Alabama Football Representing on Kiper’s Big Board
Mel Kiper’s “Way Too Early” Top 25 draft Big Board was released Wednesday, and several Crimson Tide players are already getting looks to go early in the 2017 NFL draft.
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It’s shaping up to be yet another dominant football season for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and thankfully some very important players will be returning for another year at the Capstone. Football Guru Mel Kiper released his “Way too Early” 2017 NFL Draft Big Board yesterday, and it gave some insight as to the possible draft position of the most highly-rated players across the country, including three from Alabama. Personal opinions aside about the “all knowing” Kiper, he is rarely wrong about his top 25 big boards.
If Kiper’s streak of correctness continues (and it probably will), then Alabama should have another grand showing in the first round of next year’s draft. We weren’t surprised that Alabama had three players to make Mel’s top 25. The highest-rated player, however, is probably not who many of us would have guessed.
#12 Jonathan Allen (DE)
Allen was an important piece to Alabama’s defensive line this past season (36 tackles and 12 sacks), and is expected to play that same role this fall. It surprised everyone when Jonathan announced that he was returning to school for his senior season because all of the mock drafts had him going mid 1st round or early 2nd.
With another stellar season up ahead, Allen can assure his place in the first round for the 2017 NFL draft, Kiper added that Allen was a defensive force to be reckoned with last season, but needs to work on versatility on both ends to get more looks from NFL organizations.
#7 Cam Robinson (OL)
While some may still be questioning whether or not Cam Robinson will return for his senior season, it’s pretty evident to most that Robinson will declare for the draft after his upcoming junior year.
He will be one of (if not THE) most sought after offensive lineman, and teams that are picking early are usually in the market for an Offensive Tackle.
Kiper’s consensus was that Cam has a long list of Pros and almost no Cons as he enters the 2016 season. He’s quick, has a large wingspan, is a perfect size for his position, and almost never gets beaten on the outside.
Robinson already has 32 starts for the Crimson Tide under his belt, and would likely have been taken early in the first round of this year’s draft if he had been eligible.
# 2 Tim Williams (OLB)
I’m guessing that most of you are as shocked about Tim being this highly ranked as I was. He is an explosive player, but it is definitely rare for a third-down specialist to be number two on a Big Board. Though Scott Cochran’s strength coaching has bulked up the once scrawny linebacker, I still think of Williams as he was his freshman year – appearing to 190 pounds soaking wet.
This leads me to believe that not only Mel Kiper, but also the NFL thinks that Williams can be as destructive on first and second downs as he was on third tries last year. Kiper observed that Williams was the “most feared pass rusher in the nation last year”. He racked up 19 tackles (12.5 for loss) and 10.5 sacks last season and that is just playing on 3rd downs.
According to Kiper: “If Tim WIlliams can prove that he can be as fierce on an every play basis then he will earn himself a fortune in 2017.”
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Other Notables Outside the Top 25:
OJ Howard and Reuben Foster were both mentioned, but ranked outside of Mel Kiper’s Top 25. He added that OJ needs to work on blocking and holding on to the ball more consistently before he could be of high value to NFL teams. Kiper’s take on Reuben was that he needs to bulk up and prove himself every play. Foster has been a definite asset to Alabama’s team, but like Howard, must prove he can step up as a playmaker consistently to be considered a top draft prospect.