Alabama's Chris Braswell Reveals Personal Impact of 'Cheetah Package'
In the 2022-23 season, the Alabama Crimson Tide's edge rushing tandem was primarily in the hands of Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner. Once Anderson was drafted by the Houston Texans with the third overall pick—and eventually crowned as the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year—Alabama needed another edge/linebacker hybrid to emerge.
Chris Braswell was the answer as he finished second on the team and fifth in the conference with eight sacks, and logged 42 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and an SEC-best three forced fumbles. He also blocked a kick and logged a pick-six. Braswell was named to the All-SEC Second Team.
Braswell gained pro recognition each dominant week and it's now brought him to the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. The 22-year-old opened up about his stellar first season as a primary starter on Wednesday's media session.
"This year, I had the opportunity to become a full-time starter," Braswell said. "I always knew I had the capability so I just needed the time to go out there and showcase my talents and I think it increased my draft stock for sure."
Although he wasn't on the field as often as Turner and Anderson were in 2022, Braswell said that the three of them were very close and helped each other improve.
"It was great," Braswell said. "We've picked all three of each other's brains and shared notes on different tackles. It was great for all of us to get together."
When the trio was on the field together, whether it was in practice or on Saturday, Braswell detailed their combination.
"When Will played with us, we called it the Cheetah Package," Braswell said. "I don't want to say too much because I don't know if they're still running it, but it was an even front. Me and Dallas were in two and three techniques. We ran various games from that front in different ways like two-way go's, speed to power and a lot of other things."
Now Braswell will likely be in a new scheme. However, he stated that he'll fit and adapt to any of the 32 NFL teams' sets.
"I see myself as a defensive end, edge, but I could play anything," Braswell said. "Outside linebacker, put my hand in the dirt, standup. It really doesn't matter. Whatever the team needs me for, I'll be more than capable of doing that. 3-4 or 4-3, I've played both sides."
As previously stated, Braswell had to wait his turn to be a starter. Numerous other Alabama players experienced this while Braswell was climbing the SEC ranks and he revealed a few teammates that could fill his shoes.
"I got a couple of names: Jihaad Campbell, Deonte Lawson, really all of the linebackers and young guys," Braswell said. "Keanu Koht, Quandarrius Robinson, Qua Russaw, all of those guys. We're talented at Bama, we're very deep and probably all of those guys will be here at some point in time."
Braswell is one of 10 Crimson Tide products participating in this year's NFL Combine. Braswell, along with the aforementioned Turner and defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe will be performing on-field drills on Thursday starting at 2 p.m. CT on NFL Network.
