It was another big NFL season for former Alabama football players. On Friday, the Associated Press released its All-Pro 1st team for 2024, and three former Crimson Tide defensive backs made the first team.
CBs Pat Surtain II and Marlon Humphrey along with safety Xavier McKinney were named to the first team.
Surtain II is one of two favorites along with Cincinnati Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson for the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award. It's rare for corners to contend for that award, but Surtain II has separated himself as the best corner in the NFL in his fourth season in the league.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Surtain held Ja'Marr Chase, the winner of the receiving triple crown, to three catches for 27 yards in 43 routes run against him. Surtain shuts his side of the field down for the Broncos with opponents targeting him on just 10.9% of his snaps.
It is Surtain's second All Pro 1st team selection. He was previously selected in 2022.
Humphrey was the slot cornerback on the All Pro 1st team. He finished the regular season with a career-high six interceptions, which finished tied for third in the NFL. Humphrey got his first career pick-six a few weeks ago. This is Humphrey's second selection to the All Pro 1st team, and his first since 2019.
McKinney finished second in the NFL with eight interceptions in his first season with the Packers. This is McKinney's first All Pro selection.
RB Derrick Henry was the lone former Alabama player on the All Pro 2nd team, finishing behind Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley, who led the league in rushing with over 2000 yards.
But Henry eclipsed 1900 rushing yards for the second time in his career, becoming the first player in NFL history to do so. He had a huge season in his first year with the Ravens, and his addition should make Baltimore dangerous in the postseason as he can take a lot of pressure off of Lamar Jackson.
This was the third time Henry has been selected to the All Pro 2nd team.