Let's start with the obvious: 2 picks in the top 15, 3 in the first round – and 8 total 1st-round picks over the last two years. I can't think of another program that's accomplished that sort of thing since early-2000s Miami. Oh, and we should have another handful of guys picked tonight.
But what's not as obvious is that Bama failed to decisively reestablish its claim to be the preeminent program draft-wise. Lots of mocks had Bama's class comparing with our class last year, with Allen, Foster, and Howard going in the top 10; instead we had two guys go before a single Bama player got picked, and none went in the top 15.
Now, Bama did still have 4 guys go in the 1st, and a bunch more of their guys will go tonight, so it's not like Bama isn't still churning out lots of high picks. But I'd call 4–3, with two of our guys going before any of theirs, basically a draw.
The point is – especially when you consider the rookie seasons our guys picked last year had – we've basically drawn even with Bama as the top NFL-talent producing program. Not a bad thing at all for our recruiting going forward (as if we hadn't been recruiting at an insanely high level already).
But what's not as obvious is that Bama failed to decisively reestablish its claim to be the preeminent program draft-wise. Lots of mocks had Bama's class comparing with our class last year, with Allen, Foster, and Howard going in the top 10; instead we had two guys go before a single Bama player got picked, and none went in the top 15.
Now, Bama did still have 4 guys go in the 1st, and a bunch more of their guys will go tonight, so it's not like Bama isn't still churning out lots of high picks. But I'd call 4–3, with two of our guys going before any of theirs, basically a draw.
The point is – especially when you consider the rookie seasons our guys picked last year had – we've basically drawn even with Bama as the top NFL-talent producing program. Not a bad thing at all for our recruiting going forward (as if we hadn't been recruiting at an insanely high level already).
