Two Alabama Football Players Selected on Final Day of 2023 NFL Draft
4/29/2023 5:55:00 PM | Football
The Crimson Tide had 10 total players selected across three days of this year’s NFL Draft
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Alabama football program had 10 total former players selected at the 2023 NFL Draft, including Henry To'oTo'o (No. 167, Houston Texans) in the fifth round and DeMarcco Hellams (No. 224, Atlanta Falcons) who heard his name called in the seventh round, as the annual event concluded Saturday afternoon.
To'oTo'o, a linebacker, and Hellams, a defensive back, joined quarterback Bryce Young (No. 1, Carolina Panthers), linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (No. 3, Houston Texans), running back Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 12, Detroit Lions), defensive back Brian Branch (No. 45, Detroit Lions), offensive lineman Tyler Steen (No. 65, Philadelphia Eagles), defensive lineman Byron Young (No. 70, Las Vegas Raiders), safety Jordan Battle (No. 95, Cincinnati Bengals) and tight end Cameron Latu (No. 101, San Francisco 49ers) as part of the Tide's 10-man 2023 NFL Draft class.
With its 10 selections across the three days, Alabama matches the second-most draft picks in program history, while the Crimson Tide has had at least seven draft picks for 12 straight years (2012 – present).
Draft Notes
- Since 2009, Alabama has produced 123 draft picks, the most by any college football program during that span
- Alabama's 10 drafted players in 2023 tied for the second-most in school history (UA had 10 drafted players in 1945, 2017, 2019 and 2021)
- With Alabama's eight selections through the first three rounds at the 2023 NFL Draft, the Crimson Tide has had at least six selections in the NFL Draft for four straight years (2020-23) and six years total under Saban
Alabama's 2023 NFL Draft Recap
|
Player |
Rd. |
Pick |
Team |
|
1 |
1 |
Carolina Panthers |
|
|
1 |
3 |
Houston Texas |
|
|
1 |
12 |
Detroit Lions |
|
|
2 |
45 |
Detroit Lions |
|
|
3 |
65 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
|
|
3 |
70 |
Las Vegas Raiders |
|
|
3 |
95 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
|
|
3 |
101 |
San Francisco 49ers |
|
|
5 |
167 |
Houston Texans |
|
|
7 |
224 |
Atlanta Falcons |
Henry To'oTo'o, Linebacker (No. 167 | Houston Texans)
To'oTo'o joined the Crimson Tide in 2021 and instantly became one of the top contributors on defense. Alabama's signal-caller each of the last two seasons at his mike linebacker spot, he earned first team All-SEC accolades and was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award in 2022. In his senior season, To'oTo'o ranked second on UA with 94 tackles, including eight for loss (-29 yards) and 2.5 sacks (-15 yards). In his first season at the Capstone in 2021, he led UA in tackles at 113 with 8.5 for loss (-41 yards) and four sacks (-29 yards). He also recorded a pair of quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and a forced fumble on his way to earning All-SEC second team honors from the league coaches.
DeMarcco Hellams, Defensive Back (No. 224 | Atlanta Falcons)
Hellams played in 54 career games for the Crimson Tide, including 28 starts at the free safety spot. He led Alabama in tackles (108) in his final season in Tuscaloosa, including three for loss (-11 yards) and one sack (-8 yards), while adding seven pass breakups, one interception and forced a fumble. Earning the starting job at safety in his junior year, he battled through a lower leg injury to tie for the UA lead in interceptions with three and contributed 87 tackles on the season. Hellams saw time on the Tide's third-down defense in 2020 and contributed on special teams in each of his first two seasons at the Capstone.
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