The 2024 NFL Draft starts on April 25 in Detroit with the 32 first-round picks. In the 88 NFL drafts, teams have chosen 128 prospects who played at Alabama high schools and colleges in the first round, and another 29 who were not first-rounders but were selected in the first 32 picks. AL.com is counting down to the draft by highlighting the players with Alabama football roots who have been chosen in the first 32 picks.

Nick Saban was former Muscle Shoals High School star Jason Allen’s coach after he entered the NFL. Saban was former Hoover High School star Marlon Humphrey’s coach before he entered the NFL.

Saban had recruited Allen for LSU when the defensive back played for the Trojans. But Allen chose Tennessee. Saban got another chance at Allen as coach of the Miami Dolphins with the 16th selection in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Saban left the Dolphins for Alabama after the 2006 season for Alabama, where he coached Humphrey, who became the 16th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Allen and Humphrey are among the four prospects from Alabama high schools and colleges have been the 16th selection in an NFL Draft:

· Guard Frank D’Agostino (Auburn): 1956 by the Philadelphia Eagles. The third pick of the second round in 1956, D’Agostino’s pro football career covered three leagues – Philadelphia in the NFL in 1956, the Grey Cup champion Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Canada in 1957 and the New York Titans in the AFL in 1960.

· Defensive end Mike Pitts (Alabama): 1983 by the Atlanta Falcons. An All-Rookie selection in 1983, Pitts recorded 48.5 sacks in 169 regular-season games across 12 seasons with three teams. In his final season, Pitts started every game. When he was released before the 1995 preseason, Patriots coach Bill Parcells said: “He was one of the best players at his position for a long time. But what we have as alternatives, we had to let him go.” After going 10-6 in 1994, New England had a 6-10 record in 1995.

· Defensive back Jason Allen (Muscle Shoals): 2006 by the Miami Dolphins. Miami released Allen halfway through the 2010 season even though he had three interceptions. He signed with the Houston Texans and intercepted three more passes before the end of the season, then had four more interceptions for Houston in 2011 to finish his career with 15.

· Cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Hoover, Alabama) 2017 by the Baltimore Ravens. Humphrey made first-team All-Pro in 2019 when he intercepted three passes and returned two fumbles for touchdowns. He received Pro Bowl recognition again in 2020 when he led the NFL with eight forced fumbles. With three interceptions and three sacks in 2022, Humphrey reached the Pro Bowl again.

The Seattle Seahawks hold the 16th selection in this year’s draft.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.