As the 2024 NFL Draft draws closer, Baltimore native Chris Braswell can expect to hear his name called within the first few rounds.
A former standout at St. Frances Academy, Braswell was the No. 19 player in the Class of 2020, according to the 247Sports composite rating. The 6-foot-3, 251-pound edge rusher exploded in his senior season at Alabama, posting 42 tackles, eight sacks and three forced fumbles in 2023.
The breakout season came as no surprise to Braswell. It was merely a matter of opportunity after spending his first three seasons behind other blue-chip prospects on the depth chart such as Will Anderson Jr.
“I was always a great player, talented,” Braswell said on Glenn Clark Radio April 4. “Had a lot of talent, I just needed the opportunity, and once I got the opportunity this year, I was like, ‘I’m not letting [anything] get in my path and I’m going to go out there and dominate and help my team win.'”
As a highly-touted prospect, Braswell could have transferred and been a starter almost anywhere else. Instead, he waited his turn at Alabama, and when he got it, he ran with it. In fact, it was Maryland head coach Michael Locksley who recruited Braswell to Tuscaloosa during his tenure as Alabama’s offensive coordinator.
“He sat at ‘Bama for about two or three years before we heard his name the way we heard it this year,” Locksley said on GCR April 3. “And I was glad to see he finally got the opportunity to show what he’s capable of.”
Braswell is driven by competition. It’s why he chose to play for legendary coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide. It’s also why he chose to play high school football at local powerhouse St. Frances.
“Ultimately I chose St. Frances because of the competition that was brought to my attention,” Braswell said. “To be able to play on ESPN, play at the University of Maryland and play a national schedule — it brought a lot of attention to me.”
Braswell is proud of his Baltimore roots. He frequently visits St. Frances, where his nephew currently attends, and strives to be a role model for the next generation of athletes from Charm City.
“I try to come back to the school all the time, talk to the kids, give back and just keep them motivated,” Braswell said. “And reiterate that, ‘Hey, we built this program from the ground up for y’all so that y’all can have the same opportunity that we had and ultimately be better than the teams that we were on.'”
Saban ran a very professional program on and off the field at Alabama. Braswell believes the pro-style defense the Crimson Tide deployed prepared him for the NFL.
“We run a pro-style defense. During some of these Zoom meetings that I have, I’m able to pick up on NFL terminology because of how we ran the defense,” Braswell said. “Just the overall way how we run the program, we try to be as professional as possible, wearing travel suits for the games, like suit and tie and everything — just the whole nature of being a professional.”
With the Baltimore Ravens holding the 30th overall pick in the upcoming draft, the possibility of a homecoming exists for Braswell. The Ravens may look to add another edge rusher after Jadeveon Clowney departed for Carolina in free agency.
Growing up a Ravens fan, Braswell watched a lot of Terrell Suggs, someone he came to emulate a bit.
“[Suggs] definitely was one of my favorite players,” Braswell said. “He was very, very, very nasty on the field. … He was very versatile. He was a great player.”
Braswell said he would embrace any team that selects him in the draft, but playing for his hometown team would be special. His family, however, wouldn’t take it too kindly if Braswell were drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“My family, they don’t like the Steelers,” Braswell said with a laugh. “But my dad definitely — I remember him telling me, like as a kid, if I ever got drafted to the Steelers, this might be the day where he gets a half Ravens jersey, half Steelers jersey.”
For more from Braswell, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Alabama Athletics