "Overall, just get 1% better each and every day," Milroe said. "Just collab with the team, find our identity, come together as a team and just build on each day we have together." - Birmingham News

(DS#6 QB) rJr/2025

QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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01/04/23 - *Eli Ricks, Jr/2023, Alabama, 6-2, 190 (DS#23 CB) + More +

Eli Ricks' time at Alabama will end after one season of high expectations for the LSU transfer that largely went unmet. Ricks declared for the NFL draft Tuesday, making the announcement on Instagram one day after three Tide juniors declared at a news conference and fellow junior Brian Branch followed later Monday. For Ricks, the decision was not nearly as clear-cut as Bryce Young or Will Anderson, or even his teammate in the secondary, Branch. Ricks played in 10 games this season but made only five starts, including one at Ole Miss that ended when he suffered a concussion on the game's first play.

Ricks finished the season with four pass break-ups, one tackle for a loss and no interceptions. But NFL teams could still be attracted to Ricks' length at 6-foot-2 and his freshman season tape in 2020 that earned the former five-star recruit a spot on the Associated Press' third-team All-America that year. Ricks, a California native who played at IMG Academy in Florida, was the No. 14 overall prospect in the 2020 class by 247 Sports' composite. He lived up to that status as a FWAA freshman All-American but a shoulder injury derailed his second season in Baton Rouge. - Birmingham News

(DS#23 CB) Jr/2023

CB *Eli Ricks, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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01/04/23 - *Bryce Young, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-10, 204 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Bryce Young was masterfully able to escape all sorts of pressure from defenses during his two seasons as Alabama's starter. But after declaring Monday for the 2023 NFL draft, Young will be able to run from questions about his size. As a potential No. 1 overall pick in April, Young's height will be thoroughly dissected, debated and analyzed over the next three-plus months in NFL draft rooms and on national television. Listed at 6-feet tall and 194 pounds by Alabama, the junior quarterback was not tipping his hand Monday about what he expects to measure at the NFL combine, which will be held in Indianapolis from Feb. 28 through March 6. "That's a good question," he said with a laugh. "I guess we'll see."

Young did not yet know how much he would participate in the combine drills, which top quarterbacks sometimes skip to let their film speak for itself. There are few comparisons at the NFL level for Young's combination of size and style of play. He is taller than fellow Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray, who is 5-foot-10, but runs much less frequently than Murray did at Oklahoma or has done for the Arizona Cardinals. Young operated mostly as a pocket passer at Alabama with impressive elusive ability, but he almost never took the ball on designed runs and rarely took off scrambling past the line of scrimmage. Even so, Young's poise under pressure, accuracy and performance in key moments of SEC games have earned him plenty of attention as perhaps the best quarterback in the draft. - Birmingham News

(DS#2 QB) Jr/2023

QB *Bryce Young, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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01/04/23 - *Will Anderson Jr., Jr/2023, Alabama, 6-4, 253 (DS#1 DE) + More +

What became obvious not long after Will Anderson stepped foot on Alabama's campus three years ago became official Monday: the star outside linebacker will enter the NFL draft. Anderson was a three-year starter who made an immediate impact on Alabama's national championship team in 2020 and was considered among college football's best players the past two seasons. He made his announcement at a news conference with Nick Saban and two other juniors entering the 2023 draft, Bryce Young and Jahmyr Gibbs. Saban made it clear other juniors could decide later to enter.

Anderson as one of the most accomplished players in program history and among the more decorated defensive players in college football history. "These past three years have been the best years of my life," Anderson said Monday. He is the school's only two-time unanimous All-American, a two-time winner of the Nagurski Trophy and SEC defensive player of the year, and also won the Bednarik Award, Lombardi Award and Lott Trophy this season. He started on Alabama's undefeated national championship team as a freshman in 2020 and was named a permanent team captain after both is sophomore and junior seasons. Anderson's 34.5 career sacks place him second in the school's record book behind Derrick Thomas' 52 over four seasons in the late 1980s. As a sophomore in 2021, Anderson led Division I with 17.5 sacks and had 34.5 tackles for loss - 12.5 more than any other player in the country. His 10 sacks led the team again this season. It has been almost 75 years since Alabama last had a player drafted No. 1 overall to the NFL. Harry Gilmer, selected by Washington at the start of the 1948 draft, was the Tide's last top pick. - Birmingham News

(DS#1 DE) Jr/2023

DE *Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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01/04/23 - *Brian Branch, Jr/2023, Alabama, 6-0, 190 (DS#1 FS) + More +

Brian Branch didn't join other Alabama football juniors at Monday's press conference, but he made the same decision as those at the presser. Branch is headed to the NFL Draft 2023. He announced the decision on Instagram later Monday. Branch joins quarterback Bryce Young, running back Jahmyr Gibbs and linebacker Will Anderson Jr. in declaring early for the NFL. "I've developed so much since my freshman year and because of Alabama, I'm confident that I'm prepared to take my game to the next level," Branch wrote on Instagram. "After thoughtful conversations with my family and coaches, I've decided to forgo my senior year and enter the 2023 NFL Draft. This has been a dream of mine since I could remember and I'm ready to embrace this next journey for my life."

Branch has been the primary starter at the Star defensive back position on Nick Saban's defense the past two seasons. He is fresh off arguably his best game for the Crimson Tide after he finished with 12 tackles, one sack and an interception against Kansas State. This season, he finished with 90 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and seven passes defensed. - Montgomery Advertiser

(DS#1 FS) Jr/2023

FS *Brian Branch, Alabama
News Source: Montgomery Advertiser
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01/04/23 - *Jahmyr Gibbs, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-09, 199 (DS#2 RB) + More +

The term "one-and-done" has long been part of college basketball lingo, but it has taken on a different meaning for modern college football. The loosening of the NCAA's transfer portal rules last year made it easier for underclassmen to transfer and play immediately, then enter the NFL draft after one successful season. That was the case when Jameson Williams transferred to Alabama for the 2021 season after two years mostly in the background at Ohio State. Williams flourished in his starting role for the Tide and became a first-round pick in last April's NFL draft, beginning a trend that should continue this year.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs declared Monday for the 2023 NFL draft after one season at Alabama. The junior's decision came a little more than a year after he transferred from Georgia Tech, where he was a key piece of the Yellow Jackets' offense but felt his skills could be better showcased in Tuscaloosa. Williams was picked No. 12 overall in last year's draft despite an ACL injury, and Gibbs said Monday he has heard feedback placing him in the No. 20-25 overall range of this spring's draft. The decision was not as obvious as the two others announced by Alabama juniors Monday - by quarterback Bryce Young and outside linebacker Will Anderson - but expectations still leaned heavily in favor of Gibbs entering the draft early, with two years of eligibility remaining. "I kind of knew for a little bit," he said. "If we had that sort of year we wanted, then, yeah." - Birmingham News

(DS#2 RB) Jr/2023

RB *Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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01/03/23 - Will Reichard, rSr/2024, Alabama, 6-1, 187 (DS#2 K) + More +

Alabama kicker Will Reichard is sticking around after all. Reichard announced Tuesday he will return for a fifth season after initially planning to enter the NFL draft and accepting an invite to the Senior Bowl. "After much prayer and guidance, I realized that I wasn't ready to step away from Alabama football and the college experience," Reichard posted on Instagram. "I have decided to take advantage of my final year of eligibility and tee it up with my Crimson Tide teammates once more time in 2023." Reichard is Alabama's career points leader. He has a fifth season of eligibility because of the NCAA's COVID-19 waiver. The Tide had already signed one of the nation's top kicking prospects, Conor Talty, in December. - AP College Football

(DS#2 K) rSr/2024

K Will Reichard, Alabama
News Source: AP College Football
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01/02/23 - *Bryce Young, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-10, 204 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and linebacker Will Anderson Jr. are heading to the NFL, where both could contend for the top draft spot. Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, and the two-time unanimous All-American Anderson on Monday announced their decisions to skip their senior seasons, two days after leading Alabama to a 45-20 victory over Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl. Tailback Jahmyr Gibbs also is heading to the NFL and coach Nick Saban said other players could follow.

They endeared themselves to Crimson Tide faithful even more by not joining the ranks of bowl opt-outs among NFL prospects. Young passed for 321 yards and five touchdowns in New Orleans. He got a loud ovation from Alabama fans when he was substituted out for backup Jalen Milroe in the fourth quarter, and later a salute from Kansas State coach Chris Klieman. "That's what college football is about. I was happy Bryce played," Klieman said after the game. "That was really good for college football and really good for kids to see." Anderson is one of the top pass rushers in Alabama history and is even more acclaimed than Young. He is only the second two-time Nagurski Trophy wnner and he also won both the Lombardi Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy as a junior. Gibbs, a Georgia Tech transfer, ran for 926 yards and seven touchdowns and gained 444 yards on 44 catches. - AP College Football

(DS#2 QB) Jr/2023

QB *Bryce Young, Alabama
News Source: AP College Football
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12/31/22 - *Bryce Young, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-10, 204 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Bryce Young passed for 321 yards and five touchdowns in a game that other top NFL prospects might have skipped, and No. 5 Alabama responded to an early two-score deficit with 35 straight points to defeat 11th-ranked Kansas State 45-20 in the Sugar Bowl on Saturday. While a number of pro-bound college stars sat out bowl games that were not part of the College Football Playoff, the Crimson Tide and Wildcats had their best prospects on the field and making a number of memorable plays - from Young's pivotal passes, to Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn's 88-yard touchdown run to interceptions by Alabama's Jordan Battle and Brian Branch. Young was substituted out during a series in the fourth quarter, raising his right hand to Alabama fans who loudly rose to their feet as the former Heisman Trophy winner trotted to the sideline.

Jermaine Burton caught three passes for 87 yards and a touchdown for Alabama (11-2). Tide running back Jahmyr Gibbs had 142 yards from scrimmage - 76 rushing and 66 receiving. Young's other touchdowns went to Isaiah Bond (6 yards), Cameron Latu (1 yard), Ja'Corey Brooks (32 yards) and Kobe Prentice (47 yards). Jase McClelland added a 17-yard scoring run. Kansas State (10-4) entered its first Sugar Bowl on a four-game winning streak and was riding high after knocking off No. 3 TCU - a CFP team - in the Big 12 title game. While Battle's leaping interception of Will Howard ended K-State's opening drive on the Alabama 21, the Wildcats scored the Sugar Bowl’s first 10 points, surging in front on Ty Zentner's 41-yard field goal and Vaughn's long run. Alabama was on the brink of punting a third time when Young, on third and 10, stepped up in a collapsing pocket and flicked a short pass to Gibbs, who was cutting across the middle and turned up field for a 60-yard gain. Young stepped up similarly to avoid pressure on his touchdown pass to Bond shortly after. Young threw over the top to Burton for 47 yards to setup his 1-yard scoring pass Latu that put Alabama in front for good. - Alabama/AP College Football

(DS#2 QB) Jr/2023

QB *Bryce Young, Alabama
News Source: Alabama/AP College Football
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12/28/22 - CJ Dippre, Sr/2025, Alabama, 6-5, 256 (DS#24 TE) + More +

Maryland tight end CJ Dippre announced Tuesday morning that he is transferring to Alabama, giving the Tide its first addition through the NCAA transfer portal for 2023. Dippre, who entered the portal Dec. 5 after two seasons with the Terrapins, had last week narrowed his finalists to Alabama and Ohio State. He visited Alabama earlier this month and was offered by the Tide, one of several Power 5 offers he received.

Dippre will not be eligible to play in Saturday's Sugar Bowl against Kansas State and had already stated he would not play for Maryland in Friday's Mayo Bowl against NC State. However, Alabama's pursuit of Dippre suggests he will be the favorite to replace Cameron Latu as the Tide's starting tight end in 2023. Latu, a fifth-year senior, has accepted an invitation to February's Senior Bowl to prepare for the NFL draft. - Birmingham News

(DS#24 TE) Sr/2025

TE CJ Dippre, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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12/21/22 - *Jahmyr Gibbs, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-09, 199 (DS#2 RB) + More +

Each Alabama football player, and any player on any team, has his reasons for playing or not playing in a bowl game. "I think I was always going to play," Gibbs said Tuesday. "Since I've never been in (a bowl game), I wanted the experience." Bowls, even if not playoff games, have been a given at Alabama during coach Nick Saban's tenure. Gibbs transferred to UA ahead of 2022 from Georgia Tech, which hasn't made a bowl game since 2018. So he has a different outlook on postseason games. "I'm very excited," Gibbs said. "I've never been to one, so yeah I'm very excited." This season, Gibbs rushed for 850 yards on 136 carries for seven touchdowns. He also caught 42 passes for 378 yards and three more scores. - Montgomery Advertiser

(DS#2 RB) Jr/2023

RB *Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
News Source: Montgomery Advertiser
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12/19/22 - *Will Anderson Jr., Jr/2023, Alabama, 6-4, 253 (DS#1 DE) + More +

The story of the day was Bryce Young and Will Anderson opting to play in the Sugar Bowl instead of getting the NFL draft head start. Headlines came just before Alabama hit the practice field for the first workout for the buildup to the Dec. 31 game with Big 12 champion Kansas State. Nick Saban commented on those decisions after that practice Friday evening. He said he spoke with both Young and Anderson about the topic and weighed the pros and cons of the situation but it was ultimately up to each player to make that call.

Saban also noted that Alabama "minimized the risk of them playing in the game by insuring them the best we possibly can." Schools can take out insurance policies in the event of major injuries impacting players' future earnings in the NFL. "It's kinda interesting that people opt out for playing for their team," Saban said. "The way you create value for yourself is to play football. That is the best way you can create value for your future. When you do that against good competition, that creates value for your future. I hear guys say all the time 'I'm going to get ready for the NFL.' Well, what do you mean? Getting ready for the Combine? All the things you do at the Combine aren't even relevant to what you do on the football field. Every time you have an opportunity to compete -- if you're a great competitor and I think these two guys are great competitors - that's why they wanted to play. They wanted to continue to create value for themselves and be good teammates and help their teammates play well in the game. "That makes them a little old fashioned in a lot of ways, but I sort of respect that." - Birmingham News

(DS#1 DE) Jr/2023

DE *Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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12/16/22 - Jaylen Key, rSr/2024, Alabama, 6-1, 208 (DS#22 SS) + More +

2022 ALL-CONFERENCE USA HONORABLE MENTION: DB: Jaylen Key, UAB,...Honorable Mention All-Conference USA recipients include left guard Matthew Trehern, wide receivers Trea Shropshire and Tejhuan Palmer, defensive end Drew Tuazama, defensive tackle Isaiah Forte, linebacker Tyler Taylor, safeties Jaylen Key and Keondre Swoopes, punter Kyle Greenwell, long snapper Cole Kizziah and kick returner Jermaine Brown Jr. - Alabama-Birmingham Football

(DS#22 SS) rSr/2024

SS Jaylen Key, Alabama
News Source: Alabama-Birmingham Football
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