Alabama $2.8 Trillion Starting LB Return To Team For 2024 Season…
Dallas Turner, a junior linebacker for Alabama, has formally entered the 2024 NFL Draft.
Turner shared his graphic announcing the NFL draft on Thursday afternoon, but he had already told reporters what he intended to do when they spoke with him in the locker room following the Rose Bowl.
Turner released a statement saying, “First and foremost, I want to thank God for putting me in this position with all the blessing and opportunities that he has bestowed upon me.”
“I would like to express my gratitude to my family and friends back home who have supported me over the last few years. Through the ups and downs of this wild ride, you have given me a strong foundation.
“I also want to thank Coach Saban for giving me the chance to play football at The University of Alabama and fulfill my dream. I’ve made a ton of memories with people I now consider family thanks to his advice and encouragement.
“To my brothers – I want to let you know how much I appreciate and love y’all. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without you guys pushing me each day in practice and holding me accountable on and off the field. Throughout this journey and everything that we have gone through, I wouldn’t want to do it with anybody else!
“I believe it’s time for me to take the next step in my career and pursue my lifelong dream of playing in the National Football League. I am officially declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.”
During his three years with the Crimson Tide, Turner participated in every game, including all 14 of Alabama’s games this season. Turner, who started every game, ended with career-high totals in sacks (10) forced fumbles (2), tackles for loss (14.5), and tackles (53). Turner led the Tide defense in tackles for loss and sacks in 2023. He tied for ninth place nationally and finished first in the SEC in sacks. Turner also recorded the second-most TFLs in the conference.
Because of his play on the field, Turner named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year by the league coaches. He was also Alabama’s lone consensus first-team All-American in 2023 with nods from the AFCA, Associated Press, FWAA and Sporting News. Turner was voted a permanent captain by his teammates as he assumed a leadership role in his third year.
A native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Turner arrived at Alabama as a 5-star recruit. The Saint Thomas Aquinas alum was rated the nation’s No. 2 edge, the third-best player from the state of Florida and the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2021 class, per the On3 Industry Rankings. Turner committed to Alabama over Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon.
The game announced on Friday morning that Chris Braswell, a senior outside linebacker for Alabama, has accepted an invitation to play in the early February 2024 Reese’s Senior Bowl.
Braswell is the third member of the Crimson Tide to accept an invitation to participate in the senior all-star game, which is scheduled to take place inside Mobile, Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium. Last month, defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe and kicker Will Reichard accepted theirs.
Braswell played in every game of this past season and was on the field for the first snap twice, although he was the Tide’s starting Jack linebacker. He finished the 2023 campaign with career-highs in tackles (42), tackles for loss (10.5), sacks (8.0), forced fumbles (3) and interceptions (1). Braswell ranked fifth in the SEC in sacks in his final season of college.
Braswell was one of 10 Alabama players who were selected to the Senior Bowl’s preseason watch list that also included Trey Amos, Jermaine Burton, Justin Ebogibe, Trezmen Marshall, Jase McClellan, Seth McLaughlin, Malachi Moore, Tim Smith and Roydell Williams.
In Mobile for the past 74 years, the Senior Bowl—the longest-running all-star game—has taken place. Last year, over 900 NFL personnelincluding important decision-makers from each of the 32 teams—as well as over 1,100 members of the national media were credentialed. Over 40 percent of the draft class and 100 or more players drafted in the Senior Bowl in each of the last three years set records for any all-star game.
Defensive linemen DJ Dale and Byron Young, offensive linemen Emil Ekiyor and Tyler Steen, defensive back DeMarcco Hellams, and tight end Cameron Latu were among the six Alabama players who took part in the 2023 Senior Bowl in some capacity for the American team.