Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, EDGE Will Anderson Jr., running back Jahmyr Gibbs and defensive back Brian Branch made their NFL draft decisions Monday, and none made a shocking revelation as all four Crimson Tide superstars announced they were on will forfeit their remaining eligibility to enter the 2023 NFL Draft.
Young ended his college career as one of the most successful players in Alabama history. The Pasadena, Calif. native threw for 8,356 yards and 80 touchdowns over three seasons, making him the second-most successful passer in program history behind only AJ McCarron (9,019 yards). He set the Alabama single-game passing record for 559 yards in the Crimson Tide’s win against Arkansas on November 20, 2021. Young threw for 321 yards and five touchdowns – an Alabama Bowl record for touchdown passes – in the 20 win over Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl.
Young won the 2021 Heisman Trophy and was named a Consensus All-American after throwing for 4,872 yards, 47 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He led the Crimson Tide to the SEC title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship that season, but ultimately lost to SEC rival Georgia.
He is the No. 2 overall pick and the highest-ranked quarterback in CBS Sports’ 2023 NFL Draft Prospect rankings. CBS Sports NFL Draft expert Ryan Wilson projects Young as the No. 1 pick overall for the Houston Texans in his latest mock draft.
Anderson is a 6-foot-4, 243-pounder and the highest-ranked player in the CBS Sports Prospect rankings after compiling three of the most impressive seasons in Alabama history. Wilson projects Anderson as the #3 overall for the Seattle Seahawks in his latest mock.
The Hampton, Georgia native, Anderson had 58.5 tackles for losses and 34.5 sacks for the Crimson Tide. He was a two-time unanimous All-American (2021 and 2022), two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year, two-time Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner, and a 2022 Chuck Bednarik Award winner.
Young and Anderson were both members of Alabama’s national title-winning team in 2020.
Gibbs rushed for 926 yards with seven rushing touchdowns and added 444 receiving yards with three touchdown catches during his only season at Tuscaloosa after transferring from Georgia Tech. The former Dalton (Georgia) High School star was named a second-team All-SEC cast member. He is ranked 15th overall and the highest-ranked running back according to the CBS Sports NFL Draft rankings. Wilson predicts Gibbs as the No. 32 overall pick for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Branch did not attend Alabama’s press conference but announced his decision in an Instagram post. Branch had 172 tackles and four interceptions in three seasons with the Crimson Tide, with two of those interceptions coming in the 2022 season. He is ranked 13th overall and the third-picked cornerback in CBS Sports’ Draft Prospect rankings.