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Alabama long snapper Thomas Fletcher was trying to work out his football future when the Carolina Panthers did it for him. When Carolina coach Matt Rhule phoned on Saturday to tell Fletcher the Panthers had picked him in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, Fletcher thought the call was to gauge his interest in signing as a rookie free agent after the draft. "I was on the phone with another team that was trying to get me to commit to a free-agent deal once the draft ended," Fletcher said. "And I'm trying to weight the things. I wanted to be in Carolina so bad, that I'm trying to figure out, 'How am I going to make that work?' And I got off that call and immediately got a call from a Charlotte number, and I was like, 'There's no way.' "And answered it, and it was coach Rhule, and he was like, 'Are you coming?' And I was, 'Well, I'm hoping.' And he was, 'No, no, no, brother. I just drafted you.' I will remember that moment for the rest of my life, I assure you. There was a lot of yelling and a lot of screaming." One long snapper had been chosen in each of the previous six NFL drafts, so Fletcher didn't have high hopes of being among the 259 players picked this year. But he wanted to join the Panthers after working with the Carolina coaching staff at the Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile in January. - Birmingham News

(DS#1 LS) Sr/2021

LS Thomas Fletcher, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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05/04/21 - Miller Forristall, rSr/2021, Alabama, 6-5, 239 (DS#23 TE) + More +

Former Alabama tight end Miller Forristall was not picked in the 2021 NFL draft but is signing with the Tennessee Titans as a free agent, NFL Network reported. Forristall spent five seasons (2016-20) at Alabama, setting career highs last season with 23 catches for 253 yards. He was not among Alabama's invites to the NFL combine, which was not held in its traditional format this spring, but took part in pro day workouts with quarterback Mac Jones last month. He joins teammate Dylan Moses, a projected mid-round pick, in undrafted Alabama players agreeing to deals Saturday evening. Moses is joining the Jaguars. - Birmingham News

(DS#23 TE) rSr/2021

TE Miller Forristall, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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05/02/21 - Alex Leatherwood, Sr/2021, Alabama, 6-5, 312 (DS#5 OT) + More +

Under general manager Mike Mayock, the Las Vegas Raiders have marched to the beat of their own drummer in the NFL Draft. The selection of Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell with the fourth choice in the 2019 draft came under immediate fire, and second-guessing came with the addition of Ohio State cornerback Damon Arnette at No. 19 last year, too. After Mayock chose Alabama offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood with the 17th choice in the NFL Draft on Thursday night, he said he "knew it would be controversial. Completely understand that." "When we made the pick, we had the TVs on," Mayock said, "and, obviously, I forget which group it was, but they were saying, 'They could have had him in the second round and blah, blah, blah,' so I understand that the fan base is going to listen to that and the fan base is going to question it."

The Detroit Lions made the first pick of an offensive tackle on Thursday night by choosing Oregon's Penei Sewell at No. 7. Northwestern's Rashawn Slater went next at No. 13 to the Los Angeles Chargers. The Raiders took Leatherwood over Virginia Tech's Christian Darrisaw, who went to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 23, as well as Oklahoma State's Teven Jenkins, whom nfl.com rated as a better pro prospect than Leatherwood. Leatherwood said he didn't buy into the second-round tag placed on him by so many talent evaluators and mock drafters. "By no means was I surprised," Leatherwood said about being the 17th selection. "I'm not the type of dude to fall into the media hype, the mock drafts and all that good stuff, so I just did what I could do well, you know what I mean? Did the best that I could do and trusted the process, and it all went great. - Birmingham News

(DS#5 OT) Sr/2021

OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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05/01/21 - *Patrick Surtain II, Jr/2021, Alabama, 6-2, 208 (DS#1 CB) + More +

Move over Miami. You have company. Alabama tied the Hurricanes 2004 record for the most first-round NFL draft picks Thursday when six Crimson Tide products heard their names called. Najee Harris to Pittsburgh tied the record with the 24th overall pick but he was the last name called. Christian Barmore was left in the green room in Cleveland after receiving multiple first-round projections. He'll be selected in the second or third-round Friday along with former teammates Landon Dickerson with Deonte Brown and Dylan Moses also on the board.

"It makes me feel like a proud papa," a smiling Nick Saban said on the ABC broadcast when asked about tying the record with six. Before Thursday, the most first-round picks in a given season for Alabama was four -- a number achieved five times (2020, 2018, 2017, 2012 and 2011). Miami in 2004 saw its six players taken in the first 21 picks. It started with Sean Taylor at No. 5 and included other future stars like Jonathan Vilma (No. 12), D.J. Williams (No. 17) and Vince Wilfork (No. 21). - Birmingham News

(DS#1 CB) Jr/2021

CB *Patrick Surtain II, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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05/01/21 - *Mac Jones, rJr/2021, Alabama, 6-3, 217 (DS#3 QB) + More +

Leading into the NFL Draft, there was reason to believe that Alabama quarterback Mac Jones would be the third player picked on Thursday night. Instead, the San Francisco 49ers chose North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance at No. 3, and Jones didn't hear his name called until No. 15, when he went to the New England Patriots. And that was fine by Jones. "At the end of the day, you kind of want to just get the right fit," Jones told reporters after being picked, "and I feel like, secretly, I really wanted to go to the Patriots all along, so I'm actually really happy that it happened. "But it doesn't really matter. You get picked. You got to take the opportunity and take advantage of it and learn the new system, learn the new coaches, learn the new culture, and coach (Bill) Belichick's done a great job establishing that throughout his time in New England."

Jones enters the NFL after helping Alabama win the 2020 CFP national championship with an undefeated season. That was the sixth national title for coach Nick Saban at Alabama. By joining Belichick in New England, Jones goes to a coach who has won six Super Bowls with the Patriots. "New England's just a great place," Jones said. "In watching them the past years, they do everything right. It's all about the team. That's kind of what I grew up knowing is being a good teammate, and, then, obviously winning it comes down to winning football games, and New England's done that. But they don't look in the past, they just look in the future … so I'm just looking forward to getting in there and meeting my new teammates and seeing what happens from there." - Birmingham News

(DS#3 QB) rJr/2021

QB *Mac Jones, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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04/30/21 - Henry Too Too, Sr/2023, Alabama, 6-1, 227 (DS#3 ILB) + More +

Could former Tennessee linebacker Henry To'o To'o continue Ohio State football's streak of bringing in immediate-impact transfers? The NCAA's long-await transfer reform could make that possible - with an assist from the even-slower-to-act Southeastern Conference. In each of the past two seasons, the Buckeyes struck gold with a graduate transfer - offensive lineman Jonah Jackson in 2019 and running back Trey Sermon in 2020. Justin Fields needed the NCAA's previous eligibility loophole - a waiver application - to make his immediate impact in 2019. The landscape officially changed Wednesday. The Division I Board of Governors ratified legislation granting immediate eligibility for first-time transfers. (Those transferring for a second time can still use the waiver process.) That development, while not unexpected, comes at a crucial moment for Ohio State. To'o To'o has previously been linked to Alabama and Ohio State as his most likely destinations. - Cleveland Plain Dealer

(DS#3 ILB) Sr/2023

ILB Henry Too Too, Alabama
News Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
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04/29/21 - *Jameson Williams, Jr/2022, Alabama, 6-2, 180 (DS#2 WR) + More +

Jameson Williams became the latest Ohio State football receiver to look elsewhere for an opportunity. Cleveland.com confirmed that Williams, a starter throughout the 2020 season, has entered the transfer portal. Matt Zenitz of al.com first reported the development on Wednesday. Williams was the third receiver behind Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in 2020. Despite playing all eight games, he totaled just 154 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions. His role was expected to decrease in 2021, as Jaxon Smith-Njigba is projected to start in the slot. That left Williams contending for second string snaps outside with freshman Marvin Harrison Jr. - coming off an impressive spring as an early enrollee - and redshirt freshman Julian Fleming. - Cleveland Plain Dealer

(DS#2 WR) Jr/2022

WR *Jameson Williams, Alabama
News Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
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04/25/21 - *Mac Jones, rJr/2021, Alabama, 6-3, 217 (DS#3 QB) + More +

A smaller guest list for the first round of the 2021 NFL draft will still include a heavy Alabama presence. The league announced the 13 players who'll attend next Thursday's first round in Cleveland and five played at Alabama. That list includes Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Christian Barmore and Patrick Surtain. Projected No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence of Clemson is not on the list of players who'll be in Cleveland for the draft. A group of 45 others will be participating virtually including Alabama products Landon Dickerson, Dylan Moses, Najee Harris and Alex Leatherwood. That brings the Alabama total to nine players with the next highest number is three participants each from LSU, Miami, Penn State and USC. - Birmingham News

(DS#3 QB) rJr/2021

QB *Mac Jones, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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04/21/21 - *Bryce Young, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-10, 204 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Were there some growing pains for Young and the first-team offense during the spring? Sure. Most notably, the first-team offense struggled against the first-team defense in the second of Alabama's three spring scrimmages, including going in the range of 0 for 4 during a two-minute drill portion of practice. That comes with the territory some though when you're without No. 1 wide receiver John Metchie for the entire spring, working with an offensive line that has to replace three starters from last year and going up against a defense that Crimson Tide sources believe may be one of the best in the country this season. Nevertheless, there were a lot of moments during each scrimmage when Young showed the ability that contributed to him being ranked as the No. 1 quarterback and No. 2 overall player in the 2020 recruiting class within the 247Sports Composite rankings.

During the first scrimmage, he had four touchdown passes, including two in situational work against the first-team defense. During the second scrimmage, he had two early touchdown passes versus the second-team defense before adding one more later on against the first-team group. Then, he finished up the spring with 333 yards, a touchdown pass and a win in the A-Day game. It was an A-Day performance that - in the first two minutes - showcased those Young improv skills and then - in the final two minutes - featured him throwing for 58 yards during a drive that produced the game-winning field goal. "Every scrimmage we had, he performed very, very well," Saban said after the A-Day game. "And I thought he performed well today. Quarterback's a hard position to play when the people around you don't play well. He had some opportunities he couldn't take advantage of because of the pressure he got in the pocket." - Birmingham News

(DS#2 QB) Jr/2023

QB *Bryce Young, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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04/20/21 - Cameron Latu, rSr/2023, Alabama, 6-4, 242 (DS#12 TE) + More +

The one-time outside linebacker did on Saturday what he had done during each of the previous two spring scrimmages - get in the end zone. After scoring a combined three touchdowns in those first two scrimmages, Latu had a 59-yard touchdown catch on a pass from Young during the second quarter of the spring game. The development of Latu has the Tide feeling good about its one-two at tight end with the combination of Latu and high-upside junior Jahleel Billingsley. - Birmingham News

(DS#12 TE) rSr/2023

TE Cameron Latu, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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04/18/21 - *Will Anderson Jr., Jr/2023, Alabama, 6-4, 253 (DS#1 DE) + More +

Alabama football defensive end Will Anderson Jr. accepted the Shaun Alexander Award honoring him as the 2020 National Freshman of the Year on Thursday. Anderson is the first Alabama player to win the award, which was established in 2018. Anderson was named as the winner of the award, which is administered by the Football Writers Association of America, last January but was officially presented with the trophy in a brief ceremony. Alexander, one of Alabama's all-time star running backs, was on hand for the presentation. "I'm honored to be the first Alabama player to win this award," Anderson said. "I want to thank my coaches for helping me as a freshman. Now it's time to move on to my sophomore year. "It means the world to me, standing next to an Alabama legend." Anderson was tied for second in the Southeastern Conference in 2020 with seven sacks and was third in the SEC with 10.5 tackles for loss. He started all 13 games for the Crimson Tide, finishing with 52 tackles and a team-high eight quarterback pressures. - Montgomery Advertiser

(DS#1 DE) Jr/2023

DE *Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
News Source: Montgomery Advertiser
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04/18/21 - *Bryce Young, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-10, 204 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Two days before Alabama will play its first spring game since 2019, coach Nick Saban confirmed rising sophomore Bryce Young will serve as the first-team quarterback Saturday. "Bryce is the quarterback for right now," Saban said Thursday evening. However, Saban took issue with a pair of reporters' questions during his latest video news conference, including one that referenced Saban's earlier comment about Young and assumed the coach was pleased with Young's progress this spring. "I just said Bryce is going to play with the [first-team offense]," Saban responded. "Alright? So that's the way it's gonna be. How do you know that he's progressed the way he has been? What have you seen to be able to make that statement, first of all? I mean, I'm happy with his progress -- I don't want you to think that -- but I just don't know where you sort of just can come out and make that statement."

Reporters have not been allowed to watch any portion of spring practice because of COVID-19 guidelines. Practices during the 2020 season were also closed because of those protocols. "But I'm happy with his progress," Saban continued. "I think he's played well this spring. I think he showed good leadership. He's made progress. I think he understands the offense. He's worked hard. So I can make the statement because I watch him practice every day, but I don't know how much practice you saw." - Birmingham News

(DS#2 QB) Jr/2023

QB *Bryce Young, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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04/15/21 - LaBryan Ray, rSr/2022, Alabama, 6-4, 287 (DS#28 DT) + More +

The 2019 season was supposed to be LaBryan Ray's breakout season, the first chance for the former five-star recruit to start at Alabama. A foot injury ended those hopes. Then came 2020, when the Madison native was healthy and initially back on the field. But an elbow injury quickly put Ray back on the sideline. Now in his fifth season, one of the deans of the Tide's defense is ready for another restart. "I feel better, getting to 100 percent overall," Ray said last week. While much of Alabama's storied 2017 recruiting class has either joined the NFL or will be drafted later this month, Ray is the highest rated of that group's members that remain in Tuscaloosa.

Despite his promise, Ray has started only seven games over four seasons, while appearing in 31 games. He has seen the field only 10 times the past two seasons. Before his injuries, NFL scouts polled by AL.com viewed Ray as a mid-to-late round pick. He had the chance to enter the draft after the 2019 and 2020 seasons but predictably declined each time. His motivation to return in 2021? "Just improving my game and just having another year where I can prove it to myself, prove it to my teammates that I can play at a high level and maintain it," he said last week. "I just have a lot of personal goals as well that I definitely want to accomplish. That's what I'm here to do." - Birmingham News

(DS#28 DT) rSr/2022

DT LaBryan Ray, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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04/15/21 - Jordan Battle, Sr/2023, Alabama, 6-1, 209 (DS#1 SS) + More +

Battle, a junior, is among the players being challenged this spring by Saban. The coach made that clear last week. "Jordan Battle does a good job," Saban said. "He plays a lot of good football, but it's kind of up to him as to how he wants to accept the role of leadership, how assertive he wants to be. People have to earn the right to be leaders. Now, they have to do things right themselves. They can't be late for meetings. They can't not do things exactly right. They have to set a good example for others. They have to care enough about other people to help them for their benefits so that's his choice. "And that's a lot of players' choice on the team. Do they want to take that responsibility of being a leader? He has done that at times, and I think he would be very good if he chose to do it."

Battle has been one of Alabama's more upfront players in interviews since first being made available to reporters last season. But the upbeat South Florida native feels it is time for him to make his voice heard around the locker room. "That's something that I'm comfortable with now because of the players I have before me who have shown me the way," he explained Tuesday. "Players last year like Landon Dickerson, Alex Leatherwood, Pat Surtain, guys like that. DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, guys like that showing me the way ever since I was a freshman. "So at this point, I'm more comfortable being vocal and getting on other players." - Birmingham News

(DS#1 SS) Sr/2023

SS Jordan Battle, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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04/13/21 - *Bryce Young, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-10, 204 (DS#2 QB) + More +

The second of three spring scrimmages went off Saturday afternoon in an empty Bryant-Denny Stadium and the offense drew mostly positive reviews from Nick Saban. Injuries continued to be the story along the line as returning starter Evan Neal left the action with an unspecified injury. In the backfield, Saban said sophomore Roydell Williams led in rushing yards. But everything runs through the quarterback and that's a focal point when a Heisman finalist is being replaced. Rising sophomore Bryce Young is the presumed heir to Mac Jones and Saban has liked what he's seen to this point in the spring. He has a specific challenge for the former five-star quarterback who made the move from Southern California to Tuscaloosa as the top-rated passer in his graduating class. The playbook is not an issue, Saban said. "I told him one of the things that he has to work on is having presence on the field -- being the man so to speak," Saban said, "taking charge and being in command. I think that he's done better at that. I think he realizes what he needs to do to try and help the players around him play better. "And I think he's done it very well." - Birmingham News

(DS#2 QB) Jr/2023

QB *Bryce Young, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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