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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama has four players in CBS Sports' top 50 NFL Draft prospects to watch in 2025
Kadyn Proctor is Alabama's highest-ranked player in CBS Sports' list of 2026 NFL Draft players to watch this season. Alabama football has some NFL draft analysts buzzing ahead of the 2025 season. Small wonder. The Crimson Tide have gone 17 years since a player wasn't selected in the first round of the draft. That was all the way back in 2008 after Nick Saban's first season when the talent simply hadn't arrived in Tuscaloosa but was more than on its way with Saban's banner '08 class. Exactly who the first Alabama player chosen at next year's draft, to be held in Pittsburgh, will be is probably a matter of debate and hinges on who steps up the most in 2025. Two players to keep an eye on are offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor and defensive lineman LT Overton. Proctor and Overton are two of four Alabama players that made CBS Sports' top 50 draft prospects to watch ahead of the 2025 college football season. Proctor has been a two-year starter at left tackle and enters the season as a rising junior among the draft boards. He was ranked the No. 3 overall player in CBS Sports' list on Friday, behind Texas quarterback Arch Manning at No. 1 and former Crimson Tide safety Caleb Downs of Ohio State. Overton will return for his senior season and second with the Crimson Tide after transferring to Alabama from Texas A&M after the 2023 season. In 12 games last season, the 6-foot-5, 283-pound tackle made a career-high 42 tackles (17 solo) and recorded two sacks and a forced fumble. Overton, named to the 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, was ranked the No. 13 overall play to watch by CBS Sports. Further down the list, fifth-year senior linebacker and fellow Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List member Deontae Lawson was ranked at No. 35 overall, with offensive lineman Parker Brailsford No. 49. Alabama will open the 2025 season against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee on Aug. 30. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ABC. Alabama football schedule 2025 All times Central. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
06-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
One specific area Alabama's defense must address to be a contender in 2025, expert says
One specific area Alabama's defense must address to be a contender in 2025, expert says The start of the 2025 college football season is 78 days away, and 85 days remain until the Alabama Crimson Tide open the season against the Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee. While SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and others are still trying to re-legislate Alabama's absence from last year's College Football Playoff, only 12 Saturdays remain until Alabama-FSU. Both teams are looking for bounce-back years in 2025. The Crimson Tide want to improve on a 9-3 regular season in Kalen DeBoer's first year, which included a blowout loss to Oklahoma in Week 13 that ultimately kept Alabama from reaching the first-ever 12-team playoff field. Florida State is in need of a hard reset. Mike Norvello's Seminoles followed up their 12-0 regular season and ACC championship from 2023 with a woeful 2-10 record last year that featured only one win vs. a Power Four school. One potential concern for Alabama heading into 2025? CBS Sports and 247Sports analyst Brad Crawford believes it's on defense -- more specifically, the need for Kane Wommack's unit to establish a pass rush. Per Crawford: "Make no mistake -- this should be a stout defense for the Crimson Tide, especially considering cornerbacks tandem Zabien Brown and Domani Jackson are being discussed as one of the best in the conference. But if there's one area of concern, it's the ability to produce havoc numbers on the interior and edge since Alabama's inexperienced beyond James Smith and nose tackle Tim Keenan III. The Crimson Tide need a difference-making campaign out of LT Overton, who has best-in-the-conference type of potential." Overton was recently named to the 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, along with linebacker Deontae Lawson. Lawson's 76 tackles were second on the team last year behind linebacker Jihaad Campbell, who departed for the NFL after a terrific junior season. Alabama's pass rush generated 25 sacks for 172 sacks yards. That ranked only 69th in FBS and was 14th out of the 16 SEC schools. Year 2 of the DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa will coincide with Alabama's first ever visit to Doak Campbell Stadium on Aug. 30. The Crimson Tide and Seminoles will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC. Alabama is No. 9 in Crawford's post-spring top 25 rankings. ESPN and USA TODAY Sports also have the Crimson Tide at No. 9 in their respective post-spring rankings.
USA Today
04-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
USA TODAY Sports names Alabama safety as player whose NFL Draft stock could soar in 2025
USA TODAY Sports names Alabama safety as player whose NFL Draft stock could soar in 2025 The Alabama Crimson Tide are returning some big names on both sides of the ball in 2025 as Kalen DeBoer enters his second season as head coach. Alabama's offense will feature standout players from a year ago such as star receiver (and video game cover athlete) Ryan Williams and fellow wideout Germie Bernard. Jam Miller returns at tailback after rushing for 668 yards (4.3 AVG) and seven touchdowns in a somewhat crowded backfield with Justice Haynes, who transferred to Georgia Tech. On defense, linebacker Deontae Lawson and defensive lineman LT Overton were named to the recent Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List. Safeties Keon Sabb and Brey Hubbard also return, as does cornerback Domani Jackson. USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday named 10 NFL Draft prospects whose stock could be poised to rise during the 2025 college football season. Sabb made the list as a potential first-round pick at defensive back. USA TODAY Sports' Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz said: "After helping Michigan win a national championship in 2023, Sabb took on a new challenge last year by going to Tuscaloosa to help the Crimson Tide navigate the post-Nick Saban era. He made a strong early impression, recording two interceptions in his first game for Alabama and notching 39 total tackles before being lost for the season to a lower-extremity injury. The 6-1, 205-pounder blends puts together impressive size and coverage skills to allow him to clamp down on tight ends and patrol underneath in zone coverage. With his strong tackling allowing him to also be a force in the box, he should be coveted for his ability to handle a few key tasks, even if he doesn't fit the mold of a typical single-high safety. If he's able to stay healthy, expect his buzz to build." Sabb started Alabama's first seven games last year before his season-ending injury in the Tennessee game on Oct. 19. In the Tide's season-opening 62-0 shutout of Western Kentucky, he returned a TJ Finley interception 23 yards to set up Alabama's first touchdown of the year. Sabb struck again on WKU's next drive, picking off another Finley pass and returning it 64 yards to set up another score. Two weeks later, he had six tackles and two pass breakups in Alabama's 42-10 rout of Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium. Alabama will open the 2025 season in Tallahassee against Florida State on Aug. 30. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ABC. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinions.
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson football standouts named to 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
Clemson football standouts named to 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List Two Clemson football players have been named to the 2025 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List. Tigers defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods are two of 42 players -- and 16 defensive linemen -- to place on the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, which recognizes the nation's top defensive player who excels both on and off the field. Both are coming off standout seasons for Clemson in 2024. Parker, a four-star recruit from Phenix City, Ala., registered 57 tackles (19.5 for loss) and 11 sacks last year while starting all 14 games. He forced six fumbles and had one pass breakup. Parker enters his junior year with 105 tackles (32.0 TFL), 16.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and three pass breakups in 27 career games (17 starts). Woods, a five-star recruit out of Thompson High School in Dabo Swinney's hometown area of Alabaster, Ala., played in 11 games last year. He made 10 starts and recorded 28 tackles (8.5 for loss), three sacks and a forced fumble in his sophomore season. Woods has 54 tackles (11 TFL) and two forced fumbles in two seasons at Clemson. Both Woods and Parker have appeared on way-too-early 2026 NFL mock drafts as first-round picks by PFF, ESPN and Yahoo Sports. The Lott Trophy is named after College Football and NFL Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott. The winner of the award will be announced during college football's awards season in December. Clemson opens the 2025 season against the LSU Tigers on Aug. 30 at Memorial Stadium. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida football DL Caleb Banks named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
Florida football DL Caleb Banks named to Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List Florida football defensive lineman Caleb Banks has been named to the 2024 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, an honor that recognizes the nation's top defensive player who excels both on and off the field. Banks, a redshirt senior from Detroit, Michigan, is one of 42 student-athletes nationwide selected by the Lott IMPACT Trophy Board of Directors for consideration. The award–named after Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott–spotlights players who demonstrate Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity. The Lott IMPACT Trophy winner will be announced in December during a nationally televised ceremony in Newport Beach, California. After transferring to the Florida Gators in 2023, Banks quickly became a force on the Gators' defensive line. In the 2024 season, he recorded 21 total tackles, including seven for loss and 4.5 sacks. Banks' disruptive presence up front earned him SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors following a dominant performance against the Ole Miss Rebels, where he notched 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. He also forced and recovered a fumble in Florida's win over the LSU Tigers, finishing the game with a career-high 64 snaps and the top PFF grade of his season. Off the field, Banks is a two-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, underscoring his commitment in the classroom. His leadership, both vocally and by example, has made him a foundational piece of the Gators' defensive identity entering the 2025 season. Originally from Southfield A&T High School in Michigan, Banks joined the Orange and Blue after two seasons with the Louisville Cardinals. He is expected to play a significant role for Florida's defensive front this fall as the Gators look to make some noise in the SEC. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
