Former Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus worked out at the NFL Combine on Monday. TideSports was on hand in Indianapolis to talk with Dareus and see what the analysts had to say about his draft position.

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40-yard dash: 4.93 seconds

Vertical jump: 27 inches

Bench press (225 pounds): 24 reps

Draft projection: Early first round

TSS prediction: No. 1 to CAR

NFL comparison: DE Gerard Warren, NE

"Dareus has a strange build, but he's big, he's strong, and he's as quick as I've ever seen for a guy that size. He's just such a good athlete. It won't surprise me if he's the first defensive tackle taken. He can play whatever you want him to play. Legitimately, if you run a 3-4, he can 2-gap if you need him to. I think he's at his best when he can move around. What he really does well is get in your pads, find the ball, get rid of you and go pursue. But he can do anything. He's played outside, inside, everywhere."

"It's interesting. A couple of the GMs were asked here and everyone is saying 4-3, definitely 4-3. There seems to be no doubt about it. We'll see what happens in the draft and who drafts him. We know he's a rock-solid first round pick. He'll go somewhere in the top 10. Obviously, he's very, very talented, a good kid. Alabama's got a kid who's going to play in the league a long time. I think it's going to be interesting to see what happens with him.

"I think he's the safest defensive tackle in this year's draft class. He uses his hands well. He's strong, physical and the biggest thing is that he's got such a great motor. He plays on every single play. The reality is that half of the teams in the NFL are using that 3-4 alignment. His ability to play inside as a 4-3 defensive tackle and outside in a 3-4, that type of versatility is going to make him a highly-rated prospect for every single team in the league.

"I think with Marcell, he hasn't played all that much football. That's the one thing I worry about with him. He had the great national title game, and I remember talking to guys on the Duke staff who played Alabama the second or third week of the season and said he's the difference maker there. I think he's a guy who's going to wear people down, make some plays in the backfield. Depending on where he goes, which system, I think he'll be a really good player."

"Nick Fairley had a great year this year. I have nothing against him. He went out there and he played his butt off this year. I have nothing against Fairley. He's a great competitor. He made the plays, and he did that himself. Nobody's going to take that from him."

"I think playing with Coach Saban and playing in the defense that we played in, it was a pro-style defense. I'm ready for the league. We did all the thing that NFL teams would do and the things that came with it, a lot of stunts and a lot of things we had to learn, a lot of coverages and calls. I'm ready for all that."

"I describe myself as a nice guy. I'm a real nice guy. Everybody I tackle, I pretty much help them up, but I'm coming after them the next play."