A former two-time College Football Playoff National Champion for Alabama football has found a new home in the pros.
Da’Shawn Hand was born in Pennsylvania, but the former five-star grew up in Woodbridge, Va.
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He was a household name in his arrival to the University of Alabama in its 2014 recruiting class. Hand made an impact as a freshman with seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks. He assisted the Crimson Tide to a Southeastern Conference Championship, but Hand would blossom into a bigger role. He increased his output in tackles for loss (6.5) and sacks (three) while having two quarterback hurries in 2015. Hand was on a defensive front that captured a CFP National Championship.
After being in the rotation of the most entertaining defense of the Nick Saban era, Hand enjoyed another productive campaign during his final season. He posted 27 tackles, 3.5 stops for loss, three sacks, and a pass breakup. He captured his second national championship ring to go with three SEC Championship rings. Hand made second-team All-SEC (2016, 2017) twice in his career before turning pro. He was taken in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Hand spent four seasons in Detroit, and then he bounced to the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Miami Dolphins have signed him. He is reunited with former Alabama teammates, Tua Tagovailoa and Raekwon Davis.
The #Dolphins signed former #Lions DT Da’Shawn Hand, who has been productive when healthy. The #Bama product has also played for the #Colts and #Titans.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 6, 2023
Hopefully, Hand can make something happen in South Florida.
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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.
