According to Pro Football Reference, only three alumni from Fairhope High School have been selected in the NFL Draft and all three came on the defensive side of the ball.
With Senior Bowl week …
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According to Pro Football Reference, only three alumni from Fairhope High School have been selected in the NFL Draft and all three came on the defensive side of the ball.
With Senior Bowl week officially underway, former Pirate quarterback Riley Leonard is trying to prove to NFL executives that he deserves a chance to become the school’s first offensive draft selection.
Practices are set to kick off Tuesday and the college football all-star game is set for Saturday afternoon at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile with representatives from all 32 NFL teams on hand. Not only will athletes get their opportunity to show their stuff on the field, but they’ll also sit down to meetings with NFL Draft personnel from around the league before the selection process officially begins on April 24.
Roster talk
When the 2025 Senior Bowl rosters were announced, Leonard was one of four quarterbacks named to the American Team under Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks coach Blaine Gautier. His new counterparts include Jalen Milroe from Alabama, Seth Henigan from Memphis and Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss.
Quarterbacking the National Team opposite them will include Dillon Gabriel from Oregon, Taylor Elgersma from Laurier (Canada) and Tyler Shough from Louisville.
The American Team will feature offensive weapons from in-state schools including running back Jarquez Hunter from Auburn, wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett from South Alabama and tight end CJ Dippre from Alabama.
Other pass-catchers will include receivers Jack Bech from TCU and Bru McCoy from Tennessee as well as tight ends Gunnar Helm from Texas and Mason Taylor from LSU. Trevor Etienne from Georgia and RJ Harvey from UCF will help fill out the American running back stable.
Fairhope’s other NFL Draftees
Leon Lett, a defensive tackle out of Emporia State, serves as the most recent former Pirate taken in the NFL Draft when he was selected 173rd overall by the Dallas Cowboys in 1991.
He turned into a three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time Pro Bowler over 10 seasons in Dallas and one with the Denver Broncos. Lett was credited with 271 total tackles, 22.5 sacks, 8 pass breakups and 7 fumble recoveries over 121 games.
Ben Rudolph, a defensive end out of Long Beach State, became Fairhope’s first alumnus selected when the New York Jets took him 60th overall in the 1981 Draft. A six-year veteran, Rudolph owns 10.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries over 88 games, all with the Jets.
David King, a defensive back out of Auburn, was chosen in between the other two athletes when the San Deigo Chargers used the 264th overall pick of the 1985 Draft.
A four-year letterman at Auburn, King earned two first-team All-SEC selections and finished his college career with 12 interceptions. He played one game with the Chargers as a rookie before being placed on injured reserve and played three games with the Green Bay Packers in 1987.
Senior Bowl itinerary
Fans wanting their front-row view at the next generation of NFL stars are welcome to visit practice during the week on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday with the National Team scheduled from 9:30-11:30 a.m. followed by the American Team from 12-2 p.m.
The Senior Bowl street party will take over downtown Mobile on Friday night at 6 p.m. for a Mardi Gras-style parade featuring high school bands, Senior Bowl players and local representatives. The Eli Young Band will headline the free concert following the parade at Cathedral Square.
Saturday is game day with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m. on NFL Network but fans can get their first look at the athletes during the Path to the Draft Team Walk at 11 a.m. as they arrive at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Visit seniorbowl.com for more details about the events.
Gulf Coast Media representatives will be taking in the Senior Bowl yet again so follow @GCMSportsAL on social media for immediate highlights and stay tuned to gulfcoastmedia.com/sports for full coverage.