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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama football program has called a press conference for noon (ET) Friday regarding the decisions of underclassmen who have been considering whether or not to declare themselves eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft.
Safety Landon Collins, wide receiver Amari Cooper and running back T.J. Yeldon are expected to make their departures official. The two unanimous All-Americans are expected to be first-round selections, and possibly go in the first 10 picks, while Yeldon probably couldn’t improve his draft status by returning for another season.
As for how the Crimson Tide can replace those players, the simple answer is that it can’t. But here’s how the 2015 team looks at those three positions:
Safety
Collins is the third Alabama safety to leave early in two years, and the fifth Crimson Tide defensive back in four years. He led the team in tackles this past season, while free safety Nick Perry and nickel back Jarrick Williams used up their eligibility.
Geno Smith and Hootie Jones might be the players working with the first unit at the start of the spring, but this could be the most heated competition of the offseason. In addition to Maurice Smith, Jonathan Cook, Ronnie Clark and Jabriel Washington vying for more playing time, prize recruits Deionte Thompson and Ronnie Harrison have already enrolled. The coaches could also move a player from cornerback.
Wide receiver
With 124 receptions for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns, Cooper accounted for 43 percent of Alabama’s catches, 44 percent of the yards and 50 percent of the receiving touchdowns this past season. Factor in outgoing seniors DeAndrew White and Christion Jones and those percentages go up to 50.7, 64.1 and 65.6 respectively.
If you go by pure numbers the next three up would be Chris Black, ArDarius Stewart and Cam Sims, although don’t forget about Raheem Falkins, who has played in 15 games without a reception. This will be a huge spring for all of them along with former 5-star prospect Robert Foster and Derek Kief, who redshirted in 2014. Alabama didn’t have a wide receiver enroll in January, although 5-star prospect Calvin Ridley was reportedly close.
Running back
Although Yeldon was considered the starter, Derrick Henry actually finished with more rushing yards (990 to 979), and now becomes the primary ball carrier. Kenyan Drake hopes to be back in the spring after sustaining a fractured leg at Ole Miss, while Alabama also has Altee Tenpenny and Tyren Jones on the roster.
It’s looking like a crowded backfield as former 5-star prospect Bo Scarbrough has finally enrolled, as has DeSherrius Flowers, who might be destined to be the next Jalston Fowler at fullback/H-back. Regardless, the last time Alabama had this many talented running backs a couple eventually ended up transferring.
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
