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To no one’s surprise, two of Alabama’s biggest stars will be entering the NFL draft this spring. Amari Cooper and T.J. Yeldon will both forgo their final year of eligibility and declare for the draft, according to a report from ESPN.com’s Chris Low.
Cooper’s decision was a foregone conclusion after the junior wide receiver’s record-setting season, especially after Lane Kiffin told the media he fully expected Cooper to leave school. Cooper set Alabama single-season and career records for catches, touchdowns and yards in his junior year, also setting the SEC single-season catches record.
Draft experts nearly unanimously project the Heisman finalist to be a first round pick, and many view him as a top-10 selection. ESPN draft expert Todd McShay thinks that Cooper could go No. 6 overall to the New York Jets and said he could challenge Shane Ray as the first SEC player selected.
Yeldon’s move is not a surprise, either, especially after the running back was banged up for much of his junior year. Yeldon fell just short of a second consecutive 1,000 yard season as he dealt with a variety of injuries.
Running backs have not been a priority in the early rounds in the last few NFL drafts, but Yeldon is part of a deep group of draft-eligible backs that could start to buck that trend. While Yeldon will not likely be a first round selection, most experts view him as a second or third round pick.
Earlier on Thursday, reports came out that Alabama safety Landon Collins will also skip his senior season in favor of the NFL. Collins is widely viewed as the top safety prospect in this year’s draft and will likely be a first round pick.
A former freelance journalist from Philadelphia, Brett has made the trek down to SEC country to cover the greatest conference in college football.
