After having four players selected in the first round of the National Football League Draft, Alabama had only one taken on the event’s second day.
Former Alabama players sat through Friday’s second day of selections waiting for a phone call that finally came late in the third round when safety Ronnie Harrison was taken with the 93rd overall pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Crimson Tide did not have anyone drafted in the second round of the draft, which is being held in Arlington, Texas. Harrison was the only former Alabama player taken in the third round.
Harrison had been projected to go as high as late in the first round or somewhere in the second. He was listed by many experts as one of the best available players throughout Friday night’s picks.
The Jaguars currently have four other former Alabama players on their roster: tackle Cam Robinson, defensive lineman Marcell Dareus, running back T.J. Yeldon and long snapper Carson Tinker.
Harrison was one of five Alabama underclassmen to declare for the draft after the 2017 season. He was a first-team All-SEC choice by the media and a second-team pick by the league coaches this season.
Harrison started the last two seasons for the Crimson Tide and was one of the defense’s most consistent contributors. He was tied for the team lead with 74 tackles as a junior and was second on the team with 86 tackles as a sophomore.
Harrison had seven career interceptions, scored two defensive touchdowns in his sophomore year and defended 24 passes in his career. He also had three sacks and seven career tackles for loss.
Several former Alabama players remain on the board hopeful of being taken Saturday as the draft closes with the fourth through seventh rounds.
Former Crimson Tide players who could be drafted Saturday on the draft’s final day, which has the fourth through seventh rounds, include defensive backs Anthony Averette, Tony Brown and Levi Wallace, defensive linemen Josh Frazier and Da’Shawn Hand, linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton, running back Bo Scarbrough, center Bradley Bozeman, punter JK Scott and receiver Robert Foster.
In the first round, Alabama had defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick taken by the Miami Dolphins, defensive lineman Da’Ron Payne selected by the Washington Redskins, linebacker Rashaan Evans picked by the Tennessee Titans and wide receiver Calvin Ridley go to the Atlanta Falcons.
Ben Jones contributed to this report.
