The Alabama Crimson Tide selected three players in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night, their final first-round selections of the Nick Saban era, bringing the total number of first-rounders produced by Saban to 52, 47 of which came at Alabama.

In a bit of a surprise, right tackle JC Latham was the first pick, selected seventh overall by the Tennessee Titans.

Make your dreams come true💙🩵❤️translation:

📸: AP#NFLDraft – April 25-27, NFL Network pic.twitter.com/1aDmF6x3s5

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) April 26, 2024

Latham has been the Tide's starting right tackle the past two seasons and was named to the All-SEC First Team after allowing just two sacks in the entire 2023 season and was also named a team captain prior to the season.

Alabama's second star player was pass rusher Dallas Turner, who was acquired with the high pick by the Minnesota Vikings, who selected him 16th overall.

DT, you're a Viking now!

📸: AP#NFLDraft – April 25-27, NFL Network pic.twitter.com/Hs8fnzjOt7

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) April 26, 2024

Turner was sensational in 2023, earning first-team All-American honors and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors, finishing the year with 10 sacks and two forced fumbles. Turner was a star at Alabama since his freshman year, playing in all 15 games and earning Freshman All-America honors.

The final pick of the first round out of the University of Alabama was cornerback Terrion Arnold, who was selected by the Detroit Lions, who hosted the draft, at No. 24 overall, slightly lower than expected.

We are excited too Arnold Therion 😁 pic.twitter.com/vNOeJTL4Yf

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) April 26, 2024

What a night! 🤩

📸: AP#NFLDraft – April 25-27, NFL Network pic.twitter.com/lfYqzWnfrl

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) April 26, 2024

Arnold emerged as a superstar last season and was named to the SEC first team, recording five interceptions, 17 passes defended and one forced fumble on the year.

Arnold and all of his Alabama teammates were in the Green Room, along with Jalen Milroe, who became emotional as he spoke about his good friend Arnold.

.Alabama FTBL QB Jalen Milroe after his close friend and former teammate Terrion Arnold was drafted. pic.twitter.com/rdU852GN83

— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) April 26, 2024

The SEC led all conferences with 11 first-round picks. Alabama's three first-round picks tied it with LSU and Washington for the most among all schools. The Crimson Tide have sent 404 players to the draft so far, fifth-most among all schools.

No other in-state teams had a player selected in the first round: former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix, who finished his playing career at Oregon, was selected 12th overall by the Denver Broncos.

Day 2 of the draft begins tonight at 7 PM CST with the second and third rounds, and several in-state prospects are still waiting to hear their names called, including Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry, Chris Braswell and Jermaine Burton, Auburn's DJ James, Nehemiah Pritchett and Jaylin Simpson and UAB's Te'Jaun Palmer.

Michael Browner is a senior sports analyst and contributor to Yellow Hammer News. You can follow him on Twitter. translation: