The Crimson Tide’s 10 selections were the most from any school in this year’s draft 

NASHVILLE – The University of Alabama football team saw five former players selected on the final day of the 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville, Tenn. The list of Crimson Tide standouts who were drafted on Saturday includes linebacker Christian Miller, defensive back Deionte Thompson, offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher, linebacker Mack Wilson and defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs.

Miller was the first Crimson Tide player off the board on Saturday in the fourth round (No. 115, Carolina Panthers). The fifth round featured three selections for UA. First was Thompson (No. 139, Arizona Cardinals), followed by Pierschbacher (No. 153, Washington Redskins) and then Wilson (No. 155, Cleveland Browns) two picks later. The final Alabama player to hear his name called was Buggs (No. 181, Pittsburgh Steelers) in the sixth round.

The five players chosen Saturday join Irv Smith Jr. (No. 50, Minnesota Vikings), Damien Harris (No. 87, New England Patriots) from day two, along with first-round selections in Quinnen Williams (No. 3, New York Jets), Jonah Williams (No. 11, Cincinnati Bengals) and Josh Jacobs (No. 24, Oakland Raiders) to make up Alabama’s 2019 NFL Draft class.

Alabama’s five selections on Saturday gives the Crimson Tide the most for any school in the 2019 Draft. Alabama’s 87 draftees over the last 11 years is the most by any program in college football in that span. LSU is second with 75 followed by USC at 70.

The Crimson Tide has now had 32 players selected in the last three NFL Drafts, marking the third consecutive year 10 or more players have been chosen.

Alabama Draft Recap

Christian Miller (No. 115 | Carolina Panthers)

Christian Miller spent five seasons at the Capstone, highlighted by his redshirt senior campaign in 2018. Miller wrapped up last year with four starts in his 14 games of action. He totaled 36 tackles, including 11.5 for loss (-40 yards) and 8.5 sacks (-35 yards), while leading the Crimson Tide in quarterback hurries with 12. Across his time in Tuscaloosa, Miller appeared in 45 games, registering 58 total tackles with 16.5 tackles for loss (-57 yards) and 11.5 sacks (-48 yards).

Deionte Thompson (No. 139 | Arizona Cardinals)

Called to duty as the starting safety during the 2017 College Football Playoff, Deionte Thompson never relinquished his role from thereon out, earning himself consensus first team All-America recognition as a redshirt junior. He ranked second on Alabama in tackles last year with 79 stops, including a team-high 48 solo tackles. Thompson added 3.5 tackles for loss (-7 yards), six pass breakups, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a team-high four forced fumbles in 2018. Across three seasons, he appeared in 43 games with 17 starts, accumulating 113 total tackles.

Ross Pierschbacher (No. 153 | Washington Redskins)

After making 42 career starts at left guard in his first three years at the Capstone, Ross Pierschbacher transitioned to center and finished with 57 career starts to set an NCAA Division I record. He provided a consistent presence along the Tide offensive front, blocking for 31 100-yard rushers in four seasons. Voted a permanent team captain as a redshirt senior, Pierschbacher recorded 36 knockdown blocks and allowed only one pressure while giving up two sacks across 962 snaps. Those impressive numbers earned him first team All-America and All-SEC honors while also being selected as a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, presented annually to the nation’s top center.

Mack Wilson (No. 155 | Cleveland Browns)

An Instinctive, hard-hitting linebacker in the middle for Alabama, Mack Wilson finished his collegiate career with 42 games played, including 17 starts. Wilson’s three years featured 119 total tackles and six interceptions. He put together a standout junior campaign, tallying 71 tackles, including 4.5 for loss (-8 yards) and one sack, while adding seven quarterback pressures, five pass breakups and two interceptions. Those numbers earned Wilson second team All-America honors and All-SEC honors in 2018.

Isaiah Buggs (No. 181 | Pittsburgh Steelers)

A disruptive force off the edge in the Alabama defensive front, Buggs started in 28 of his 29 career games at the Capstone after transferring in from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He totaled 102 career tackles for UA, including 17.5 for loss (-75) yards and 11 sacks (-53), while adding 13 quarterback pressures across two seasons. Buggs put together his most productive season in 2018, leading the Tide defense in sacks with 9.5 (-49 yards), while ranking second in tackles for loss at -13.5 (-59 yards). His standout senior campaign earned him second team All-America honors from the AFCA along with All-SEC second team recognition by both the Associated Press and the conference.

Quinnen Williams, Jonah Williams and Josh Jacobs hear their names called on Thursday evening

NASHVILLE – Alabama football saw three former players selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday night in downtown Nashville, Tenn. The three picks were highlighted by defensive lineman Quinnen Williams (No. 3, New York Jets), offensive lineman Jonah Williams (No. 11, Cincinnati Bengals) and running back Josh Jacobs (No. 24, Oakland Raiders).

The three first-round selections for the Crimson Tide ties Clemson and Mississippi State for the most from any team in this year’s opening round and gives head coach Nick Saban the most first-round d

raft picks in college football history. The three selections moves Saban’s career total to 34 first-round picks, surpassing the previous high of 33 by Penn State’s Joe Paterno.

Alabama has now had 29 players selected in the first round of the last 11 NFL Drafts. They are listed below:

2009 – Andre Smith (No. 6, Cincinnati)

2010 – Rolando McClain (No. 8, Oakland), Kareem Jackson (No. 20, Houston)

2011 – Marcell Dareus (No. 3, Buffalo), Julio Jones (No. 6, Atlanta), James Carpenter (No. 25, Seattle), Mark Ingram (No. 28, New Orleans)

2012 – Trent Richardson (No. 3, Cleveland), Mark Barron (No. 7, Tampa Bay), Dre Kirkpatrick (No. 17, Cincinnati), Dont’a Hightower (No. 25, New England)

2013 – Dee Milliner (No. 9, New York Jets), Chance Warmack (No. 10, Tennessee), D.J. Fluker (No. 11, San Diego)

2014 – C.J. Mosley (No. 17, Baltimore), Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (No. 21, Green Bay)

2015 – Amari Cooper (No. 4, Oakland)

2016 – Ryan Kelly (No. 18, Indianapolis)

2017 – Marlon Humphrey (No. 16, Baltimore), Jonathan Allen (No. 17, Washington), O.J. Howard (No. 19, Tampa Bay), Reuben Foster (No. 31, San Francisco)

2018 – Minkah Fitzpatrick (No. 11, Miami), Da’Ron Payne (No. 13, Washington), Rashaan Evans (No. 22, Tennessee), Calvin Ridley (No. 26, Atlanta)

2019 – Quinnen Williams (No. 3, New York Jets), Jonah Williams (No. 11, Cincinnati), Josh Jacobs (Oakland, No. 24)

The second and third rounds will continue Friday beginning at 6 p.m. CT and can be seen on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network and ESPN Deportes. The 2019 Draft will wrap up with rounds 4-7 on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. and can be seen on ABC, ESPN, NFL Network and ESPN Deportes.

Alabama First Round Recap

Quinnen Williams (No. 3 | New York Jets)

Quinnen Williams was the first Alabama player taken in this year’s draft. He exploded onto the scene in 2018, winning the Outland Trophy along with earning unanimous All-America accolades and first team All-SEC recognition as a redshirt sophomore. The 2018 season saw Williams total 70 tackles, including seven sacks (-53 yards) and a team-high 18.5 tackles for loss (-84 yards). That mark ranked second in the SEC and in the top 10 nationally while also finishing as the ninth-best single-season total in program history.

Jonah Williams (No. 11 | Cincinnati Bengals)

Jonah Williams earned unanimous All-American accolades, All-SEC First Team recognition and the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy along with Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award finalist honors as a junior to cap off an impressive three seasons. A stalemate along the Alabama offensive front, Williams spent his freshman season at right tackle before moving to left tackle each of the last two years. He started all 44 games of his Alabama career, blocking for 20 100-yard rushers over three seasons.

Josh Jacobs (No. 24 | Oakland Raiders)

Josh Jacobs leaves Tuscaloosa after three seasons with the Crimson Tide. An elusive back who was a weapon every time he touched the ball, Jacobs totaled 1,491 career rushing yards with 16 scores while adding 48 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns. He also returned kickoffs as a sophomore and junior. His most productive season came in 2018 where he played in all 15 games to record a team-high tying 1,315 all-purpose yards for an average of 87.7 yards per game. Jacobs finished with 640 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground while adding 20 receptions for 247 yards and three scores on offense. He also accounted for 428 yards and one score on 14 kickoff returns to average 30.6 yards per return, a total that led the SEC and was second in the FBS. Jacobs’ junior campaign was highlighted by his postseason performances, first earning SEC Championship Game Most Valuable Player honors before a standout CFP Semifinal that saw him accumulate 158 all-purpose yards.

“Coach Saban underwent successful robotic assisted right hip replacement surgery this afternoon with our hip specialist, Dr. Benton Emblom and the team at Andrews Sports Medicine. Coach is resting comfortably and we anticipate a full recovery. He should be able to return to work in the very near future, and we’ll have him back out on the golf course, with hopefully a few more yards off the tee, as soon as possible.”

The White team tallied 396 total yards, while Crimson rolled up 317 yards of offense

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama football team concluded its spring season with the annual Golden Flake A-Day Game Saturday afternoon in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The White team came out on top of Crimson, 31-17.

Freshman wide receiver John Metchie won the Dixie Howell Memorial Award (MVP of the A-Day Game), while senior linebacker Anfernee Jennings earned the Dwight Stephenson Award (Most Valuable Lineman of the A-Day Game).

On offense, sophomore quarterback Mac Jones threw for 271 yard after going 19 of 23 with one interception and two touchdowns, while junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa went 19 of 37 with one touchdown, one interception and 265 yards. Metchie led all receivers with 133 yards on five catches, while junior running back Brian Robinson, Jr., led all rushers with 42 yards on 11 carries, while adding 52 yards on six catches.

On defense, freshman linebacker Shane Lee led the way with seven tackles, including six solo stops and an interception.

Following an 18-yard interception return by Lee, the Crimson side got on the scoreboard first with a five play, 30-yard drive, capped off by junior running back Najee Harris reaching the end zone from four yards out. Redshirt sophomore kicker Joseph Bulovas converted the extra point to make it 7-0 with 3:42 left on the first quarter clock.

On the ensuing drive, the White squad marched down the field when Jones found Metchie deep down the middle for a 49-yard strike. Four plays later freshman kicker Will Reichard knocked through a 43-yard field good attempt to make it 7-3 with 1:10 on the clock.

Crimson answered back with a field goal of its own after driving 59 yards in eight plays with Bulovas converting the 34-yard attempt to push the lead to 10-3 with 11:42 remaining before the half.

White tied the game up at 10-10 with 1:23 to go before the halftime break when Jones found junior tight end Kedrick James for a 29-yard touchdown. Reichard’s extra point finished the six play 69-yard drive. After a quick Crimson three-and-out, White got the ball back with 47 seconds on the clock. Jones led the squad down the field and connected with redshirt freshman Xavier Williams for a 22-yard touchdown pitch-and-catch. The Reichard extra point made it 17-10 going into halftime.

In the third quarter, White extended its lead when freshman quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa linked up with sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Waddle for a 29-yard touchdown with 5:16 on the clock. Reichard’s point after made it 24-10 to cap the seven play 77-yard scoring drive.

On the next Crimson drive, sophomore linebacker Jaylen Moody snagged the attempted pass out of the air for an interception and took it 30 yards for the score. Another extra point from Reichard had the White team in control, 31-10 with 3:31 left in the third.

The Crimson team scored on a 54-yard Tua Tagovailoa to junior wide receiver Jerry Jeudy late in the fourth quarter. Bulovas’ extra point made it 31-17 with 2:10 left in the game.

Team Captains

Team captains for the 2019 Golden Flake A-Day Game for the Crimson Team were tight end Miller Forristall, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and offensive lineman Matt Womack; for the White Team, defensive lineman Raekwon Davis, defensive back Xavier McKinney and linebacker Dylan Moses.

Official A-Day Game Attendance

The official estimated attendance at the 2019 Golden Flake A-Day Game was 62,219 at Bryant-Denny Stadium (capacity: 101,821), the 13^th-largest attendance mark for an A-Day football game.

Largest A-Day Attendance Totals

The top attendance totals for Alabama’s A-Day Game.

Rank   Year    Attendance

1. 2011    92,310*
2.         2007    92,138
3.         2010    91,312
4. 2009    84,050
5. 2012    78,526
6. 2013    78,315
7. 2008    78,200
8. 2016    76,212
9. 2018    74,732
10. 2017    74,326
11. 2014    73,506
12. 2015    65,175
13. 2019    62,219
14. 1988    51,117
15. 1994    46,700
16. 2006    40,000
17. 1995    37,323
18. 2002    37,000
19. 2004    35,000
20. 2001    35,000

*A-Day Record

Spring Football Award Winners

The following Alabama football players were honored for the performance throughout spring football practice with the following awards bestowed by the Crimson Tide coaching staff:

Lee Roy Jordan Headhunter Award – Dylan Moses, Matt Womack

Jerry Duncan “I Like to Practice” Award – Tommy Brown, Jaylen Waddle, Josh Jobe, DJ Dale, Henry Ruggs

Billy Neighbors Defensive Lineman Award – Raekwon Davis, LaBryan Ray

Paul Crane Offensive Lineman Award – Jedrick Wills, Alex Leatherwood

Bobby Johns Defensive Back Award – Trevon Diggs, Patrick Surtain

Johnny Musso Offensive Back Award – Brian Robinson, Najee Harris

Ray Perkins Receiver Award – Jerry Jeudy, Devonta Smith

Woodrow Lowe Linebacker Award – Anfernee Jennings

Derrick Thomas Community Service Award – Mac Hereford, Eddie Smith

Bear Bryant Outstanding Non-Scholarship Award – Giles Amos, Daniel Powell, William Cooper, Jackson Roby, Joshua Lanier

Ozzie Newsome Most Improved Freshman Award – Evan Neal, Cameron Latu, Eyabi Anoma, Slade Bolden, Shane Lee

Bart Starr Most Improved Player Award – Christian Barmore, Emil Ekiyor, Jared Mayden, Josh McMillon

Mal Moore Leadership Award – Miller Forristall, Thomas Fletcher, Chris Owens

Sylvester Croom Commitment to Excellence Award – Tua Tagovailoa, Xavier McKinney, Shyheim Carter

Dwight Stephenson Lineman of the A-Day Game Award – Anfernee Jennings

Dixie Howell Memorial Most Valuable Player of the A-Day Game Award – John Metchie

The Golden Flake A-Day Game Brings an End to Spring Practice

The University of Alabama football team and head coach Nick Saban wrapped up spring practice today with the 2019 Golden Flake A-Day Game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama opened spring practice on Friday, March 8, and held 14 practices through Thursday, April 11, leading up to today’s A-Day game. The Crimson Tide also held two scrimmages here at Bryant-Denny Stadium this spring (March 30 and April 6) in preparation for today’s game.

Walk of Fame Ceremony Honored 2018 Team Captains

The four permanent team captains from the 2018 season – running back Damien Harris, tight end Hale Hentges, linebacker Christian Miller and offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher – were recognized at the annual Walk of Fame ceremony that took place Saturday at 11:15 a.m. at Denny Chimes. Per Alabama tradition, all four captains had their hand prints and foot prints placed in cement at the base of Denny Chimes in recognition of the leadership, commitment and excellence in representing the Crimson Tide.

A-Day Game Format

The format for the A-Day game was much like a normal game, with a few minor variations primarily regarding the game clock. The game consisted of four 15-minute quarters with a running clock. The clock stopped only following scoring plays, penalties, and changes of possession. Regular clock rules were used during the final minutes of the second quarter and the fourth quarter. Halftime was 12 minutes in duration. Players wearing black jerseys (quarterbacks and injured players) were considered “tag-off” and were not treated as live players. The kickoffs and kick returns were “tag-off” plays as well, with the ball spotted at the 30-yard line.

Crimson Tide continues preparations on Tuesday for the annual Golden Flake A-Day Game on April 13

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama football team wrapped up its 13^th of 14 spring practice sessions on Tuesday afternoon with a two-hour session in full pads on the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields.

Alabama will return to the practice field Thursday, April 11, to make its final preparations before spring drills conclude with the annual Golden Flake A-Day Spring Football Game on Saturday, April 13 at 1 p.m. in Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN2 with Tom Hart and Todd Blackledge working from the booth while Laura Rutledge calls the game from field level.

The Crimson Tide resumed practice on Tuesday afternoon for the sixth practice of the spring session

TUSCALOOSA, Ala

The Alabama football team held a two-hour practice session Tuesday in full pads as the second full week of practices got underway on the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields.

Tuesday marked Alabama’s sixth practice of 14 spring practice sessions before the 2019 Golden Flake A-Day Game on Saturday, April 13 at 1 p.m. CT inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. The A-Day Game is open to the public and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

The team will return to the field this week for another practice on Thursday, March 28 at 3:30 p.m. CT, before holding its first scrimmage of the spring on Saturday, March 30. Media members wishing to attend Saturday’s scrimmage are asked to arrive at Gate 3 of Bryant-Denny Stadium by 12:00 p.m. CT.

UA heads inside to the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility for Wednesday’s work

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama football team worked inside on Wednesday afternoon, practicing in full pads for two hours at the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility.

Wednesday’s practice was the Tide’s second of six workouts leading up to the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. CT. Top-ranked Alabama will square off with No. 2 Clemson at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., with the game airing live on ESPN. The duo of Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will call the action from the booth while Tom Rinaldi and Maria Taylor work the sidelines.

The national title matchup will be the 19^th meeting all-time between the two programs and the fourth consecutive pairing in the College Football Playoff. Alabama owns a 14-4 advantage in the series, including a 2-1 mark in the Playoff. The Tide and Tigers squared off last year in the 2018 CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 in New Orleans, La., with Alabama claiming a 24-6 win over the Tigers to send the Tide to Atlanta for a meeting with Georgia in the 2018 CFP National Championship Game.