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Former Alabama DL DJ Dale lands NFL opportunity on UDFA deal
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Former Alabama DL DJ Dale has landed an NFL opportunity. After the 2023 NFL Draft concluded, the Buffalo Bills signed Dale as a free agent.
Dale declared for the NFL after 4 seasons at Alabama. He had the option to return for 2023 with the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver for the 2020 season.
#Bills are signing @AlabamaFTBL DL DJ Dale, source tells @TheDraftNetwork
Dominant football player.
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) April 29, 2023
A former 4-star prospect out of Clay-Chalkville, Dale signed with Alabama over 12 other scholarship offers. As a freshman, Dale earned the starting job at nose tackle in 2019 fall camp. He would be a consistent contributor over 4 years.
Over 4 years, Dale played in 48 games, recording 74 tackles, including 11.5 TFL and 5.5 sacks. Dale helped Alabama win the 2020 national championship, logging 22 tackles, 2 pass breakups and a fumble recovery in the shortened season.
On the final day of the 2023 draft, Dale popped up on many best-available lists. He could be a steal for the Bills as a free-agent signing, though it’s always a tall task to make a 53-man roster after going undrafted.
We’ll see if Dale can turn some heads in Bills camp.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
