Alabama Football: Predicting A New Alabama NFL Draft Record
By Ronald Evans
The Third Round or Later
Somewhere in the later rounds, probably the third, maybe the fourth, three more Alabama football players will be drafted. We have already discussed the bargain an NFL team will gain with Ryan Anderson. The next three will be bargains as well.
The eighth Alabama football player selected in the 2017 NFL Draft will be either Dalvin Tomlinson or Ardarius Stewart. While we expect both to go in the third round, a few experts have Tomlinson not being drafted until the fifth or sixth round.
Dalvin Tomlinson
Dalvin Tomlinson is an enigma. This superb athlete turned down a scholarship to Harvard to play Alabama football. The bright, soft-spoken young man excelled at defensive line for the Tide. That his quiet game did not garner major media attention is not indicative of his potential in the NFL. In the third or fourth round, Tomlinson could be a steal similar to Ryan Anderson.
Ardarius Stewart
Ardarius Stewart should make an NFL roster on toughness alone. He can also be a competent NFL possession receiver and kick returner. At just a shade over 6 feet, he does not have the height preferred in NFL starting receivers. He is a determined blocker and a strong runner. Most draft experts have Ardarius being chosen in the fourth round.
Eddie Jackson
Eddie Jackson has not played football since October. Had he not suffered a broken leg, Jackson would likely to have been picked early in the second round. Eddie missed the NFL Combine workouts and Alabama’s Pro Day as well.
In recent workouts for teams, Jackson declined to be timed in the 40-yard dash. Jackson may not have had time to fully recover from his injury and condition himself for a solid 40 time.
Unfortunately with his injury history also including a torn ACL, not being timed in the 40 may push Eddie down to the fourth round or lower.
Ten players poised to make Alabama football NFL draft history. More importantly, they are on the threshold of a well-earned and richly deserved payoff for their years of hard work.
Former Alabama football players Gehrig Dieter, Cole Mazza and Brandon Greene will also be hoping for an NFL phone call. For these three, joining the NFL will most likely come by way of a rookie free agent contract.
Next: Post Spring Tide Depth Chart
Whatever the final NFL Draft numbers, Alabama football will again assert its dominance as the nation’s premier program for aspiring NFL players.