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Remembering 2011 Game of the Century: LSU, Bama teams had plenty of NFL talent. Where are they now?
By Les East
Published:
When No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama met in November of 2011, it was obvious why the teams were so good and the game was called the Game of the Century.
Both rosters were filled with NFL talent, which was evident as the Tigers prevailed 9-6 in overtime and it was evident again 2 months later when the Crimson Tide prevailed 21-0 in the BCS Championship Game.
Thirty-one players who started in that regular-season game – 18 from Alabama, 13 from LSU – played in the NFL. Six were taken in the 1st round of the 2012 NFL Draft. (A few backups in that game were drafted, too.)
Twelve of those players — 6 from each program — are still on NFL rosters as No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama prepare to meet again Saturday afternoon in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Most of this week will be devoted to Saturday’s mega-matchup, but let’s take a minute to remember just how great that 2011 game was.
Here’s an update on all those starters who made it to the NFL:
LSU
James Wright, WR
Skinny: 7th-round pick of the Bengals in 2014, he played with them in 2014 and 2016.
Russell Shepard, WR
Skinny: Played 4 seasons with the Bucs beginning in 2013, moved to the Panthers for 1 season and is in his 2nd season with the Giants. He is on injured reserve.
Spencer Ware, RB
Skinny: Started his career with the Seahawks in 2013, then moved on to the Chiefs for 3 seasons and the Colts for 1.
Kendrick Adams, DE
Skinny: Spent time with the Jaguars, Bucs, Lions, Browns, Bengals, Giants and Titans between 2012-14, but never played in a game.
Michael Brockers, DT
Skinny: 1st-round pick of the Rams in 2012 and has been a mainstay on one of the best defensive lines in the NFL ever since.
Bennie Logan, DT
Skinny: 3rd-round pickoff the Eagles in 2013, spent 4 seasons with them and 1 each with the Chiefs and the Titans.
Sam Montgomery, DE
Skinny: 3rd-round pick of the Texans in 2013 and also spent time with the Raiders and Bengals without playing in a game.
Kevin Minter, LB
Skinny: 2nd-round pick of the Cardinals in 2013, spent 4 seasons with them, 1 with the Bengals and is in his 2nd season with the Bucs.
Morris Claiborne, CB
Skinny: 1st-round draft pick of the Cowboys in 2012, stayed with them for 5 seasons, then went to the Jets for 2 seasons and is in his 1st season with the Chiefs.
Brandon Taylor, S
Skinny: 3rd-round pick of the Chargers in 2012 and played in 4 games that season, his only in the NFL.
Eric Reid, S
Skinny: 1st-round pick of the 49ers in 2013, spent 5 seasons with them and is in his 2nd season with the Panthers.
Tyrann Mathieu, DB
Skinny: 3rd-round pick of the Cardinals in 2013, spent 5 seasons there, 1 with the Texans and is in his 1st season with the Chiefs.
Brad Wing, P
Skinny: Punted with the Steelers in 2014 and with the Giants the next 3 seasons.
Alabama
Barrett Jones, OT
Skinny: 4th-round draft choice of the Rams in 2013, spent 2 seasons with them.
Chance Warmack, G
Skinny: No. 1 pick of the Titans in 2013, spent 4 seasons with them and 2 with the Eagles.
D.J. Fluker, T
Skinny: No. 1 pick of the Chargers in 2013, spent 4 seasons with them, 1 with the Giants and is in his 2nd season with the Seahawks.
Michael Williams, TE
Skinny: 7th-round pick of the Lions in 2013, didn’t play with them but appeared in 15 games with the Patriots in 2015.
Brad Smelley, TE
Skinny: 7th-round pick of the Browns in 2012, spent that season with them and the following season with the Texans.
AJ McCarron, QB
Skinny: 5th-round pick of the Bengals in 2014, spent 4 seasons with them, last season with the Raiders and is in his 1st season with the Texans.
Trent Richardson, RB
Skinny: The highest pick from that game, Richardson was the No. 3 overall pick of the Browns in 2012, was traded to the Colts during the 2013 season and stayed with them through the 2014 season.
Darius Hanks, WR
Skinny: Spent the 2012 season on injured reserve with the Redskins.
Josh Chapman, NT
Skinny: 5th-round pick of the Colts in 2012 and spent 3 seasons with them.
Damion Square, DE
Skinny: Entered the league with the Eagles in 2013, spilt 2014 between the Chiefs and the Chargers, with whom he has found a home.
Jerrell Harris, LB
Skinny: Between 2012-16 spent time with the Falcons, Jaguars, Patriots, Raiders, Chargers, Broncos, Lions and Cowboys without playing in a game.
Dont’a Hightower, LB
Skinny: No. 1 pick of the Patriots in 2012 and has been a fixture with one of the NFL’s best teams ever since.
Nico Johnson, LB
Skinny: 4th-round pick of the Chiefs in 2013, spent time with them, the Bengals and Giants over a 3-year career.
Courtney Upshaw, LB
Skinny: 2nd-round pick of the Ravens in 2012, spent 4 seasons with them and the next 2 with the Falcons.
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB
Skinny: 1st-round pick of the Bengals in 2012 and has been a key player for them ever since.
Robert Lester, S
Skinny: Spent 2013 and 2014 with the Panthers.
Mark Barron, S
Skinny: No. 1 pick of the Bucs in 2012, played with them and the Rams before joining the Steelers for this season.
Les East is a New Orleans-based football writer who covers LSU for SaturdayDownSouth.com. Follow him on Twitter @Les_East.
