5 Best Alabama NFL Players
Alabama has been a factory for first round picks for well over a decade, and the tradition runs much deeper than that. These five Crimson Tide players are ranked on what they did in Tuscaloosa. Awards, title runs, and seasons that changed how the sport looked.
1. Derrick Henry
Running Back · 2013 to 2015
Henry won the 2015 Heisman after running for 2,219 yards, a single season SEC record. He carried the ball 395 times that year and got stronger as games wore on. By the fourth quarter defenders were not tackling him so much as slowing him down.
2. DeVonta Smith
Wide Receiver · 2017 to 2020
Smith became the first receiver in almost thirty years to win the Heisman. His 2020 season was 117 catches, 1,856 yards, and 23 touchdowns. He also caught the walk off touchdown in overtime of the national title game as a freshman, which is a career on its own.
3. Cornelius Bennett
Linebacker · 1983 to 1986
Bennett was a three time All American and won the Lombardi Award in 1986. His hit on Steve Beuerlein in the Notre Dame game is still shown on highlight reels. He set the standard for edge pressure at Alabama long before the modern pass rush era.
4. Mark Ingram II
Running Back · 2008 to 2010
Ingram brought Alabama its first Heisman Trophy in 2009 with 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns on the way to a national title. He ran with balance and vision and rarely lost yardage. That season kicked off the run of dominance that defined the program.
5. Bryce Young
Quarterback · 2020 to 2022
Young won the 2021 Heisman with 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns in his first year as a starter. He read defenses fast, extended plays without panic, and lifted an offense that lost most of its stars the year before. He went first overall in 2023.
Tough Calls
Julio Jones, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Quinnen Williams, Will Anderson Jr., and Ozzie Newsome are all worthy. Newsome in particular has a strong argument for the top five. The ranking above leaned toward national awards and seasons that stood out on their own.
What Sets Tuscaloosa Apart
Alabama players arrive as blue chip recruits and then get coached hard in a pro style system. Many spend a year or two waiting behind another future pro. That patience shows up later, because they enter the league already used to a heavy workload and real accountability.
Test Yourself on Alabama Players
Reading about them is one thing. Naming them on sight is another. CollegeGuessr shows you an NFL player and asks which college he came from. Build a streak, post your score on the Big Board, and see how your football knowledge holds up.