Tide stars roll to the pros: Alabama QB Bryce Young and LB Will Anderson Jr. declare for NFL Draft after Sugar Bowl win as both are expected to be among the first three players chosen this April
- Alabama standouts Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. declared for the NFL Draft
- Young is predicted by many to be the first-overall pick by the Houston Texans
- Anderson, an elite pass rusher, is seen by many experts as a top-three selection
- Crimson Tide tailback Jahmyr Gibbs also is heading to the NFL, per Nick Saban
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Alabama standouts Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. have declared for the NFL Draft, where they’re both expected to be among the top three players selected on April 27.
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, potentially cementing his status as the top pick of the NFL Draft.
Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr., left, quarterback Bryce Young, center, and head coach Nick Saban, right, stand with the trophy as they celebrate after the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game where Alabama defeated Kansas State 45-20 Saturday
Young 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 winner and he also won both the Lombardi Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy as a junior.
He finished his three-year career with 34 1/2 sacks and 62 tackles for loss, behind only Derrick Thomas in school history.
Anderson finished fifth in the 2021 Heisman voting after racking up 17 1/2 sacks and 34 1/2 tackles for loss. He had 10 sacks and 17 tackles for loss this past season.
Gibbs, a Georgia Tech transfer, ran for 926 yards and seven touchdowns and gained 444 yards on 44 catches.
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs (1) stiff arms Kansas State safety Drake Cheatum (21) as he carries the ball during the first half of the Sugar Bowl. Gibbs is also declaring for the draft
Provided they lose to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the Houston Texans will have the first pick in the NFL Draft.
Young is seen as a significant upgrade above current Texans quarterback Davis Mills, a Stanford product with 10 interceptions in 13 games this season.
But they also have the Browns’ first-round pick, thanks to the trade that sent Deshaun Watson to Cleveland back in March.
Currently both ESPN and Pro Football Focus are predicting that Young will go first to Houston. Meanwhile, ESPN is expecting the Texans take Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer with their second first-round selection and PFF foreseeing Northwestern offensive lineman Peter Skoronski headed to Houston with that pick.
However, Alabama safety Brian Branch and even Gibbs could also be first-round options for the Texans.
Young is seen as a significant upgrade above current Texans quarterback Davis Mills, a Stanford product with 10 interceptions in 13 games this season