The 2024 NFL Draft starts on Thursday in Detroit with the 32 first-round picks. In the 88 NFL drafts, teams have chosen 128 prospects who played at Alabama high schools and colleges in the first round, and another 29 who were not first-rounders but were selected in the first 32 picks. AL.com is counting down to the draft by highlighting the players with Alabama football roots who have been chosen in the first 32 picks.
Will Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa become the best of the prospects who played at Alabama high schools and colleges to be the No. 5 pick in an NFL Draft?
Tagovailoa took a big step toward that in the 2023 season, when he led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and went to the Pro Bowl Games for the first time in his fourth season.
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But the former Alabama All-American has stiff competition for the honor. The others on the No. 5 list are:
· Center Vaughn “Cisco” Mancha (Alabama): 1948 by the Boston Yanks. When the Yanks drafted Mancha, that made three Alabama players picked in the first five selections of the 1948 draft. Washington had chosen Harry Gilmer with the No. 1 pick and Lowell Tew at No. 4. Mancha played one season in the NFL. By the next season, he was the head football coach at Livingston State Teachers College (now West Alabama).
· End Jim “Red” Phillips (Benjamin Russell, Auburn): 1958 by the Los Angeles Rams. Phillips was a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro who led the NFL in receptions with 78 for 1,092 yards and five touchdowns in 1961. He completed his 10 NFL seasons with 401 receptions for 6,044 yards and 34 touchdowns.
· Linebacker E.J. Junior (Alabama): 1981 by the St. Louis Cardinals. In 13 seasons, Junior played in 170 regular-season games and earned Pro Bowl invitations twice and first-team All-Pro recognition once.
· Defensive end John Copeland (Valley, Alabama): 1993 by the Cincinnati Bengals. Copeland played his entire eight-season career with Cincinnati. He started 102 of his 107 games and recorded 24 sacks.
· Running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams (Etowah, Auburn): 2005 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Williams ran for 1,178 yards and earned the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2005. He played in 67 more games over the next six seasons and finished his career with 4,038 yards and 21 touchdowns on 1,055 carries and 148 receptions for 1,002 yards and four touchdowns.
The Los Angeles Chargers hold the fifth selection in this year’s draft.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.