2024 NFL Draft: Minnesota Vikings select Alabama LB Dallas Turner
Alabama junior linebacker Dallas Turner was selected with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night. Turner, who was in Detroit for the event, was the second Crimson Tide player and the third defensive player off the board.
The Vikings traded up to select Turner at 17th overall, making the trade with the Jaguars.
Turner played in every game of his 3-year career with the Crimson Tide, including all 14 of Alabama’s games this season. A starter in every contest, Turner finished with career-highs in tackles (53), tackles for loss (14.5), sacks (10) and forced fumbles (2). Leading the Tide defense in sacks and tackles for loss, Turner finished first in the SEC – and tied for ninth nationally – in sacks and recorded the second-most TFLs in the conference in 2023.
Because of his play on the field, Turner was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year by the league coaches. He was also Alabama’s lone consensus first-team All-American in 2023 with nods from the AFCA, Associated Press, FWAA and Sporting News. Turner was voted a permanent captain by his teammates as he assumed a leadership role in his third year.
A native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Turner arrived at Alabama as a 5-star recruit. The Saint Thomas Aquinas alum was rated the nation’s No. 2 edge, the third-best player from the state of Florida and the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2021 class, per the On3 Industry Rankings. Turner committed to Alabama over Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon.
Turner is now the 46th first-round pick and 125th overall selection from Alabama over the last 17 years – or Nick Saban’s tenure in Tuscaloosa before his decision to retire in January. Turner is the sixth Tide linebacker selected in the first round of the NFL draft and gives Alabama a first-round edge rusher for the second consecutive year, joining Will Anderson.
Stay tuned to BamaOnLine for continued coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Alabama players taken in the 2024 NFL Draft
7. JC Latham, OT – Tennessee Titans
17. Dallas Turner, Edge – Minnesota Vikings
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