The 2018 NFL draft has come and gone, and again, the Alabama Crimson Tide ended on top. An outstanding 12 players got selected in the draft, and four of them coming in the first round. This total topped last year’s number of ten. Alabama broke a school and SEC record with most players drafted.

The second closest schools were LSU, N.C. State, and Ohio State with seven players.

Leading the charge was Minkah Fitzpatrick being selected by the Miami Dolphins at No. 11 where he will be joining former Alabama teammate Kenyan Drake.

Along with Fitzpatrick, Da’Ron Payne (No.13, Washington Redskins), linebacker Rashaan Evans (No. 22, Tennessee Titans) and wide receiver Calvin Ridley (No. 26, Atlanta Falcons) were all selected in the first round.

It is easy to see that Alabama has become a factory for producing players to be NFL ready.

The Crimson Tide now joins an elite category, with the Miami Hurricanes. The two universities are the only respected schools to have a first-round draft pick for ten consecutive seasons. Miami is leading the charge with 14 straight years spanning from 1995 to 2008.

After the NFL draft ended, five Alabama players signed with teams through free agency. Alabama defensive back Tony Brown (Los Angeles Chargers), defensive back Levi Wallace (Buffalo Bills), wide receiver Cam Sims (Washington Redskins), wide receiver Robert Foster (Buffalo Bills), and offensive lineman JC Hassenauer (Atlanta Falcons) were among those players.

With a total of 17 former Alabama players on NFL teams from the 2017 Alabama roster, it is easy to see the reason why all young high school players want to play in Tuscaloosa.

At the conclusion of the 2018 NFL draft, there are more than 50 former Crimson Tide players on active NFL rosters. Only three teams do not have a previous Alabama player on it.