Alabama LB Deontae Lawson likely to return to school, forgo 2024 NFL Draft, per report

Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson is expected to make a surprising decision soon. The Tide’s second-leading tackler (67 tackles) is expected to forgo the 2024 NFL Draft and return to Alabama for the 2024 campaign, according to Matt Zenitz. He also racked up 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks for the Crimson Tide in 2023.

In 2022, Lawson tallied 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and four pass breakups. During his three years with the Crimson Tide, he’s racked up 118 tackles, eight tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, and three sacks.

Coming out of Mobile Christian School (Mobile, Alabama), Lawson was one of the most highly regarded players in the country in the 2021 cycle. He was rated as a four-star prospect and the No. 48 overall player in the country, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

Lawson helped carry Mobile Christian to the Class 3A title game as a junior. He finished his junior campaign with 101 solo tackles and 33 assists, bringing home first team all-state honors. In 2018, he was named second team all-state. When he made his college selection, Lawson picked Alabama over offers from Georgia Tech, Texas A&M, and others.

Lawson expected to return to school, more on the 2024 NFL Draft

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.

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.