Similar to the state of Florida, Alabama will have a few former high school football greats selected within the first couple of rounds in this week’s 2022 NFL Draft. Here’s a look at those players most likely to hear their names called.
Roger McCreary – Williamson
A former three-star prospect out of Williamson in the Class of 2018, McCreary is a name who may well be called first from among the Alabama contingent. The former Auburn cornerback, who could come off the board as early as the late first round, is coming off a phenomenal 2021 season that included 49 tackles and two interceptions as a Bednarik Award semifinalist.
George Pickens – Hoover
George Pickens, the No. 1 overall player in Alabama in the Class of 2019, was a standout wide receiver at Hoover before spending the last three seasons at Georgia, where he totaled 1,347 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. The 6-foot-3 Pickens is part of a loaded wide receiver class in the 2022 NFL Draft and is a likely late first to early second-round pick.
Cam Taylor-Britt – Park Crossing
A three-star from the Class of 2018 out of Park Crossing, Cam Taylor-Britt was a four-year impact player at Nebraska, where he amassed a career 140 tackles and six interceptions. A versatile defensive back, Taylor-Britt could be one of the more intriguing names available on day two of the 2022 NFL Draft as a likely second- or third-round pick.
Justyn Ross – Central-Phenix City
Right there in that same conversation with Pickens is Justyn Ross, the state’s No. 1 player in the Class of 2018 out of Central-Phenix City, where he was a highly-touted receiver for the Red Devils. Having played three seasons at Clemson since 2018 – he missed all of 2020 due to injury – Ross is certainly one of the most talented receivers in the 2022 NFL Draft when healthy. He’ll likely come off the board anywhere from the second to fourth round.
Velus Jones Jr. – Saraland
Originally a three-star from the Class of 2016, Velus Jones Jr. spent the first four years of his collegiate career at USC before transferring to Tennessee in 2020. After two strong seasons with the Volunteers, combined with a strong pre-draft showing before NFL scouts, Jones is a likely third- or fourth-round pick.
Brian Robinson Jr. – Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
Brian Robinson Jr., one of the state’s top players in the Class of 2017 out of Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, is coming off a five-year career at Alabama, where he emerged as the Crimson Tide’s full-time starter in 2021, rushing for 1,343 yards and 14 touchdowns. One of the top power running backs in the 2022 NFL Draft, Robinson is likely to be selected in either the third or fourth rounds.
Jalyn Armour-Davis – St. Paul’s Episcopal
The second Alabama player on this list, Jalyn Armour-Davis was rated right behind Ross as the state’s No. 2 overall player in the Class of 2018 out of St. Paul’s Episcopal. The former four-star emerged as a starting cornerback for the Crimson Tide this past season, and now enters the 2022 NFL Draft as a player who will likely be one of the top cornerbacks available in the third or fourth rounds.
