When the 2023 season started, six players from Alabama high schools and colleges had produced 10,000 yards from scrimmage in the NFL. When it ended, eight had.
And when the 2024 season ends, there likely will be nine players with Alabama football roots who have 10,000 NFL yards from scrimmage.
During the 2023 season, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill led the NFL with 1,799 receiving yards and Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry posted his fifth 1,000-yard rushing season as the players eclipsed 10,000 yards from scrimmage for their NFL careers.
After posting a career-high 1,250 receiving yards for the Cleveland Browns in 2023, Amari Cooper boosted his yards-from-scrimmage total to 9,527 to enter the top 10 among players from Alabama high schools and colleges.
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Cooper’s entry pushed former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver John Stallworth (Tuscaloosa, Alabama A&M) out of the top 10.
Yards from scrimmage are yards gained on rushing attempts and receptions.
With 15 rushing yards added to his receiving total, Hill led the players with Alabama football roots in yards from scrimmage in 2023 with 1,814.
Two of the three players from Alabama high schools and colleges who have produced more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage in a single season aren’t in the top 10.
For the Atlanta Falcons, William Andrews (Auburn) had 2,176 yards from scrimmage – 1,567 rushing and 609 receiving – in 1983 after he had 2,036 – 1,301 rushing yards and 735 receiving yards – in 1981.
Henry had 2,141 yards from scrimmage -- 2,027 rushing and 114 receiving for the Titans – in 2020.
Running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama) had 2,053 yards from scrimmage – 1,653 rushing and 400 receiving – in 2022 for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Wide receiver Terrell Owens has the most career yards from scrimmage for a player from an Alabama high school or college. His 16,185 yards rank 14th in NFL history.
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The top 10 players with Alabama roots in NFL yards from scrimmage:
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens catches a touchdown pass during an NFL game against the St. Louis Rams on Sept. 14, 2023, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.(AP photo/Bill Boyce).
1. Terrell Owens, Benjamin Russell High School: 16,185 yards from scrimmage
San Francisco 49ers 1996-2003, Philadelphia Eagles 2004-2005, Dallas Cowboys 2006-2008, Buffalo Bills 2009, Cincinnati Bengals 2010: 15,934 yards on 1,078 receptions and 251 yards on 39 rushing attempts
2. Julio Jones, Foley High School, Alabama: 13,866 yards from scrimmage
Atlanta Falcons 2011-2020, Tennessee Titans 2021, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2022, Philadelphia Eagles 2023: 13,703 yards on 914 receptions and 163 yards on 24 rushing attempts
3. James Brooks, Auburn: 11,583 yards from scrimmage
San Diego Chargers 1981-1983, Cincinnati Bengals 1984-1991, Cleveland Browns 1992, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1992: 7,962 yards on 1,685 rushing attempts and 3,621 yards on 383 receptions
4. Shaun Alexander, Alabama: 10,973 yards from scrimmage
Seattle Seahawks 2000-2007, Washington Redskins 2008: 9,453 yards on 2,187 rushing attempts and 1,520 yards on 215 receptions
5. Derrick Henry, Alabama: 10,960 yards from scrimmage
Tennessee Titans 2016-2023: 9,502 yards on 2,030 rushing attempts and 1,458 yards on 155 receptions
6. Tyreek Hill, West Alabama: 10,905 yards from scrimmage
Kansas City Chiefs 2016-2021, Miami Dolphins 2022-2023: 10,139 yards on 717 receptions and 766 yards on 106 rushing attempts
7. Roddy White, UAB: 10,882 yards from scrimmage
Atlanta Falcons 2005-2015: 10,863 yards on 808 receptions and 19 yards on nine rushing attempts
8. Mark Ingram, Alabama: 10,236 yards from scrimmage
New Orleans Saints 2011-2018, 2021-2022, Baltimore Ravens 2019-2020, Houston Texans 2021: 8,111 yards on 1,817 rushing attempts and 2,125 yards on 303 receptions
9. Stephen Davis, Auburn: 9,546 yards from scrimmage
Washington Redskins 1996-2002, Carolina Panthers 2003-2005, St. Louis Rams 2006: 8,052 yards on 1,945 rushing attempts and 1,494 yards on 179 receptions
10. Amari Cooper, Alabama: 9,527 yards from scrimmage
Oakland Raiders 2015-2018, Dallas Cowboys 2018-2021, Cleveland Browns 2022-2023: 9,486 yards on 667 receptions and 41 yards on 14 rushing attempts
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at@AMarkG1.