UPDATE: Recap of the Alabama Crimson Tide at the NFL Combine

The big auditions are over and overall, it was a pretty good NFL Combine for the Alabama players.

GOOD AS ADVERTISED:

• DB Minkah Fitzpatrick (HT: 6-0 1/8, WT: 204, Hand: 9 3/,8 Arm: 31 1/4, Wingspan: 75 1/8, 14 bench reps, 4.47 in 40, 10-1 in broad jump) - Minkah did and said everything right. Despite already being a lock for the first round, he went after every drill 100% and looked like an NFL starter. 1st ROUND, #4, 5,or 6.
• WR Calvin Ridley (HT: 6’0-1/2”, WT: 189, Hand: 9 1/8, Arm: 31 5/8, Wingspan: 75 3/4, 15 bench reps, 4.44 in 40 - 6th fastest WR) - His numbers were solid. Ridley didn’t need to be mindblowing. He is clearly the top WR in this year’s draft. 1st ROUND, #8 to the Bears seems a popular mock.
• DL Da’Ron Payne (HT: 6-2 1/2, WT: 311, Hand: 9 3/8, Arm: 33, Wingspan: 78 3/8, 27 reps, 4.91 in 40, 28 1/2 vertical, broad 8-11) Payne really impressed, especially with his 4.91 in the 40 at 311 pounds! - 1st ROUND, middle of the round.
• P JK Scott (HT: 6-6, WT: 204, Arms: 33 1/8, Hands: 9 1/8, 30” vertical, 4.84 in the 40, Broad Jump 9’6”!) C’mon, seriously? A punter running a 4.84 and jumping 9’6”? Insane. - 6th ROUND

IMPROVED STOCK:

• DB Tony Brown (HT: 5-11 7/8, WT: 199, Hand: 9 1/4, Arm: 31 1/2, Wingspan: 74 3/4, 14 bench, 4.35 in 40) You knew he would be fast in the 40 but he was killing it in the drills as well. Tony looked fast and used excellent technique. If he had one more year at Alabama, he would be an All-American. The NFL Network guys raved about him. Deion Sanders said: “He looks good, man. He’s feeling it too.” - Could move as high as the 4th ROUND
• DB Anthony Averett (HT: 5-11 1/8, WT: 183, Hand: 8 1/2, Arm: 30 1/4, Wingspan: 71 5/8, 14 bench, 4.36 in 40) Tested really well and a great 40 time. - Could move up into the 2nd ROUND.
• WR Robert Foster (HT: 6-1 5/8, WT: 196, Hand: 9 1/4, Arm: 32 1/8, Wingspan: 77 1/4, DNP in bench, 4.41 in 40 - 3rd fastest WR) Demonstrated his speed and agility, and showed he belonged at the Combine. He could be on the rise. All it takes is one team to fall in love. - Maybe 6th, or 7th ROUND.

• DB Levi Wallace (HT: 6-0 1/4, WT: 179, Hand: 9 3/8, Arm: 32 3/4, Wingspan: 77 3/8, DNP in bench, 4.48 in 40) Levi looked really good (see above). Alabama fans know his story while others across the country are just learning about the unheralded former walk-on turned shut-down corner. - Don’t be surprised if he moves to the 4th ROUND with an outside shot at 3rd. Anything later will be a steal for that team.
• DL Da’Shawn Hand (HT: 6-3 5/8, WT: 297, Hand: 9 3-4, Arm: 34 3/8, Wingspan: 80 5/8, 28 bench, broad 9-3, 4.83 in 40 - fastest time for anyone over 283 lbs., 31.5 vertical) A solid showing for Hand. - 3rd ROUND.

MEH

• LB Rashaan Evans (HT: 6-1 7/8, WT: 232, Hand: 10, Arm: 32 2/8, Wingspan: 77 1/4, DNP in bench or 40, 30 vertical) I am not going to say he had a bad combine, but what is the purpose of skipping the 40 and the bench press? He backed out of the Senior Bowl to “prepare for the Combine.” He should’ve been ready. Evans will have a second opportunity to shows his skills at Alabama’s Pro Day, on Wednesday, March 7 but this is the big audition. Every coach and GM is in the house. The Pro Day might have a few head coaches and guys are running in the comforts of their own practice facility. - This choice probably dropped his chance of being a first rounder. 2nd ROUND seems more likely.
• DB Ronnie Harrison (HT: 6-2, WT: 207, Hand: 9 1/2, Arm: 33 3/8, Wingspan: 80 3/8, DNP bench, DNP in 40 - One report said Ronnie claimed to be nursing a sore hamstring, and after warming up, he decided not to run the 40.) Here again, Ronnie skipped a few drills. He too may have hurt his chances at sneaking into the back end of round 1. Will need a big Pro Day - 2nd ROUND.
• RB Bo Scarbrough (HT: 6-1 3/8, WT: 228, Hand: 10”, Arm: 33 1/2, Wingspan: 80 3/8; 14 bench, 40” vertical - 2nd best among RBs, Broad Jump 11’4” - second best for a RB since 1999, 4.52 in 40 - sixth best of RBs) Unfortunately for Bo, this draft is loaded with running backs. He could’ve helped himself with some mind-blowing efforts. His broad jump and vertical were impressive but it’s a bit surprising he could only get the bar up 14 times. It wasn’t a bad workout, but it wasn’t great either. - 6th ROUND, maybe 5th if someone goes back and watches the 2016 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl enough times.
• DL Joshua Frazier (HT: 6-2 7/8, WT: 321, Hand: 10, Arm: 34 1/4, Wingspan: 79 5/8, 22 reps, DNP in 40 or vertical) Didn’t do much to help himself in a deep DL draft. He skipped many events. Maybe he is hurt? I dunno. - 7th ROUND or undrafted.

OTHER

• LB Shaun Dion Hamilton (HT: 5-11 3/4, WT: 228, Hand: 10 1/4, Arm: 31, Wingspan: 76 1/2, 20 reps) SDH was not able to participate in drills due to the ongoing rehab on his knee. But the fact he was invited is a good sign that teams are interested. - 5th ROUND

NFL RANKINGS

The NFL.com rankings of Alabama players at the Combine:

All of these predictions look pretty fair except Hamilton. It is bewildering how much observers are sleeping on him. Granted he has had the knee injuries, but there is no denying when healthy, he is a excellent football player.

Offensive center Bradley Bozeman was not invited to Indianapolis but likely falls somewhere between “5.50-5.99 Chance to become NFL starter” and “5.20-5.49 NFL backup or special teams potential”.

PRO DAY

Alabama’s 2018 Pro Day will take place Wednesday, March 7, and air on the SEC Network from noon until 2pm CT. Greg McElroy will be on hand. The participants will likely do many of the same events and also get some hands on workouts with NFL assistant coaches, upon request. These drills are usually ones the players learn on the spot.

UPDATE: The following player will participate:

• Bradley Bozeman
• Rashaan Evans
• Robert Foster
• Josh Frazier
• Da’Shawn Hand
• JC Hassenauer
• Austin Johnson (walk-on)
• Jamar King
• Calvin Ridley
• Bo Scarbrough
• JK Scott
• Cam Sims
• Levi Wallace

According to a release from Alabama, Anthony Averett, Tony Brown, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Shaun Dion Hamilton, Ronnie Harrison and Da’Ron Payne will be participating in meetings but are not scheduled to work out. Although recovering from his knee injury suffered in the IronBowl, Hootie Jones is also expected to be available.