4 Bama starters are NFL bound

Published 12:01 am Friday, January 10, 2014

Four Alabama starters declared for the NFL Draft on Thursday.

Offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, safety Haha Clinton-Dix, linebacker Adrian Hubbard and defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan decided to head to the NFL.

According to a report on Al.com, this is the first time Alabama has had more than three juniors leave early for the NFL during coach Nick Saban’s time at the school.

“These players are always going to be a part of the Alabama tradition, they’re always going to be a part of the Alabama football family because they’ve done just a marvelous job in their careers here of being great ambassadors of this university and for our football program,” Saban said. “We appreciate them more than you know for all they’ve done.”

Kouandjio and Clinton-Dix are included as top-rated players at their positions and are likely going to be drafted in the first round. Hubbard and Pagan are looking to be drafted in the second or third rounds, according to NFL Draft projections.

Additionally on Thursday, Auburn running back Tre Mason declared for the draft.