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Alabama DL Tim Smith likely to return to school, forgo 2024 NFL Draft, per report

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•01/03/24•

BarkleyTruax

Alabama DL Tim Smith
Tim Smith (Jordan Prather / USA TODAY Sports)

Alabama defensive lineman Tim Smith is likely to return to Tuscaloosa and forgo the 2024 NFL Draft, per report. He finished the 2023 season with 31 tackles and a pair of sacks.

Smith was a senior this past season, participating in the Crimson Tide’s senior day festivities against Chattanooga during the home finale in November. He will use his blanket waiver from the COVID-19 pandemic to play in 2024. He appeared in all 14 games for Alabama during the 2023 season.

Smith played high school football at Sebastian River (FL) High School, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 45 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He was the No. 7 defensive lineman in his class and No. 7 player out of the state of Florida.

The news of Smith’s likely return comes after speculation that fellow Alabama defender, linebacker Deontae Lawson, will come back to campus in 2024 as well. Lawson played in and started 11 games this past season, where he missed three due to injury. Still, he finished second on the team in total tackles with 67.

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The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

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Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.