Alabama’s remarkable run of first-round NFL Draft picks looks like it could finally come to a halt in April.
That’s the case Theo Fernandez laid out in the latest edition of BamaCentral’s “Just a Minute,” where he said he believes the Crimson Tide’s streak of 18 straight years with a first-rounder will come to an end. Alabama has had at least one player taken in the opening round every year since 2009, when the Cincinnati Bengals selected Andre Smith No. 6 overall. It’s the longest active run in the country, seven years ahead of Ohio State, and it has often featured multiple Alabama names going on Day One - including six in 2021.
Last season, Kadyn Proctor and Ty Simpson kept the streak alive. Coming into this year, the expectation was that Alabama would have another clear path to extending it, with Yhonzae Pierre, Ryan Coleman-Williams and Zabien Brown all mentioned as possible first-rounders.
But the picture has shifted.
Austin Mack, Bray Hubbard and Devan Thompkins were the other names in the conversation, though each came with major questions. Mack would have needed to win the starting job and put together a Simpson-like season, and that didn’t happen.
Hubbard would have needed a big leap, and he hasn’t made it. Fernandez said Hubbard is more likely to settle in as a fringe Day Two pick if he declares.
That leaves Thompkins as the most surprising name near the top of the Alabama board. CBS Sports ranked him No. 15 on its Big Board this week, making him the only Crimson Tide player inside the top 32. Fernandez said Thompkins has clearly helped himself this season, but also questioned how a player with that ranking can have such a limited impact.
Thompkins has the size, physicality and versatility to project well at the next level, and Fernandez noted that not every evaluation is built strictly on system fit or box-score production. Still, he pointed out that Thompkins has been a non-factor at times for Alabama and hasn’t delivered a true game-wrecking moment over the last three games.
Fernandez also said Pierre’s stock has dipped a bit because of his lack of production, while Thompkins has moved the other way. The question, he said, is whether scouts are leaning heavily on Thompkins’ first five games, projecting more upside, or simply buying into the traits.
His read: Thompkins goes early in Day Two, a little ahead of Pierre and Brown, who he said has remained solid but not quite in the can’t-miss category. As for Coleman-Williams, Fernandez suggested he may end up back in Tuscaloosa for his senior season, with Alabama money potentially matching what he would earn as a likely third-round pick in the NFL.
In Other News...
Alabama Walks Into LSU With One Distraction Nick Saban Always Warned About
Lane Kiffin has spent the week talking about the kind of challenge Alabama still presents, even in a different era. He called the Crimson Tide a highly talented group and compared them to the Alabama teams that used to set the standard under Nick Saban, which is a reminder that the respect around this matchup still runs deep on both sides.
But there is always another layer when Alabama goes to Tiger Stadium, and Saban long had a name for it. The noise, the buildup and everything wrapped around a trip to LSU can turn into the kind of rat poison he used to warn about, and this time the spotlight also lands on quarterback Keelon Russell, who will be making his first trip there. For Alabama, the game is about more than talent on paper, because in Baton Rouge the distractions can become part of the test. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Suddenly Has A Real Fight On Its Hands For Top RB Commit
Nigel Newkirks commitment has not stopped the recruiting race from heating up. The four-star running back, who remains a priority for Alabamas staff, is set to take an official visit to Ohio State for the Buckeyes home game against Oregon on Nov. 7, a notable development for a player the Crimson Tide had hoped to keep firmly in the fold through the fall.
Ohio States continued push comes even after losing another recruit, and Newkirks situation has only added intrigue because he has not played this senior season while recovering from injury. He flashed enough as a junior to make himself a coveted target, and now Alabama has real reason to keep watching the recruitment closely as the Buckeyes try to make one more serious run at him. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Run Game Problem Just Became A Huge Bye Week Focus
Alabamas ground attack looked like one of the teams early strengths, but the last three games have brought a noticeable dip in both production and efficiency against Georgia, Tennessee and Texas A&M. With the Tide headed into a bye week, the conversation around the offense has shifted toward fixing what has become a glaring issue before the schedule tightens again.
That puts extra pressure on the work being done now, especially with a pivotal road trip to LSU looming and College Football Playoff positioning still very much on the line. Mal Waldrep Jr. and Daniel Hill both addressed the need to improve the run game during the break, and Alabama will be hoping the extra time translates into something more reliable when the season resumes. [Read more 🡒]