Alabama Crimson Tide 2018 NFL Draft Prospect Preview

Alabama is a football factory program that hasn’t missed a College Football Playoff appearance under the current format, and that has captured four national titles since 2009. This past year, the Tide produced four first round draft picks, and 10 draftees overall. Depending on who declares for the 2018 draft, ‘Bama could top last year’s number. Here’s a look at this season’s draft-eligible crop…

KEY

⭐️= potential elite prospect (size/athleticism/production)

↑= potential riser

↓= potential faller/overrated

$ = major positive

⚠️= caution

+ = injury risk

# = off-field

PB = SPARQ power ball toss score (high school)

VJ = Vertical Jump (high school)

40 = 40 (high school)

SS = short shuttle (high school)

Anthony Averett CB 6’ 185 rSR ⇡

• DOB: 11/30/94⚠️
• 3-star recruit in 2013
• Reportedly ran a 4.34 40-yard dash in the spring of 2016
• VJ: 30.4”⚠️
• 40: 4.67
• SS: 4.62⚠️

Career: 21 games 40 solo tackles 3 TFL 1 SCK 2 FF 8 PBU

2016: 48 TKL (39 sol) 3 TFL 1 SCK 2 FF 8 PBU

Note: Averett has improved his speed numbers since high school, but the rest of his athletic testing, his thin frame, and age are all indicative of a low ceiling for his pro potential

Bradley Bozeman C 6’5” 314 rSR

• DOB: NA
• 4-star recruit in 2013
• VJ: 19”⚠️
• 40: 5.75⚠️
• SS: 4.89

Career: 15 starts at center

Tony Brown CB 6’ 198 SR #⇡

• DOB: 7/13/95
• 5-star recruit in 2014
• Served four-game NCAA suspension in 2016 for reportedly failing a drug test ⚠️
• PB: 38.0
• VJ: 35.9”
• 40: 4.35
• SS: 3.83

Career: 37 games 40 solo TKL 4.5 TFL 0.5 SCK 1 FF 2 INT 3 PBU

2016: 32 TKL (21 solo) 2.5 TFL 0.5 SCK 2 INT

Note: Brown is an enticing size/speed prospect, but that ability hasn’t yet translated into on-field production. If he puts it all together this year we could see his stock skyrocket

Rashaan Evans LB 6’3” 234 SR

• DOB: 11/8/95
• 5-star recruit in 2014
• Ran a reported 4.6 second 40-yard dash during 2016 spring testing
• PB: 22.0
• VJ: 38.4” $
• 40: 4.51 $
• SS: 4.27

Career: 41 games 50 solo TKL 10.5 TFL 9 SCK 1 FF 2 PBU

2016: 53 TKL (32 solo) 4.5 TFL 4 SCK 6 QBH 1 FF 2 PBU

Minkah Fitzpatrick CB 6’1” 209 JR ⭐️

• DOB: 11/17/96
• 5-star recruit in 2015
• First Team All-American and First Team All-SEC in 2016
• PB: 34.0
• VJ: 37.4”
• 40: 4.54
• SS: 3.87 $

Career: 29 games 71 solo TKL 8 TFL 3 SCK 1 FF 8 INT 18 PBU 5 TD 1 kick BLK $

2016: 66 TKL (41 solo) 5 TFL 1 SCK 1 FF 6 INT 7 PBU 2 TD

Note: Fitzpatrick is the Tide’s best prospect. Only 20 years old to start his junior year, with high-end athleticism, and coming off a six-interception season. Some evaluators peg him as a safety at the NFL level, but I would put my money on Fitzpatrick getting his first shot at corner. He has the look of a top 10-15 draft pick

Robert Foster WR 6’2” 196 rSR +

• DOB: NA
• 4-star recruit in 2013
• Missed 12 games in 2015 with a torn rotator cuff⚠️
• Timed at 4.34 seconds in the 40-yard dash in the spring of 2016
• VJ: 29.1”⚠️
• 40: 4.82
• SS: 4.34

Career: 22 games 21 REC 215 YDS 10.2 AVG 2 TD⚠️

2016: 5 REC 55 YDS 11.0 AVG

Shaun Dion Hamilton LB 6’ 233 SR +

• DOB: 9/11/95
• 4-star recruit in 2014
• Suffered an ACL tear in last year’s SEC Championship Game⚠️
• PB: 40.0
• VJ: 36.1”
• 40: 4.80
• SS: 4.06

Career: 42 games 45 solo TKL 10.5 TFL 2 SCK 1 FF 2 INT 2 PBU

2016: 64 TKL (31 solo) 9.5 TFL 2 SCK 1 QBH 1 FF 2 INT 1 PBU

Da’Shawn Hand DE 6’4” 282 SR ⇡

• DOB: 11/14/95
• 5-star recruit in 2014
• Timed at 4.8 seconds in the 40, registered a 34” vertical, and a 9’8” broad jump (at 278 pounds) during spring testing in 2016 $
• PB: 43.0
• VJ: 34.9” $
• 40: 4.95
• SS: 4.61

Career: 38 games 21 solo TKL 12 TFL 7 SCK 1 FF⚠️

2016: 21 TKL (10 solo) 3.5 TFL 2.0 SCK 5 QBH 1 FF

Note: Hand was the top recruit in the nation according to Rivals’ 2014 rankings, but it’s hard not to be disappointed in his production to this point. But the senior defensive end is a size/speed/strength freak, and he’ll see more snaps this year than seasons past, so I expect to see a breakout.

Damien Harris RB 5’11” 216 JR

• DOB: 2/11/97
• 5-star recruit in 2015
• Led the Tide in rushing yards last season
• Reportedly ran a 4.40 40-yard dash in 2016 spring testing

Career: 27 games 1194 YDS 6.2 AVG 3 TD rushing, 18 REC 112 YDS 6.2 AVG 2 TD receiving

2016: 1037 YDS 7.1 AVG 2 TD rushing, 14 REC 99 YDS 7.1 AVG 2 TD receiving

Ronnie Harrison S 6’3” 214 JR

• DOB: 4/18/97
• 4-star recruit in 2015
• Timed at 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash during spring testing in 2016
• PB: 33.0
• VJ: 33.6”
• 40: 4.86⚠️
• SS: 4.72⚠️

Career: 30 games 67 solo TKL 2.5 TFL 1 SCK 1 FF 4 INT 13 PBU 2 TD 1 kick BLK

2016: 85 TKL (56 solo) 1.5 TFL 2 QBH 2 INT 7 PBU 2 TD 1 kick BLK

Christian Miller 6’4” 240 LB rJR

• DOB: 6/16/96
• 4-star recruit in 2014
• PB: 41.0
• VJ: 38.6” $
• 40: 4.74
• SS: 4.18

Career: 27 games 5 solo TKL 2.5 TFL 2 SCK 1 PBU

2016: 16 TKL (5 solo) 2.5 TFL 2 SCK 4 QBH

Da’Ron Payne DT 6’2” 308 JR

• DOB: NA
• 5-star recruit in 2015
• PB: 37.5
• VJ: 24.7”
• 40: 5.24
• SS: 4.80

Career: 30 games 18 solo TKL 4 TFL 2 SCK 1 FF 2 PBU 1 TD

2016: 36 TKL (12 solo) 3.5 TFL 1.5 SCK 3 QBH 1 PBU 1 TD

Ross Pierschbacher G 6’4” 304 rJR ⇡

• DOB: 6/5/95
• 4-star recruit in 2014
• VJ: 23”
• 40: 5.21
• SS: 4.56

Career: 30 starts at left guard $

Note: I’m big on linemen who pickup three or four years of starting experience in college, and Pierschbacher is on track to check that box whether he declares after this season or next

Calvin Ridley WR 6’1” 190 JR ↓

DOB: 12/20/94⚠️

• 5-star recruit in 2015
• Holds school records for receptions and receiving yards by a freshman
• Reportedly ran a 4.35 40-yard dash during spring testing in 2016 $
• PB: 32.0
• VJ: 28.1”⚠️
• 40: 4.65
• SS: 4.34⚠️

Career: 30 games 161 REC 1814 YDS 11.3 AVG 14 TD receiving, 23 YDS 3.8 AVG 1 TD rushing

2016: 72 REC 769 YDS 10.7 AVG 7 TD receiving, 21 YDS 4.2 AVG 1 TD rushing

Note: Ridley has improved his 40 time during college, but the other athletic testing gives me pause. This is a player who turned 21 years old at the end of his freshman season, and will turn 23 this year. That’s going to be a sticking point as NFL scouts consider that he may be maxed out physically, and more of a possession receiver that a big-play threat

Bo Scarbrough RB 6’2” 232 rJR +

• DOB: 9/29/94⚠️
• 5-star recruit in 2014
• History of ACL injuries in high school and in 2015, and right leg fracture last January⚠️
• VJ: 31.0”
• 40: 4.59
• SS: 4.09

Career: 20 games 916 YDS 6.4 AVG 12 TD rushing, 4 REC 22 YDS 5.5 AVG receiving

2016: 812 YDS 6.5 AVG 11 TD rushing, 4 REC 22 YDS 5.5 AVG receiving

Note: Scarbrough is another prospect who is on the older side of the coin, especially for a player who still holds two years of eligibility. He produced some "wow" moments last season, but he’s been a walking injury report throughout his career. We may hear some Derrick Henry comparisons, but I don’t think Bo is on the same level. And unlike Henry, who was an absolute workhorse, Scarbrough will continue to share carries