As Training Camps Open, Alabama's Numbers in the NFL Continue to Rise

While the Evan Mathis watch goes on, as the All-Pro guard is still looking for his next NFL home following his recent departure from the Philadelphia Eagles, the rest of the Alabama contingency in the league is getting ready to go back to work.

With the first training camps opening as the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints rookies reported Wednesday, and the rookies and veterans of the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers showing up Saturday, every camp will be in full swing by Aug. 2.

The Hall of Fame Game, which opens the preseason, will be played Aug. 9 (8 p.m. ET, NBC). With Super Bowl rematches a season-long theme as part of the buildup to Super Bowl 50, the Steelers will play the Vikings (Super Bowl IX).

However, the Steelers are one of just five NFL teams that don’t have at least one former Crimson Tide player on their roster. The others are the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs.

Overall, there wasn't too much movement of former Alabama players during the offseason. The exceptions include running back Trent Richardson with the Oakland Raiders, defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick on the Houston Texans and offensive lineman James Carpenter is now a New York Jet.

Additionally, cornerback Javier Arenas is a free agent, linebacker Jarret Johnson and offensive lineman Mike Johnson both retired and fullback Le’Ron McClain is attempting a comeback.

On Sept. 1, after each team has played at least three preseason games, rosters must be reduced to a maximum of 75 players on the active list. Just four days later the final cuts down to 53 players must be made.

The regular season is set to open Sept. 10.

In 2014, Alabama had 36 players on active rosters during the NFL’s opening weekend, which was third-most among all schools behind LSU (38) and Southern California (37). What really makes that number stand out is the Crimson Tide wasn’t among the top 25 schools when Nick Saban arrived at the Capstone in 2007.

Overall, there were 42 former Crimson Tide players on active rosters or injured reserve, tied with the Trojans for the most. That figure also didn’t include the five players who spent the whole season on various practice squads.

Every offensive starter from Alabama's 2012 season opener is currently on a roster, and if you counted Dee Milliner instead of DeQuan Menzie, every defensive starter from 2011 is as well.

However, two players who are notably absent are last year’s signal-callers for the offense and defense, quarterback Blake Sims and linebacker Trey DePriest.

Regardless, here’s a look at who’s where:

Mark Barron, St. Louis Rams, S

Leon Brown, Baltimore Ravens, G

Uncredited/Associated Press

James Carpenter, New York Jets, G

(Duron Carter, Indianapolis Colts, WR)

Josh Chapman, Indianapolis Colts, NT

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Green Bay Packers, S

Landon Collins, New York Giants, S

Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders, WR

Marcell Dareus, Buffalo Bills, DT

Brandon Deaderick, Houston Texans, DT

Quinton Dial, San Francisco 49ers, DT

Xzavier Dickson, New England Patriots, LB

D.J. Fluker, San Diego Chargers, OL

Jalston Fowler, Tennessee Titans, FB

Wallace Gilberry, Cincinnati Bengals, DE

Roman Harper, Carolina Panthers, S

Jerrell Harris, Detroit Lions, LB

Dont’a Hightower, New England Patriots, LB

Adrian Hubbard, Green Bay Packers, LB

Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints, RB

Kareem Jackson, Houston Texans, CB

Nico Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals, LB

Rashad Johnson, Arizona Cardinals, S

Barrett Jones, St. Louis Rams, OL

Christion Jones, Miami Dolphins, WR

Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons, WR

Dre Kirkpatrick, Cincinnati Bengals, CB

Arie Kouandjio, Washington Redskins, G

Cyrus Kouandjio, Buffalo Bills, OL

Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers, RB

Robert Lester, Carolina Panthers, S

Cody Mandell, Green Bay Packers, P

AJ McCarron, Cincinnati Bengals, QB

Rolando McClain, Dallas Cowboys, LB

Dee Milliner, New York Jets, CB

C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens, LB

Kevin Norwood, Seattle Seahawks, WR

Jeoffrey Pagan, Houston Texans, DL

Nick Perry, Baltimore Ravens, S

Trent Richardson, Oakland Raiders, RB

DeMeco Ryans, Philadelphia Eagles, LB

Austin Shepherd, Minnesota Vikings, OL

Brad Smelley, St. Louis Rams, TE

Andre Smith, Cincinnati Bengals, T

Damion Square, San Diego Chargers, DL

Anthony Steen, Arizona Cardinals, G

John Raoux/Associated Press

Ed Stinson, Arizona Cardinals, DE

Vinnie Sunseri, New Orleans Saints, S

Carson Tinker, Jacksonville Jaguars, LS

Courtney Upshaw, Baltimore Ravens, LB

Brian Vogler, Chicago Bears, TE

Chance Warmack, Tennessee Titans, G

DeAndrew White, San Francisco, WR

Michael Williams, Detroit Lions, T

Jesse Williams, Seattle Seahawks, DT (out indefinitely)

T.J. Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars, RB

Team-by-team list with jersey numbers

Arizona Cardinals: Rashad Johnson, 26, S; Anthony Steen, 71, G; Ed Stinson, 72, DE

Atlanta Falcons: Julio Jones, 11, WR

Baltimore Ravens: Leon Brown, 69, G; C.J Mosley, 57, LB; Nick Perry, 36, S; Courtney Upshaw, 91, LB

Buffalo Bills: Marcell Dareus, 99, DT; Cyrus Kouandjio, 71, T

Carolina Panthers: Roman Harper, 41, S; Robert Lester, 38, S

Chicago Bears: Brian Vogler, 47, TE

Cincinnati Bengals: Wallace Gilberry, 95, DL; Nico Johnson, 52, LB; Dre Kirkpatrick, 27, CB; A.J. McCarron, 5, QB; Andre Smith, 71, T

Cleveland Browns: None

Dallas Cowboys: Rolando McClain, 55, LB

Denver Broncos: None

Rank	School	Players
1	LSU	38
2	USC	37
3	Alabama	36
4	Georgia	34
5	Florida	33
(tie)	FSU	33
7	Miami	31
8	Cal	29
(tie)	Ohio State	29
10	Notre Dame	28
(tie)	Tennessee	28

Detroit Lions: Jerrell Harris, 41, LB; Michael Williams, 73, OT

Green Bay Packers: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, 21, S; Adrian Hubbard, 49, LB; Eddie Lacy, 27, RB; Cody Mandell, 9, P

Houston Texans: Brandon Deaderick, 61, DT; Kareem Jackson, 25, CB; Jeoffrey Pagan, 97, DL

Indianapolis Colts: (Duron Carter, 9, WR); Josh Chapman, 96, DT

Jacksonville Jaguars: Carson Tinker, 46, LS; T.J. Yeldon, 24, RB

Kansas City Chiefs: None

Miami Dolphins: Christion Jones, 1, WR

Minnesota Vikings: Austin Shepherd, 74, OL

New England Patriots: Xzavier Dickson, NA, LB; Dont’a Hightower, 54, LB

New Orleans Saints: Mark Ingram, 22, RB; Vinnie Sunseri, 43, S

New York Giants: Landon Collins, 27, S

New York Jets: James Carpenter, 77, T; Dee Milliner, 27, CB

Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, 89, WR; Trent Richardson, 34, RB

Philadelphia Eagles: G; DeMeco Ryans, 59, LB

Pittsburgh Steelers: None

St. Louis Rams: Mark Barron, 26, S; Barrett Jones, 67, OL; Brad Smelley, 87, TE

San Diego Chargers: D.J. Fluker, 76, T; Damion Square, 71, DT

San Francisco 49ers: Quinton Dial, 92, DL; DeAndrew White, 18, WR

Seattle Seahawks: Kevin Norwood, 81, WR; Jesse Williams, 90, DT

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: None

Tennessee Titans: Jalston Fowler, 45, FB; Chance Warmack, 70, G

Washington Redskins: Arie Kouandjio, 74, G

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer.

Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.