Tag: DB

Former Alabama DB Levi Wallace signs with Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos announce they have signed former Alabama cornerback Levi Wallace.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide football defensive back Levi Wallace has agreed to terms with the Denver Broncos and has signed on with the franchise to a one-year deal.

Wallace was a former walk-on at Alabama and has an inspiring story. Though he was not drafted, he found his way onto the Buffalo Bills roster in 2018 as an undrafted free agent. After four seasons in Buffalo, Wallace signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, he stays in the AFC and moves out west to play for the Broncos.

In a video shared to social media, found below, Wallace describes his excitement in playing for Denver, stating that it’s “a dream come true” to play for his dad’s favorite team.

In 2023, Wallace recorded 36 total tackles and 11 defended passes. He looks to increase his production and serve in a larger role for the broncos in 2024.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Wallace and other former Alabama football players in the NFL as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Lions Brian Branch graded as highest rookie DB in Week 16

PFF grades Brain Branch as the top rookie DB from Week 16 of the NFL season

A lot of people, myself included, were shocked when former Alabama DB [autotag]Brian Branch[/autotag] fell to the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Lions finally took Branch off the board with the No. 45 overall pick, where he has been outstanding for them as a rookie. In 13 games, Branch has totaled 69 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, three interceptions and 10 passes broken up.

It had been 30 yards since the Detroit Lions had last won the NFC North, but they finally snapped the streak with a division-clinching win over Minnesota on Sunday. Branch and the Lions’ defense have been a massive factor in finally getting back to the top of the division despite all of the attention that goes to Detroit’s high-flying offense.

Branch was exceptional on Sunday as he tallied six tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, an interception and two passes broken up. For his remarkable efforts, PFF graded Branch as the highest rookie DB in Week 16. It is already beginning to look like Branch will be a corner stone piece for Dan Campbel’s defense for years to come.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Two Alabama starters are expected to be top 2024 NFL draft prospects

A few Alabama football stars are expected to be the top prospects at their position for the 2024 NFL Draft class.

One of the ways Alabama football is preparing for the 2023 college football season is by focusing on replacing the impact players from last season that are no longer with the program. Some of the players that are expected to step up include edge rusher Dallas Turner and defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry.

Both Turner and McKinstry were recently chosen as possible top prospects at their respective positions for the distant 2024 NFL draft

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller shared his picks for the top draft-eligible players at every position.

For edge rushers, it was between Turner and Jared Verse of Florida State. In the end, Miller chose Turner.

“The edge rusher debate is a tale of two stories: potential vs. known product. First, we have Turner, a five-star recruit out of high school who has started just 10 games on a loaded Alabama team. But in that time, he has produced 12.5 sacks and 60 pressures, and scouts and coaches believe the best is still to come, once he takes over Will Anderson Jr.’s place in the lineup. I really like his first-step quickness.”

Miller also quoted one NFL scouting director, who reportedly said that Turner will get some player comparisons to former Penn State standout, Micah Parsons.

As for cornerback, Miller chose McKinstry over Penn State’s Kalen King.

“McKinstry doesn’t just have the best nickname in college football — he might also be the best cover man in the sport. In 2022, he one-upped King by allowing a QBR of 13.2 — ninth in the nation among DBs who saw at least 50 targets. He hauled in one interception and broke up 14 passes. At 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, he has the length that teams love to go along with topflight speed.”

Furthermore, One AFC scout reportedly said “McKinstry is the dude.”

Both Turner and McKinstry are expected to have strong seasons, which is not only necessary to help their expected draft profiles, but Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide will need their talents and leadership to win.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football as the 2023 offseason begins to wind down.

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Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM. 

NFL head coach shares why he loves drafting Alabama players

John Harbaugh raves about Nick Saban and the players that Alabama produces for the NFL!

Since 2010, the Alabama football program has had 40 players selected in the first round of the NFL draft with the next closest being Ohio State at 21. If you include second-round picks, that number jumps up to 63. Nobody in the history of college football has a better track record when it comes to producing NFL talent than Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide.

The Baltimore Ravens have proven to be massive believers in Saban’s process at Alabama as well as they have drafted eight players over sixteen years during John Harbaugh’s guidance. Tied with the Patriots and Commanders for the most during that span. The two sides have a great relationship due to a mutual interest in Ozzie Newsome who was a College Football Hall of Fame player for Alabama, a Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and NFL executive. Harbaugh is a Super Bowl-winning coach and will more than likely be in the NFL Hall of Fame one day.

It helps when you have an All-Pro caliber DB on your roster like Marlon Humphrey, but regardless Harbaugh spoke highly, and at length about the Crimson Tide saying, “I think you get a bunch of guys that know how to practice. “They know how to compete in practice every single day. I have to think at Alabama, practice is probably tougher than most of the games. Every single day, you’re fighting for your position. At our level, that’s good. It’s good to have guys that know how to work hard and football’s important to them… But we always feel like we know those guys really well, and we’ve never been steered in the wrong way. Alabama guys, they like to work, they like to compete. Marlon Humphrey’s one of the best ever, but he’s not the only one. We’ve had so many great players from there. I love those guys. It seems like the best teams have the best players.”

Despite the radical changes to college football just over the last couple of years, Nick Saban continues to evolve and show everyone why he is the best to ever do it. Having NFL coaches praise him like this just further proves why he’s the GOAT.

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Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

2023 NFL draft: How to watch, listen and stream

Here’s how you can watch, listen and stream Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft

The countdown to the 2023 NFL Draft is officially over as the red-carpet events and pre-show festivities are in full effect in Kansas City for the first time.

Philadelphia has two first-round picks tonight, and Howie Roseman’s player of choice could be narrowed down to Jalen Carter, Paris Johnson, and Bijan Robinson.

With round one just hours away, here’s how you can watch, listen and stream all seven rounds.

2023 NFL draft: See the full order of picks for Round 1

Here’s the full order of all 31 picks for the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft

The Carolina Panthers are about 10 hours from being on the clock in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL draft, and the fireworks will continue through the first nine or ten picks.

The Eagles currently have the 10th and 30th overall picks in the first round, and they’ll have four selections in the first 100 picks.

There’s an abundance of storylines centered around Philadelphia, including whether GM Howie Roseman covets Jalen Carter, Paris Johnson, or Bijan Robinson.

Here is a look at the complete order of picks for Round 1, which begins tonight at 8 p.m. ET.

2023 NFL Draft: Final Round 1 predictions for all 31 teams after the Aaron Rodgers trade

We’re making our final Round 1 predictions for all 31 teams ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft

We’re just hours away from the 2023 NFL draft, where the Philadelphia Eagles are gearing up to welcome a new crop of players to the roster.

Using the draft simulator from PFF, we fought off the urge to draft Bijan Robinson, picking the value of Ohio State All-American 0ffensive tackle Paris Johnson at No. 10 overall.

With their second pick in the first round, Howie Roseman gets a “unique” player with more value at No. 30 overall, securing Alabama’s Jahnyr Gibbs.

Here’s one final Round 1 mock ahead of Thursday night’s draft kickoff.

Ranking prospects the Eagles hosted on pre-draft visits by potential impact in 2023

We’re ranking the 2023 NFL draft prospects that the Philadelphia Eagles hosted on Top 30 visits by potential impact in 2023

The NFL draft is fast approaching, and the 2023 influx of talent comes at a reasonable time after a mass exodus of free agents on defense.

Only a tiny percentage of this incoming class will make their mark on the league as a rookie.

With Philadelphia signing Jalen Hurts to a massive deal, GM Howie Roseman needs all his picks to deliver the goods immediately.

With the draft just 24 hours out, we’re taking a closer look at the Eagles’ predraft visits and ranking them best on the potential impact this season.

Each NFL team met with the Top 30 prospects on their draft boards.

The players you see visiting respective team facilities can help outline organizational needs or serious interests.

Philadelphia has two first-round picks, and they’ve embraced the process, bringing in a host of top names that’ll be selected up and down the draft board.

Ranking the positions most likely to be picked 10th overall by Eagles in NFL draft

We’re ranking the positions most likely to be picked by the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 10 overall.

We’re just days away from the 2023 NFL draft, where the Philadelphia Eagles are gearing up to welcome a new crop of players to the roster.

After quietly retooling the roster during the first wave of free agency, Howie Roseman has the Birds in a prime spot at tenth overall.

Philadelphia could look to trade back for an All-American running back or stand pat and draft the best available offensive tackle on the board.

For the sake of this article, we assume that the Eagles stay put at No. 10 overall and make a selection.

With that in mind, here are the positions most likely to be the pick with the 10th selection.

Eagles hosted these 21 prospects on Top 30 pre-draft visits

With five days to go until the 2023 NFL Draft, we’re breaking down the Eagles’ top 30 visits and how that’ll play into Howie Roseman’s draft plans.

The NFL draft is fast approaching, and the 2023 influx of talent comes at a reasonable time after a mass exodus of free agents on defense.

Only a tiny percentage of this incoming class will make their mark on the league as a rookie.

With Philadelphia signing Jalen Hurts to a massive deal, GM Howie Roseman needs all his picks to deliver the goods immediately.

With the draft just five days out, we’re taking a closer look at the Eagles’ predraft visits and whether they offer a glimpse into what Howie Roseman has in store.

Each NFL team can meet with 30 top prospects on their draft boards.

The players you see visiting respective team facilities can help outline organizational needs or serious interests.

Philadelphia has two first-round picks, and they’ve embraced the process, bringing in a host of top names that’ll be selected up and down the draft board.