A consistent powerhouse over the last decade-plus, who are the top Alabama 2023 NFL Draft prospects heading into this year? With the potential for four first-round picks and as many as seven or eight Day 2 selections, we should be hearing names from Alabama called regularly in the draft. Let’s take a look at the Alabama scouting reports for the 2023 NFL Draft.
Alabama 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Brian Branch, S
Strengths: Athletic, playmaking safety with cornerback ball skills. Instinctive, displays a great head for the ball, and quickly locates the action. Fires upfield with a closing burst, drives through tackles, and wraps up opponents to bring them down in the open field.
Covers a lot of area on the field, goes sideline to sideline, and displays outstanding speed in every direction. Reads the quarterback’s eyes, tracks the pass in the air, and has an exceptional break to the throw. Stays on the receiver’s hip out of routes and quickly closes to the action with a burst.
Breaks down well and effectively uses his hands to protect himself. Immediately alters his angle of attack and loses no momentum changing direction. Effectively uses his hands to disengage from blocks. Communicates with teammates in the secondary and makes sure they are in proper position. Plays much faster than his Combine 40-yard dash time.
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Weaknesses: Overpursues plays on occasion. Not a real bulky or stout safety.
Overall: Branch caught my eye as a sophomore in 2021 with his athleticism and playmaking skill. He showed plenty of improvement on the field last season and enters the draft as the top free safety. He can also line up in man coverage over the slot receiver without being a liability.
Want more information on Branch? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Brian Branch, S, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Bryce Young, QB
Strengths: Productive quarterback with almost a clairvoyant sense on the field. Patient in the pocket, natural looking off the safety, and goes through progressions. Displays incredible poise, remains calm under the rush, and buys as much time as necessary. Immediately locates the open wideout on the field, goes to the safe underneath target if necessary, and displays outstanding accuracy with great pass placement.
Consistently puts the ball in spots where only his receiver can make the reception. Displays a sense of timing and hits receivers as they exit breaks. Keeps his eyes downfield when rolling outside the pocket and doesn’t force the ball into coverage or make the errant pass.
Displays great awareness and a sense of what’s happening on the field. Senses the rush then darts outside to elude defenders and give himself more time. Throws with an over-the-top delivery and quickly gets the ball out of his hands.
Weaknesses: Small, lacks stature, and cannot withstand the rush. Can’t rely on a strong arm to get him out of bad situations. Easily brought down at the point.
Overall: Young was a tremendous leader on Alabama’s offense the past two seasons and comes with incredible intangibles and a sense of what’s happening on the field. He makes it easy for his receivers with accurate passes and does a great job commanding the offense.
That being the case, he’s a smaller QB, who will struggle standing up to the rigors of the NFL and must play behind an outstanding offensive line that keeps him upright. While I like his next-level ability, I’m concerned that Young won’t hold up in the NFL as he did in college.
Want more information on Young? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Byron Young, DT
Strengths: Tough, strong, two-gap defensive lineman who flashes playmaking ability. Plays with excellent lean, gets leverage on opponents, and keeps his feet moving. Works his hands to protect himself, fires off the snap with a quick first step, and gets a lot of momentum going upfield.
Can be a load to handle, bull rushes opponents off the line, and gives effort. Plays heads-up football and quickly locates the ball handler. Displays solid change-of-direction ability.
Weaknesses: Plays more like a small-area lineman despite his 40 time and is ineffective in pursuit. Out-positioned easily from the action too often. Marginal pass rusher.
Overall: Young is a thick, strong gap occupier who does the little things well and offers possibilities on the inside of a four-man line or as a two-gap end.
Want more information on Young? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Byron Young, DT, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Cameron Latu, TE
Strengths: Hard-working, all-purpose tight end with average speed. Blocks with excellent leverage, stays square, and plays with strength. Fires off the snap into blocks, quickly gets into pass routes, and stays disciplined with assignments.
Tracks the pass in the air and adjusts to the errant throw then extends his hands and snatches the ball away from his frame. Possesses terrific eye/hand coordination. Finds the clearing in the defense and works to make himself an available target.
Weaknesses: Plays to one speed. Not a true downfield threat.
Overall: Latu was a productive tight end for Alabama the past two years and showed a lot of progress in his game. He lacks upside but has enough ability to be a No. 2 TE on Sundays as an effective blocker and short-range pass catcher.
Want more information on Latu? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Cameron Latu, TE, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report
DeMarcco Hellams, S
Strengths: Physical, run-defending safety who is best making plays downhill. Fires upfield to defend the run, has a closing burst to the play, and sells out to make the tackle. Effectively diagnoses the action, quickly locates the ball handler, and moves well in every direction. Shows ability in coverage facing the action and picks up receivers on crossing patterns.
Weaknesses: Possesses average ball skills. Struggles staying on the receiver’s hip out of breaks. Doesn’t drive to the pass out of his plant.
Overall: Hellams is a tremendous run-defending safety who flashes ball skills facing the action. He’s a zone defensive back who must make his mark on special teams to have a future in the NFL.
Want more information on Hellams? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: DeMarcco Hellams, S, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report
DJ Dale, DT
Strengths: Athletic but slightly undersized defensive tackle who may be best as a 3-technique lineman. Bends his knees, plays with leverage, and fires off the snap with a terrific first step. Mobile, agile, and easily moves about the field.
Easily changes direction or immediately alters his angle of attack, works his hands throughout the play, and slides off blocks laterally. Immediately locates the ball, has a quick closing burst, and makes a lot of athletic plays.
Weaknesses: Handled by a single blocker and gets turned off the middle of the line. Lacks great growth potential.
Overall: Dale was a solid four-year player at Alabama who produced in a variety of ways. He’s more of a complementary or situational defensive tackle who can be used on a rotational basis.
Want more information on Dale? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: DJ Dale, DT, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Eli Ricks, CB
Strengths: LSU transfer with tremendous upside. Fluid pedaling in reverse, quick in transition, and stays on the receiver’s hip out of breaks. Physical, engages receivers throughout the route, and is very aggressive.
Easily runs downfield with opponents, excels in press coverage, and doesn’t back down to a challenge. Drives to the ball out of his plant, has a closing burst of speed, and plays with a violent style. Works to get off blocks and make plays upfield against running plays or screen passes.
Weaknesses: Must do a better job getting his head back around to track the pass in the air. Battled injuries the past two seasons. Played just 24 games the past three years and started just five last season.
Overall: Ricks displayed himself to be a dominant shutdown corner when he was on the field and healthy. Unfortunately, that was not very often over the past three years. He possesses the underlying skills to be a No. 1 cornerback on Sundays but must polish his game. More than anything else, Ricks needs to remain healthy and stay on the field.
Want more information on Ricks? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Eli Ricks, CB, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Emil Ekiyor Jr., G
Strengths: Three-year starter at right guard who projects to center on Sundays. Patient, blocks with leverage, and displays terrific vision. Strong, explosive at the point, and works blocks. Keeps his head on a swivel, picks up blitzes, and stays with assignments. Fires into blocks, turns defenders from the line, and opens up running lanes. Can kick out or pull in a small area.
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Weaknesses: Lacks smooth, fluid footwork in space. More of a rumbling lineman than a true zone blocker.
Overall: Ekiyor was a durable, productive guard for Alabama who displayed plenty of skill at the center position during Senior Bowl practices. He does not come with much scheme versatility, yet Ekiyor could eventually be a starting center in a power gap system.
Want more information on Ekiyor? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Emil Ekiyor, G, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Henry To’oTo’o, LB
Strengths: Athletic run-and-chase LB who stands out in pursuit. Remains disciplined, does a tremendous job reading plays, and is very instinctive. Moves well in every direction, displays a closing burst, and explodes to the action.
Gets out into space to chase the action and makes the tackle. Breaks down well, effectively uses his hands to protect himself, and slides off blocks to get to the ball handler. Gets depth on pass drops, keeps the action in front of him, and remains disciplined with assignments. Fluid moving in reverse, easily changes direction, and wraps up tackling.
Weaknesses: Not a stout tackler and lets ball handlers run through his arms. Easily disrupted by blocks.
Overall: To’oTo’o was a productive linebacker for two years at Alabama after beginning his college career at Tennessee. He’s a traditional 4-3 weakside LB, but he comes with average size and growth limitations. To’oTo’o could be used on the inside of a 3-4, but he must play in the system that protects him and allows him to freely run to the ball.
Want more information on To’oTo’o? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB
Strengths: Georgia Tech transfer who watched his game take off last season. Patient, displays outstanding vision, and finds the running lanes. Powerful, quickly gets back to running form off the initial hit, or bulldozes his way over defenders. Possesses the quickness and agility necessary to turn the corner, doesn’t go down without a fight, and rarely gets tackled by a single defender.
Squeezes through small openings in the offensive line, possesses outstanding initial acceleration, and runs with balance as well as body control. Consistently takes it upfield and runs north/south. Outstanding pass catcher who extends his hands to offer the quarterback a target and snatches the ball out of the air. Displays eye/hand coordination, adjusts to the errant throw, and makes the reception in stride. Displays terrific quickness and footwork in a small area.
Weaknesses: Not a true perimeter ball carrier. Doesn’t show the ability to run to daylight despite his 40 time.
Overall: After a solid career at Georgia Tech, Gibbs transferred to Alabama and was an all-purpose, do-it-all back for the Crimson Tide. He possesses the traits as well as football ability to be a feature runner at the next level and can easily handle 15-20 touches per game as both a ball carrier and pass catcher.
Want more information on Gibbs? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Jaylen Moody, LB
Strengths: Unheralded linebacker with a solid game. Instinctive, quickly locates the action, and takes good angles to the play. Efficient, easily redirects to ball handlers, or immediately alters his angle of attack. Terrific run defender who is patient with assignments and breaks down well. Tough, flies around the action, and sells out to make the tackle. Gets depth on pass drops, stays with assignments, and shows recognition in coverage. Possesses a closing burst to the action.
Weaknesses: Slightly undersized and possesses average pursuit speed. Doesn’t show a lot of agility. Must improve his ball skills.
Overall: Moody was a solid linebacker at Alabama, but he comes with average measurables and speed for the next level. He’ll have to work his way through camp, but Moody could be a good nickel LB if he improves his cover skills.
Jordan Battle, S
Strengths: Underrated safety who gets the most from his ability and has a complete game. Smart, instinctive, and keeps the action in front of him. Immediately picks up coverage assignments, tracks the pass in the air, and effectively times pass defenses.
Flows well to the action, plays tough, aggressive football, and has a closing burst. Gets vertical and contorts to defend or intercept throws and possesses good hands for the pick. Reads the quarterback’s eyes then makes his move to the ball. Fires upfield to defend the run and wraps up tackling. Efficient, disciplined, and takes good angles.
Weaknesses: Does not display great range getting to the sidelines. Long speed is a red flag. Did not have a great production in coverage.
Overall: Battle was a very productive defensive back for Alabama for the past three seasons and plays smart, tough football. He’s a traditional strong safety who can also play in a zone system, and his instincts and raw ability to quickly recognize what’s happening on the field are attractive.
Want more information on Battle? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Jordan Battle, S, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Tyler Steen, OT
Strengths: Vanderbilt transfer who started 46 games on the college level. Tough, durable offensive lineman who gets the most from his ability. Fundamentally sound, effective with his hands, and fights throughout the action.
Quickly sets up in pass protection, makes outstanding use of angles, and keeps his feet moving. Fluid sliding off the edge, stays square, and shows the ability to recover. Explosive at the point and jolts opponents with terrific hand punch. Quick to the second level.
Weaknesses: Doesn’t get much movement run blocking nor sink his butt at the line of scrimmage. Doesn’t play like a great athlete despite his 40 time. Arm length is just short of 33 inches.
Overall: Steen was an outstanding pass protector at Vanderbilt and then Alabama and is a nice-sized blocker who competes on every down. He may not possess the athleticism to remain at left tackle and may ultimately move inside. At the very least, Steen could be an inexpensive utility lineman, though he must improve his run blocking.
Want more information on Steen? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Will Anderson Jr., EDGE
Strengths: Explosive, game-impacting defensive player who has been super-productive for Alabama over the past three seasons. Breaks down well, displays great speed and explosion, and is fast up the field. Resilient and fluid moving in every direction. Gives great effort and never gives up on plays. Does more than pin his ears back and rush up the field.
Strong for his size, effective with his hands, and displays solid change-of-direction ability. Chases and plays with a nasty attitude. Powerful, uses his hands extremely well, and knocks big offensive tackles back off the line. Rarely off his feet, possesses a closing burst, and plays with tremendous balance. Effective dropped off the line of scrimmage when asked to make plays in reverse and also shows ability in pursuit.
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Weaknesses: Doesn’t have the same get-off standing over tackle as he does out of a three-point stance. Does not show great sustained speed. Lacks natural bulk.
Overall: Anderson has terrorized opposing quarterbacks and offenses for the past three seasons, totaling 62 TFLs and 34.5 sacks. He’s a game-impacting player up front defending the run or rushing the passer and can be used in a variety of schemes. I personally believe Anderson is best standing over tackle in a 3-4 alignment, and he’ll be a very early draft pick who should produce as a rookie on Sundays.
Want more information on Anderson? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Will Anderson Jr., EDGE, Alabama | NFL Draft Scouting Report
