Alabama Roundup: Who’s Going Pro, Who’s Getting Paid, and Who’s Coming to Bama

Labaron Philon’s NBA Move Is Official
No surprise here—Labaron Philon is officially keeping his name in the NBA Draft and won’t be returning to Alabama. The freshman standout made it clear on Wednesday that he’s all in on going pro, leaving behind three more years of college eligibility.

Philon had a huge impact in his first (and only) season with the Tide, earning All-SEC freshman honors and starting 29 of 37 games for a team that made it all the way to the Elite Eight. He averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists—solid numbers that helped boost his draft stock into first-round territory for June.




Derrick Henry Gets Paid
Derrick Henry is still trucking defenders—and now he’s cashing in, too. The Baltimore Ravens just gave him a 2-year, $30 million contract extension, with a whopping $26 million guaranteed. That’s the biggest deal ever for a running back over 30.

Henry, currently 19th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list, is chasing history. If he racks up 1,600 yards in 2025, he’ll crack the top 10. Not bad for a guy who’s already had two seasons with over 1,900 rushing yards—including a 2,000-yard monster season in 2020.




Tide Turns Up the Heat in Recruiting
Alabama football is making moves on the recruiting trail, and things are heating up fast. Two top-tier prospects just locked in official visits to Tuscaloosa.

First up: 5-star linebacker Xavier Griffin. He just decommitted from USC and set his visit with Bama for the weekend of June 6. Griffin’s also checking out Ohio State, Texas, and Florida State—but Alabama’s trending strong heading into that stretch.

Then there’s Anthony “Tank” Jones, a 5-star defensive end and one of the best players in Alabama for the 2026 class. He’ll wrap up his visit tour with a stop in Tuscaloosa the weekend of June 20. Auburn, Miami, Texas A&M, and Oregon are also on his list—but getting the last visit could be a big advantage for the Tide.

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