It shows love to University of Alabama players around the time of the NFL Draft, and for Sports Trust Advisors, this year’s venue has it bringing in several Crimson Tide standouts.
Based out of Atlanta, Ga., Sports Trust Advisors is a full-service football agency that has been representing and branding elite NFL players since 1987. Former Tide standouts including Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Kenyan Drake, Donta Hightower and Eddie Jackson all signed with Sports Trust.
Where the upcoming draft is concerned, the brand has inked four new Alabama members – Anthony Averett, Robert Foster, Calvin Ridley and Shaun Dion Hamilton – with one being (Ridley) highly-regarded as a first-round pick according to multiple NFL Draft analysts.
After earning the status of a first-year starter in 2016, Anthony Averett totaled 48 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, eight pass breakups and one interception through 14 games. He led the team in pass breakups as a junior with eight, and was a huge component behind a Southeastern Conference title in 2016 and a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2017.
Excited to welcome 2X National Champion + 3X SEC Champion @AlabamaFTBL CB @AD2LIVE_4! #BuiltByBama #LegendsLiveHere pic.twitter.com/BrsMnJ8VMt
— SportsTrust Advisors (@_SportsTrust) January 19, 2018
Wide receiver Robert Foster and linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton both sustained injuries in their careers; however, they found ways to still make an impact. Foster ended his senior year with 14 receptions, including three grabs in Alabama’s 26-23 national title win over Georgia.
Hamilton would put in 40 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks prior to suffering a season-ending knee injury on Nov. 4, 2017 against LSU at Bryant-Denny Stadium. He was named a permanent team captain, and despite the mishap, he coached the Tide’s defense into the playoff.
As for Calvin Ridley, his career ends with him being four receptions shy from tying Amari Cooper for most in school history (228). He totaled 224 catches for 2,781 receiving yards with 19 touchdowns. Ridley emerged onto the college football scene as a freshman with 1,045 yards receiving and seven scores on 89 catches, but couldn’t duplicate another 1,000-yard campaign.
2X @AlabamaFTBL National Champion. 2X @SEC Champion. 3X All SEC. 2015 Freshman All American WR. Welcome to the family, @CalvinRidley1! #BuiltByBama #LegendsLiveHere pic.twitter.com/Q6hzh82Qfo
— SportsTrust Advisors (@_SportsTrust) January 19, 2018
He posted 967 yards with five touchdowns on 63 catches in 2017.
For Tide fans, the hope is that all four guys have successful careers in the National Football League. This group has helped achieve two national championships under Nick Saban.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
