Alabama has been home to many blue chip prospects. From those prospects, became players with decorated college careers which eventually prospered into NFL stars. From Cam Newton, Karlos Dansby and Nick Fairley to Julio Jones, CJ Mosley and AJ McCarron, there are a lot of former stars who attended Alabama or Auburn, but where do all of these fabulous players come from?
Jacob Coker, Arizona Cardinals azcentral.com
According to an al.com article from May 2014, Mobile has produced the most NFL draft picks per capita in the last three years. In those last three drafts, three players from Mobile were taken (Mark Barron, DJ Fluker andAJ McCarron) but that does not include players who live outside of the Mobile area.
CJ Mosley, Baltimore Ravens baltimoresun.com
CJ Mosley grew up in Theodore, Ala., which is 15 minutes from Mobile, while Julio Jones and Robert Lester grew up in Foley, Ala., which is 45 minutes from Mobile. Mosley and Jones were drafted in the first round while Lester signed a free agent deal with the Carolina Panthers. The article also doesn't include Jalston Fowler, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft is from Prichard which is only 20 minutes outside of Mobile and TJ Yeldon, who was drafted in the second round, is from Daphne, which is 40 minutes outside of the Mobile area.
Captain Munnerlyn, Minnesota Vikings al.com
The article states that Mobile produced nine draft picks in the last three drafts, which equates to a per capita score of 12.4. Birmingham produced the second most in Alabama with a per capita score of 8.14. As a state, Alabama ranked ninth in the country with 23 draft picks over the last three years while Florida produced the most.
Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons heavy.com
In the 2016 NFL draft there weren't any players from Mobile that were selected, however quarterback Jake Coker, who attended St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile, signed as an un-drafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals. University of Alabama in Mobile is also responsible for Captain Munnerlyn, cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings, Jimmie Ward, safety for the San Francisco 49ers and Nick Fairley, defensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints. Munnerlyn attended Murphy High School from 2002 until 2006, Ward attended Davidson High School, and graduated in 2010. Fairley and Munnerlyn have both been two of the most successful players to come from the Mobile area.
Jalston Fowler, Tennessee Titans gettyimages.com
The players from Alabama and Auburn have won a national championship and earned many honors such as All American or All Conference. Alabama has signed many prospects and now I think it is time to consider Mobile the football capital of Alabama.
Mark Barron, Los Angeles Rams ramblinfan.com
