Tide comes up empty in draft

TUSCALOOSA | For the first time since 1970 and just the second time in history, the University of Alabama football team didn’t have a single player selected in the National Football League Draft.

No Crimson Tide players were taken in Saturday’s first two rounds as expected, but the surprise came on Sunday’s second day when Alabama was shut out in rounds three through seven.

Defensive end Wallace Gilberry, wide receiver DJ Hall and defensive back Simeon Castille, who played in the Senior Bowl and worked out for NFL coaches and scouts, were not among the 252 players selected in the event, held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

Gilberry signed a free agent deal with the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, while Castille came to terms with a free agent deal with the Cincinatti Bengals, according to the Mobile Press-Register.

Also going undrafted was Stillman defensive back/returner Brian Witherspoon, who attracted attention with his speed during workouts for scouts. Witherspoon was hoping to become the first-ever Stillman player to be drafted by the NFL.

Alabama had been represented in every NFL Draft since the event began in 1936, except for 1970.

Alabama has had three or more players selected in every year since 1999, when Fernando Bryant was the only UA player taken in the NFL’s annual talent lottery.