2014 NFL Draft

Since Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban's arrival to The Capstone in 2007, Bama has gotten pretty good at breaking records.  Tomorrow night's NFL draft is expected to give The Tide yet another.  For 5 straight years, Bama has had a player become a top 10 draft selection that is only matched by USC for the most by any college program.  C.J. Mosley is likely to knock the Trojans out of that spot tomorrow night.

People continue to be amazed at the recruiting classes Saban has been putting together at The University of Alabama.  How can one team keep signing so much depth at almost every key position? Well, the answer is simple.  These kids want to sign with a program that will give them the best chance to get to the NFL.  And Saban's resume' speaks for itself.







Arriving in January of 2007, many players on this team were inherited by Mike Shula.  And when draft day 2008 rolled around, it showed.  No players sporting Crimson were drafted that year; extending the 8 year streak of no Bama player being drafted in the first round.  Let that sink in for a hot minute....







The Bama Nation started seeing the Saban effect when the 2009 draft rolled around.  For the first time since Chris Samuels & Shaun Alexander were taken as the 3rd & 19th pick in the 2000 draft, Bama finally had produced another player worthy of the coveted first round status.  Andre Smith was the 6th pick by the Cincinnati Bengals that year along with 3 other Bama players being drafted.
  • Andre Smith- Cincinnati Bengals  1st Round
  • Glen Coffee- San Francisco 49er's  3rd Round
  • Antoine Caldwell- Houston Texans  3rd Round
  • Rashad Johnson- Arizona Cardinals  3rd Round
The process was starting to work....







Still drunk from the excitement of the National Championship win in the Rose Bowl, Bama fans had even more to celebrate in 2010.  That year, 7 players were drafted with the number of 1st round picks doubling. For the first time in forever, Bama was beginning to flex it's muscles again.
  • Rolando McClain- Oakland Raiders  1st Round
  • Kareem Jackson- Houston Texans  1st Round
  • Javier Arenas- Kansas City Chiefs  2nd Round
  • Terrance Cody- Baltimore Ravens  2nd Round
  • Mike Johnson- Atlanta Falcons  3rd Round
  • Marquis Johnson- St. Louis Rams  7th Round
  • Brandon Deaderick- New England Patriots  7th Round






You know you've created something special when the 2010 season & 2011 draft selections left the Bama Nation feeling a little dejected.  It doesn't take long to spoil a fanbase with a history of winning, after all.  That year, 5 men sporting Crimson were selected in the draft.  And that epic 2008 signing class proved it's worth by having 4 Bama men going in the first round.  The term, 'Dynasty' was starting to be whispered....
  • Marcell Dareus- Buffalo Bills  1st Round
  • Julio Jones- Atlanta Falcons  1st Round
  • Mark Ingram- New Orleans Saints  1st Round
  • James Carpenter- Seattle Seahawks  1st Round
  • Greg McElroy- NY Jets  7th Round






Three years after most prognosticators had predicted Saban leaving us & breaking our Crimson hearts, we were coming off of the 2nd National Championship since adopting 'The Process'.  This draft holds a special place in my heart because it's the one that made even me tune in to see how dominant this program has become.  And in case you don't know me, I had never given a single shit about draft day till then.  In 2012, Bama had the most overall picks with 8 players drafted & the most 1st round picks with 4 going within the 1st 25 selections.
  •  Trent Richardson- Cleveland Browns  1st Round
  • Mark Barron- Tampa Bay Bucs  1st Round
  • Dre Kirkpatrick- Cincinnati Bengals  1st Round
  • Dont'a Hightower- New England Patriots  1st Round
  • Courtney Upshaw- Baltimore Ravens  2nd Round
  • Josh Chapman- Indianapolis Colts  5th Round
  • DeQuan Menzie- Kansas City Chiefs  5th Round
  • Brad Smelley- New York Jets  5th Round






Coming off our 3rd National Championship in the past 3 years, the word dynasty had evolved from the whispers of 2011 to ESPN talking points.  Saban & his Crimson Tide had won over the talking heads and once again, Bama was the media darling.  Three first round picks & 9 overall draft selections that year just intensified the buzz around this program....
  • Dee Milliner- NY Jets  1st Round
  • Chance Warmack- Tennessee Titans  1st Round
  • DJ Fluker- San Diego Chargers  1st Round
  • Eddie Lacey- Green Bay Packers  2nd Round
  • Nico Johnson- Kansas City Chiefs  4th Round
  • Barrett Jones- St. Louis Rams  4th Round
  • Jesse Williams- Seattle Seahawks  5th Round
  • Quinton Dial- San Francisco 49er's  5th Round
  • Michael Williams- Detroit Lions  7th Round







Don't expect a mock draft from me.  Unlike all the talking heads, I readily admit that I don't have a clue as to how tomorrow night will shake out.  However, while everyone is discussing our 2 game losing streak & our questions at quarterback, I'll be sitting back tomorrow evening shouting, "Roll Tide"....

Saban's got this, y'all.

Roll Tide, y'all!!!  Roll NFL Draft!!! Roll Saban!!!


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