If he doesn’t sign with an agent…or if somehow he doesn’t get drafted…is he available to return to the team? Or is the fact that he had contact with the NFL at all means he’s gone?

will probably not be anywhere near what they were this year if he stayed because of the O-Line situation. So it probably is the best thing for him to go ahead and go pro.

And if he does go, Trent Richardson can now look at Bama as an opportunity where he can step in and make an impact as a freshman. That wasn’t looking like the case if Coffee stays.

Remember, we went into this past season with significant RB questions. If you would’ve told me in August that Coffee would declare for the draft in January … and have a legit case … I would’ve said you were outta your damn mind. While Ingram seesawed between dominant stretches and playing like a freshman, he was barely on the radar in preseason. And we’d all but given up on Upchurch. If anything, we probably figured a healthy Grant was what the offense needed. And then 2008 happened.

While our O line figures to be a work-in-progress, it’s much easier to learn run-blocking schemes than pass-blocking. It’s also easier for a freshman RB (yes, I’m looking at you Richardson) to make an immediate impact, similar to Ingram. Just don’t be surprised if we’re surprised come next September with the production from our RBs.

Now WRs, that’s another story …

With question marks on the ‘09 OL, (hasn’t he already had knee surgery?) this just might be the best resume’ season he will have to offer the NFL. Why not go ahead and use it? To me, it seems like too big of a gamble to stay at this point in HIS particular situation. It just seems like a good decision on this side of it…….

because him coming back would in a sense be a gamble since the line will be new. But it is also a gamble about his draft status. I think he will be no better than the 10th RB picked and a 3rd or 4th round pick at best. The question is, “Are there 10 teams out there in the NFL so in need of a RB that they would give a big check to the 10th back picked?” NO.

And, although he did have some long runs this year, I still don’t see him as a break away threat.

What he loses by not coming back is a degree, which he can always get later but it is harder later. A degree is something they can’t take away from you and you will always have it. How many athletes have we seen leave early when they were not an Andre Smith only 10 years later to see the guy mowing the grass for the county recreation department?

i agree with the comments that Coffee’s numbers will most likely be down next year, so NFL wise, it’s probably better for him to leave.

i guess the positive is more carries for Ingram and Richardson next year.

and i think ultimately whether it was a good decision or not, will likely be hashed in in the combine. if coffee doesn’t make any big noise and goes second day it might look like a mistake. if he looks better than some of those dudes listed with him on this page, add in the 1 extra year, and it was great choice. same goes for next season. if the O line isn’t great to start off the year and his numbers suffer, but he shows up well in the 2010 combine, then he’s likely still getting a good pick….. either way he can make more money or let it slip away at the combine, so he’d better be sure he can put up several reps of the 225 lbs bench press.

how even third round money is big money and maybe Coffee’s family is in financial straits, but all I can think is “I hate sandcastles”.