Alabama Football: NFL Combine begins and draft profiles for Tide stars

The NFL Draft process begins in earnest on Tuesday at the annual Combine. Former Alabama football players seek to enhance their status before the NFL Draft in April.

The NFL Combine begins Tuesday In Indianapolis. The first group of multiple day arrivals includes former Alabama football players Jonah Williams, Ross Piersbacher, Damien Harris and Josh Jacobs.

Eleven former Alabama football players were invited to the Combine. The ten who will attend are the four referenced above, plus Irv Smith Jr., Isaiah Buggs, Quinnen Williams, Christian Miller, Mack Wilson and Saivion Smith. Deionte Thompson was also invited. Thompson will not work out due to a recent wrist injury that required surgery. He is also expected to miss the Alabama Football Pro Day on Mar. 19.

The former college players arrive at the Combine over a four-day span. The first actual workouts begin on Mar. 1 for the ST, PK, OL and RB positions. View the complete Combine schedule here.

Over the last few weeks, Draft projections have included up to six for Alabama football players drafted in the first round. Longtime NFL insider, Peter King predicts the first four picks in the Draft will be defensive linemen. King projects Quinnen Willaims will be the overall No. 2 pick in the Draft after Nick Bosa.

NFL Media Analyst, Daniel Jeremiah released his projected Top 50 picks on Monday. Five former Alabama football players made Jeremiah’s list. They were Quinnen Williams at No. 2; Josh Jacobs at No. 6; Jonah Williams at No. 15; Irv Smith Jr. at No. 25 and Mack Wilson at No. 49.

Bama Online reported on comments made by Jeremiah about some of the former Crimson Tide players during a media conference call.

Talking about Jonah Williams, he said,

"I think he has a chance to be special inside. I think, to me, that’s where he fits best. Some of his length issues, he’s not a real long guy, showed up in the Clemson game this year, showed up in the Clemson game last year, where guys kind of get into his chest and he struggles a little bit on the edge. So, I like him kicking inside. He is a dominating run blocker.I know some teams actually like him at center. I think he has a chance to be a perennial Pro Bowl guard with the way that he plays."

On Mack Wilson,

"Mack Wilson dropped a little bit on my list. I thought his play kind of trailed off down the year at the end of the year. He’s somebody that has all the athletic ability in the world. We’ll see at the Combine, can he have a great workout and kind of try to recapture a little bit of momentum."

On Deionte Thompson,

"I don’t think Deionte Thompson finished up the season the way you’d want to finish it up. That Clemson game put a lot of doubt in some people’s minds of can he really run? That was a concern there."

Alabama football fans should remember experts like Peter King and Daniel Jeremiah are just two of a few dozen NFL Draft prognosticators. Among the larger group, there are broad differences in the opinions of players’ Draft chances. Much later in the process, the experts, like King, who is close to current NFL GMs, will have the best information.

The NFL Draft is not open to the public. All the workout sessions are broadcast live on Mar. 1 through Mar. 4.

Can the Crimson Tide set new team Draft records this year? The Tide set a team record last year with 12 players drafted. It also tied the Alabama football record of four First Round Picks.