MOBILE | The University of Alabama asked a lot of Kenyan Drake during his four years in Tuscaloosa. He’s being asked to show all of that off this week at the Senior Bowl.
The former Crimson Tide running back is doing much more than carrying the ball while auditioning for NFL teams. He’s also coming out of the backfield catching passes and getting as much work as he can on special teams.
“I try to pride myself on being very versatile whether that’s lining up in the backfield, being an every down back or coming out of the backfield catching a ball, lining up as a receiver, or even playing special teams and not just returning the ball, but playing kickoff, punt and punt return,” he said. “Everything that coaches have asked of me, I’ve tried to do that.”
Drake said he has a role on all but three special teams units at the Senior Bowl this week. Some of those roles are familiar. He’s spending time as a kick returner, flashing the same skills that he showed with a 95-yard touchdown return in the national championship.
He’s also branching out. He was lined up as a protector in the backfield on the punting unit during the first day of practice.
That’s part of his pitch to NFL teams. With smaller rosters in the pros than in college, teams need fewer players who can do more. Drake did more than many during his time in college.
“I line up at different positions at punt and punt return (this week) that I’m not familiar with, but I’ve had experience on every special team since I’ve been at ‘Bama,” he said. “It’s nothing new to me.”
He was working with the first team offense when practice opened on Tuesday, but that could change throughout the week. All-star games like the Senior Bowl are designed to rotate every player on the roster. Drake said he thought his time with the first team was more a matter of organization than anything else.
He might not be a starter on Saturday, or to begin his NFL career, but there may be a place for him yet.
"I think he has a great future because he's sort of a specialty back,” UA head coach Nick Saban said earlier this week. “He's a great receiver, will be a great third down back. He can play receiver or play running back. He's a very good special teams player. So I think everybody is looking for guys like Kenyan Drake."
Drake has signed with Pat Dye Jr. to represent him. He’ll be training for the draft at IMG Academy in Florida.
He said he’s met with several NFL teams this week. When they ask about his college experience, he doesn’t just tell them about everything he can do on the field, but everything he went through off it as well.
“I was able to overcome a lot of adversity on and off the field, go out there and give my best effort,” he said. “I feel like once I overcame those things, it gives me an edge. Every week in the NFL, the play or the game isn’t going to go the way you want to but the ability to have that fortitude to overcome something that is negative really gives me an edge.”
When he gets on the field, he has plenty of places he can show that off.
“I want to be an every down back in general,” Drake said. “So I pride myself on being a running back, first and foremost, and running the ball out of the backfield and having the toughness to do that down-in and down-out is what I want to do first and foremost, but also catching the ball out of the backfield and giving myself that versatility makes me a little more valuable.”
Reach Ben Jones at ben@tidesports.com or 205-722-0196.
