Alabama has produced 1 pick in the NFL’s supplemental draft

While Alabama football is synonymous with producing elite NFL talent—boasting 84 official first-round draft picks—there is one Crimson Tide star who claims that distinction without it appearing on the traditional ledger. That distinction belongs to running back Bobby Humphrey, who was selected in the NFL's supplemental draft.

The Supplemental Draft Returns

With reports surfacing that former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby plans to enter the NFL’s supplemental draft, the league is gearing up for its first summer draft event since 2019. The process, which debuted in 1977 with Notre Dame’s Al Hunter, has historically served as a unique path for collegiate players to reach the professional ranks outside of the standard spring proceedings.

The Case of Bobby Humphrey

Humphrey entered the 1989 supplemental draft as one of the most decorated ball-carriers in Alabama history. Despite his collegiate success, which included breaking Johnny Musso’s career rushing record and setting new single-season and single-game benchmarks, Humphrey missed the 1988 season following a foot injury against Vanderbilt. Opting for a medical redshirt rather than entering the standard 1989 NFL Draft, Humphrey instead chose to hold a workout for pro scouts during the summer.

His decision led to a historic 1989 supplemental draft—the most active in league history with five total picks. The Denver Broncos secured Humphrey in the first round by forfeiting their first-round selection in the 1990 NFL Draft. Reflecting on the unusual path, Humphrey told The Denver Gazette last year that he skipped the standard pre-draft process because he wasn't ready to work out at that time.

Pro Career and Legacy

Humphrey hit the ground running as a rookie, rushing for 1,151 yards and helping the Broncos reach the Super Bowl. He followed that with a Pro Bowl campaign in his second season, though his time in Denver eventually soured amid contract disputes and a 1991 holdout. Following a trade to the Miami Dolphins, Humphrey continued to contribute as both a runner and a receiver before a series of knee injuries eventually ended his playing career after a final appearance in the 1993 AFC Championship Game.

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