As a Trent Richardson fantasy owner, I can’t say I’ve been happy with the way he has performed this year in the NFL. Last year’s No. 3 overall pick for the Cleveland Browns, Richardson has since been traded to the Indianapolis Colts and is still yet to rush for more than 60 yards in a game.

This got me thinking about Mark Ingram’s struggles in the NFL and wondering how Alabama players perform in the league overall. In theory, Alabama players would succeed coming from the a program coached by Nick Saban and having played in the toughest conference in the country. So I looked at every draft pick under Saban at Alabama from the first three rounds (not including this year’s rookies) to see how they have done.

2007/2008 Draft: No Alabama players selected in first three rounds but did feature 2007 4th round pick and pro bowl fullback Le’Ron McClain.

2009 Draft: OT Andre Smith (6th pick, 1st round), RB Glen Coffee (3rd round), C Antoine Caldwell (3rd round), S Rashad Johnson (3rd round)

Smith has turned into one of the best right tackles in the league for the Bengals. Glen Coffee showed promise for the 49ers before retiring from the NFL. Caldwell started 19 games in his four years with the Texans but currently is a free agent. Johnson is currently a starter for the Arizona Cardinals after playing in a backup role for the last four years.

2010 Draft: LB Rolando McClain (8th pick, 1st round), CB Kareem Jackson (20th pick, 1st round), CB Javier Arenas (2nd round), DT Terrence Cody (2nd round), G Mike Johnson (3rd round)

McClain is famously already out of the NFL after short stint with the Raiders. Jackson struggled his first couple of years with the Texans but is now a solid starter. Arenas is mostly a backup cornerback and return specialist for the Cardinals. Cody is a rotational defensive lineman for the Ravens. Johnson was going to be the starting right tackle for the Falcons this year but suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle before the season.

2011 Draft: DL Marcell Dareus (3rd pick, 1st round), WR Julio Jones (6th pick, 1st round), OT James Carpenter (25th pick, 1st round), RB Mark Ingram (28th pick, 1st round)

Dareus hasn’t lived up to the billing as third overall pick but has been solid player for the Bills. Jones is the only player under Saban at Alabama selected in the first three rounds to make the pro bowl and is one of the best receivers in the league. Carpenter is currently a starting guard for the Seahawks but has been benched frequently since arriving. Ingram has failed to make much of an impact with the Saints.

2012 Draft: RB Trent Richardson (3rd pick, 1st round), S Mark Barron (7th pick, 1st round), CB Dre Kirkpatrick (17th pick, 1st round), LB Dont’a Hightower (25th pick, 1st round), LB Courtney Upshaw (2nd round)

Richardson, I talked about above. Barron has played well as a starter for the Buccaneers. Kirkpatrick has not made much of an impact and is struggling to see the field for the Bengals. Hightower has been a very good linebacker for the Patriots and a key part of their defense. Upshaw is currently a rotational outside linebacker for the Ravens.

So to tally it all up, four 1st rounders – Smith, Jones, Hightower and Barron – have all been very good; Jackson and Dareus have been capable starters; and McClain, Ingram, Carpenter and Kirkpatrick so far have been busts with it being too early to say on Richardson. Only two of the seven 2nd and 3rd rounders are currently starters (both Johnsons) with only two more making a limited impact (Cody and Upshaw).

So it seems overall the success rate for Alabama draft picks in the first round is about 50-50, not exactly what you want from that kind of investment. The 2nd and 3rd rounds so far have been even more dicey. So while Alabama may be a juggernaut in college, this success doesn’t seem to necessarily translate for its players in the NFL.