Houston drafts Will Anderson Jr. third overall, making Alabama football history

Will Anderson Jr. may not have been the first Alabama name off the board Thursday night during the 2023 NFL Draft but he still played a part in making some program history.

With the third overall pick in the draft, the Houston Texans selected Anderson. Anderson's selection also marked the first time the program has ever had two selections in the top three picks of the same draft.

Houston selected C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick before trading four first round picks to add the third pick as well.

READ MORE:Bryce Young selected by Carolina Panthers with No. 1 overall pick in 2023 NFL Draft

The Texans going the defensive route may not be a surprise after the team hired former Alabama linebacker DeMeco Ryans as its new head coach earlier in the offseason.

Anderson spent three seasons with the Crimson Tide, racking up 37.5 sacks and 58.5 tackles for a loss. During his career, he was awarded the Nagurski Trophy and was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons. As a junior, Anderson won the Lombardi Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award, and the Lott Trophy.

Houston currently has two other Alabama players, linebacker Christian Harris and wide receiver John Metchie III, listed on its roster.

The Texans have won just 11 total games over the last three seasons. The No. 2 overall pick is the franchise's highest selection since 2014 when the team drafted Jadeveon Clowney first overall.

Young and Anderson Jr. weren't the only Crimson Tide players to go in the first round. Maybe the most surprising pick in the entire first round may have been when the Detroit Lions used the No. 12 pick to select Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

The Gibbs family, the Lions war room were certainly excited with the pick. Gibbs gives the Lions an explosive runner who's also very good at catching the ball out of the backfield.

The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft concludes Thursday night with the second and third rounds scheduled for Friday starting at 6 p.m. The final four rounds will take place Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. Coverage of the draft can be seen on ABC 33/40.