NFL Draft: The SEC’s No. 1 No. 19
The 2023 NFL Draft starts on April 27 with the first-round picks at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri. The SEC has produced 395 first-round selections and another 108 choices among the top 32 picks who were not first-rounders. AL.com is counting down to the draft by highlighting the SEC players chosen in the first 32 picks.
The Seattle Seahawks selected Alabama running back Shaun Alexander with the 19th choice in the 2000 draft even though running back Ricky Watters had recorded at least 1,110 rushing yards in five consecutive seasons.
Watters had 1,242 rushing yards in Alexander’s rookie season before giving way to the younger running back, and Alexander led the Seahawks in rushing for seven consecutive seasons.
In his first five seasons as Seattle’s primary ball-carrier, Alexander had 7,504 yards and 87 touchdowns on 1,653 carries and 183 receptions for 1,346 yards and 11 touchdowns.
In 2005, Alexander won the NFL MVP Award when he led the league with 1,880 rushing yards and set a single-season record with 27 rushing touchdowns. He ran for another 236 yards and two TDs in the postseason as the Seattle Seahawks reached the Super Bowl.
The eight SEC players drafted in the first round with the No. 19 pick include:
· Auburn wide receiver Terry Beasley, San Francisco 49ers, 1979
· Kentucky running back George Adams, New York Giants, 1985
· Tennessee running back James Stewart, Jacksonville Jaguars, 1995
· Alabama running back Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks, 2000
· Tennessee tackle Ja’Wuan James, Miami Dolphins, 2014
· Alabama tight end O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2017
· Mississippi State defensive end Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans, 2019
· Kentucky linebacker Jamin Davis, Washington Football Team, 2021
The NFL Draft has included 19 selections annually since 1967. The two SEC players drafted with the No. 19 pick who were not first-rounders include:
· Georgia Tech quarterback Frank Broyles, Chicago Bears, 1946
· Florida guard Larry Gagner, Pittsburgh Steelers, 1966
Broyles didn’t play in the NFL but went into coaching. In 19 seasons at Arkansas, he compiled a 144-58-5 record.
Stewart ran for 1,000 yards in two of his final three NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions before a shoulder injury ended his career.
Simmons has been a Pro Bowler for the past two seasons.
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(The list includes only players selected in the regular NFL draft. The drafts from other leagues are not included nor are any supplemental drafts that have been held by the NFL.)
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.