Da'Shawn Hand selected by Detriot Lions in fourth round of NFL Draft

Da’Shawn Hand became the first Alabama player off the board on Day 3 of the NFL Draft on Saturday. Hand was selected by the Detroit Lions with the No. 114 overall pick in the fourth round.

He joins Minkah Fitzpatrick (No. 11, Miami Dolphins), Da'Ron Payne (No. 13, Washington Redskins), Rashaan Evans (No. 22, Tennessee Titans) Calvin Ridley (No. 26, Atlanta Falcons), Ronnie Harrison (No. 93, Jacksonville Jaguars) as the sixth former Alabama player taken in the draft.

In Detroit, Hand will play on the same defensive line as former Alabama teammate A’Shawn Robinson. He is also reunited with former Alabama defensive line coach Bo Davis, who holds the same position with the Lions.

Rated as the No. 1 player overall in the 2014 class, Hand never quite lived up to his high billing during his college career. During his first year as a starer last season, the senior defensive lineman earned second-team All-SEC honors from conference coaches after tallying 27 tackles, 3.5 for a loss with three sacks and one fumble recovery over 11 games.

Hand worked both inside and outside on Alabama’s defensive line last season. Listed at 6-foot-4, 297 pounds, he has the versatility to play defensive end in a 3-4 formation or move to tackle in a 4-3 scheme. Although, while he has the size and ability required for the NFL, Hand will also need to prove he can sustain the necessary sense of urgency to live up to his potential at the next level.

Several scouts noted the defensive lineman appeared to “take plays off” at times during his college career. Still, most believe Hand enters the NFL with a high ceiling should he decide to push for it.