Alabama Football: 2012 NFL Draft Another Exhibit of Crimson Tide's Dominance

ESPN may have made a mistake in choosing Cee Lo Green’s “Bright Lights, Bigger City” as the backdrop for its campaign promoting the 2012 NFL draft.

Sure, the song selection makes sense considering the draft is held in New York City.

But, figuring that five former Alabama stars are projected to be selected in the first round  Thursday night, the cable giant’s brass may be inclined to engineer a last minute trade in favor of “Sweet Home Alabama.”

At least get Roger Goodell to belt out a line or two to the iconic Lynyrd Skynyrd tune after his vocal chords will repeatedly echo the words “the University of Alabama” when announcing their slew of draft picks. 

If Alabama does get five players selected on Thursday, the only positions they would have failed to have represented as a first-round selection over the last two years would be quarterback, tight end and defensive end (which could be crossed off that list if a team playing a 4-3 defensive scheme drafts Courtney Upshaw as an edge rusher). 

There are no titles handed out to schools for having the most players picked in the NFL.

But make no mistake about it, the results will catch the eyes of fans, players and—perhaps most importantly—the nation’s top high school recruits. 

It’s no coincidence that Alabama landed the nation’s top recruiting class in February—and has been a fixture in the top five of recruiting rankings since Saban’s arrival in Tuscaloosa. 

So if you are keeping score—the Crimson Tide won its second national championship in three seasons, scored the nation’s top recruiting class and will be the premier program on display when the NFL ushers its newest batch of future stars this week. 

Here’s the scary part for fans in the SEC and around the country—don’t expect this freight train to slow down anytime soon. 

Saban’s mastery of getting his players to the next level is just another reminder why the Alabama program is the envy of the rest of the college football world. 

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