A look at Alabama's 10 players at the NFL Combine
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The NFL Combine will once again feature plenty of Crimson and White, as Alabama sends 10 former players to the national showcase in Indianapolis from Feb. 28 to March 6. The 10 invitees are the most by any school in the SEC, while Alabama is second to only Michigan which has 14 players attending the event.
Here's a look at who is attending from the Crimson Tide
Defensive lineman
6-3, 291 pounds
NFL grade: 6.81
Outlook: Allen took home the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, Ted Hendricks Award and Rotary Lombardi Award last season after leading the Tide with 10.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hurries. He also recovered three fumbles, two of which he returned for touchdowns, and was tied for second on the team with 16 tackles for a loss. The star defensive lineman will almost certainly be the first Alabama player taken in the draft and even has an outside chance of being selected as the No. 1 player overall. Allen is projected as a top-five pick in the NFL Draft.
Linebacker
6-1, 228 pounds
Outlook: 6.43
In 2016: Foster earned the Butkus Award after leading Alabama with 115 tackles last year. He also finished fourth on the team with 13 tackles for a loss and sacks with five. Foster won’t be participating in any of the drills at the combine as he recovers from rotator cuff surgery. However, he will meet with teams for interviews during the event. Foster is projected as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft.
Tight end
6-6, 249 pounds
NFL grade: 6.51
Outlook: Thought to be underutilized at Alabama, Howard finished third on the team in receiving with 595 yards and three touchdowns on 45 receptions. He improved is draft status with a good week of practice at the Senior Bowl in January, moving from a fringe first-rounder to inside the top 15 on several draft boards. Howard is projected as a first-round pick in the NFL Draft.
Defensive back
6-1, 196 pounds
NFL grade: 6.16
Outlook: Starting the year off with a bang, Humphrey returned an interception for a touchdown in the Tide’s season opener against Southern California. He finished the year with two interceptions and five pass breakups. The track star is one player who should benefit from the combine, as it will give him an opportunity to showcase his elite size and speed at the position. Humphrey is projected to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft.
Offensive tackle
6-6, 326 pounds
NFL grade: 6.16
Outlook: Robinson earned the Outland Award while also claiming the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy last season. He started all 43 games at left tackle since enrolling at Alabama before the 2014 season. Robinson will have to shake off some questions about his character after being arrested before the season. However, the permanent team captain said he is prepared to do so and is eager to show NFL teams that he has matured. Robinson is projected to be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft.
Linebacker
6-4, 252 pounds
NFL grade: 6.24
Outlook: Williams finished tied for second on the team with 16 tackles for a loss and nine sacks and also finished second in quarterback hurries with 12. The disruptive pass-rusher forced two fumbles and batted down two passes. While Williams’ freakish speed and athleticism off the edge is a coveted asset, he will need to prove to NFL scouts that he is not can also play against the run at the next level. He’ll also need to show he has matured from some off-the-field issues while at Alabama. Williams is projected as a first or second-round pick in the NFL Draft.
Linebacker
6-2, 258 pounds
NFL grade: 5.89
Outlook: One of the most underrated players on Alabama’s defense, Anderson finished the season as the team leader in tackles for a loss with 19. He also led the team with four forced fumbles and was tied for second with nine sacks. Anderson broke up three passes and intercepted one for a touchdown during the Peach Bowl against Washington. He will look to prove to scouts that he has the athleticism to warrant a top pick. Anderson is projected as a second or third-round pick in the NFL Draft.
Wide receiver
6-1, 204 pounds
NFL grade: Not announced
Outlook: Stewart led the Tide with 864 yards and eight touchdowns on 54 receptions last season. Although, despite his impressive year, his decision to leave early caught a few people by surprise. When he declared for the draft, he told reporters that he received a second-round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board. Mel Kiper Jr. seemed to have the same opinion of Stewart during a teleconference earlier in the year. He is definitely a sleeper to watch for Alabama and could catch people by surprise on draft day. Stewart is projected to go in the second round of the NFL Draft.
Defensive lineman
6-3, 312 pounds
NFL grade: 5.64
Outlook: Tomlinson led all Alabama defensive linemen with four pass breakups while also adding seven quarterback hurries, 62 tackles 5.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks last season. However, playing on the opposite side of Allen often left him outside the spotlight. A team-first guy, Tomlinson never minded being overlooked due to Allen's success. Although, he probably won’t mind drawing some extra looks in Indianapolis. Tomlinson is projected to go in the third or fourth round of the NFL Draft.
Safety
6-0, 194 pounds
NFL grade: 5.4
Outlook: Jackson’s senior season was cut short after he fractured his leg against Texas A&M. Before that, he was the NCAA leader in punt returns, averaging 23 yards per return while bringing back two touchdowns. Jackson also had an interception returned for a touchdown and had two pass deflections through eight games. A leader both before and after his injury, Jackson was one of the most respected players on the team. It will be interesting to see how much he has recovered from the injury during the combine. If he’s healthy, expect his stock to rise drastically. Jackson is projected to go in the third or fourth round of the NFL Draft.