Alabama Football: Crimson Tide’s 2022 NFL Combine update
By Dakota Cox
How are Alabama football players doing?
The 2022 NFL Combine is underway, and plenty of Alabama football players are in attendance. However, most of them are unable to participate in athletic testing due to existing injuries. Star receivers like Jameson Williams and John Metchie are recovering from postseason knee injuries, and corners Josh Jobe and Jalyn Armour-Davis are also unable to participate.
Also, Evan Neal decided to wait until his Pro Day to perform athletic testing. Most of the buzz around him has focused on his weight and body composition. He’s incredibly athletic despite being 337 lbs.
Because of that, we only have two former Alabama football players competing in athletic drills so far. We will have more information once defenders step onto the field, but the data so far is from Slade Bolden and Brian Robinson.
Bolden had the slowest 40-yard dash from receivers, but he showed some abilities during his time with the Tide. He’s not known for speed, so his testing shouldn’t hurt him. He still has a chance to be drafted on Day 3, and he’ll be a priority undrafted free agent if he is available.
Robinson ran a 4.53, which put him in the middle of the pack with running backs this year. He was faster than college stars Kyren Williams and Kennedy Brooks, but slower than top-ranked prospects like Kenneth Murray and Breece Hall. With his size, this is a solid time to run.
We still need measurements from players like Chris Allen, Phil Mathis and Christian Harris. This will give us information on what to expect from the defensive side of the ball, and some of these players will be priority targets on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
Without Evan Neal or Jameson Williams, there will be no star that shines for Alabama football. Still, this is a great opportunity for former players to move up the boards.