Alabama Pro Day

With each year of success on the football field more and more NFL teams are drawn to the University of Alabama campus.  Not only to watch some great games during the season or to speak with coaches and lure them away to the “big leagues” but to evaluate potential NFL prospects.  Today was no different and it was a big deal for this “big league” University with all 32 NFL teams coming into Tuscaloosa for the 2013 Pro Day where Alabama has 12 draft-eligible players participating in the evaluations.  ESPN satellite truck, reports, photographers, scouts and coaches all came to the becomingly annual event to see who was going to make the lasting impressions.

“It says a lot about the total program, all the people in it and the great team we have here – whether it’s in personal development or academic success, developing players and being able to recruit character quality people who will represent the program and develop in the program,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said.

Draft-eligible Crimson Tide athletes that participated were: D.J. Fluker, Kelly Johnson, Nico Johnson, Barrett Jones, Robert Lester, Jeremy Shelley, Damion Square, Carson Tinker, Chance Warmack, Ranzell Watkins, Jesse Williams and Michael Williams.

Players started the day on Wednesday in their new Alabama weight room and Hank Crisp Indoor Facility. As the players completed the event ESPN’s online broadcasters would announce some of the statistics.  In the weight room portion of the Crimson Tide’s Pro Day event:

Broad Jump

Michael Williams: 8’1

Carson Tinker: 7’9

Kelly Johnson: 9’2

Nico Johnson: 9’2.5

Robert Lester: 10’1

Vertical Jump*

Robert Lester: 34.5″

Michael Williams: 35.5″

Chance Warmack: 24.5″

Bench Press Reps

Kelly Johnson: 19

Robert Lester: 7

Damion Square: 23

Carson Tinker: 17

Barrett Jones: 27

Ranzell Watkins: 10

* Vertical jump results only announced for selected players on the ESPN3 broadcast.

Dee Milliner, Quinton Dial and Eddie Lacy also weighed in and were measured, but did not work out for scouts on Wednesday due to injuries. “It’s frustrating, but at the end of the day there’s nothing you can do but rehab and get better for next time, so I’m still working on that.” Lacy says “hopefully the next pro day we have I’ll be ready to go.” After not being able to participate at the NFL Combine Jones and Square were able to bench press and turned in good numbers with 27 and 23 reps, respectively.

After finishing in the weight room they moved to the indoor football facility where they completed the 40-yard dash, agility testing and position specific position drills.  Take a look at some of the results as announced on ESPN’s online broadcast of the event in the speed testing portion of the Crimson Tide’s Pro Day event.

40-Yard Dash

Kelly Johnson: 5.0

Nico Johnson: 4.73/4.89

Robert Lester: 4.65/4.81

Carson Tinker: 5.19

Ranzell Watkins: 4.91

Jesse Williams: 4.9

Michael Williams: 5.4

20-Yard Shuttle

Nico Johnson: 4.47

Chance Warmack: 4.97

Jesse Williams: 4.78

Michael Williams: 4.9/4.88

3 Cone Drill

Jesse Williams: 7.69

Michael Williams: 8.1

Chance Warmack: 7.9

Defensive lineman Jesse Williams opted out of participating in the 40-yard dash at the recent NFL Scouting Combine.  He put to rest any curiosity of NFL scouts with a strong showing at the Alabama Pro Day with an impressive time of 4.9 seconds.  Big, strong, and speed should put Williams in the top tier of NFL prospects come April.

Also looking to make an impression with the scouts was safety Robert Lester after a less than memorable NFL Scouting Combine last month.  Most of Lester’s numbers were better than before including his 40-yard dash of 4.65 seconds.  His most impressive stat was the vertical jump of 34.5 inches and the broad jump of 10 feet, 1 inch.

Not only did each player participate in the weight lifting, running and jumping but position drills were another highlight where D.J. Fluker and Chance Warmack displayed their extra large size and speed.  After seeing these two giants collide on a few occasions with the blocking pad there is no doubt that both will live up the expectations of being first-round picks next month.  Oh, and by the way, I think they will need to just throw that blocking pad away after being crushed between these two several times today.  D.J. Fluker talks about what it’s like working out with Chance, “He’s a good teammate. I always try to push him, try to get better. Any time we go at it, we always try to push each other.”  Warmack said. “It’s fun just being with your teammates, your brother. It’s just fun to have a guy that you know working out with you.”

It was a busy day for the players, coaches and scouts as the draft is right around the corner. Every player understands the importance of these events and how it can impact their next step.  “Just to get an opportunity to play in the National

Football League is something special. Not everybody gets to play in the National Football League so, to get that opportunity will be something special and I’ll take advantage of it.” said Nico Johnson.  These players are working hard every day to improve and get better which was instilled in them by Coach Saban.  Will it make a difference in them playing in the NFL or scout team or not even making it to a team?  ”It does. The way Coach Saban has the program set up with focus on discipline it helps us move on to the next level.” says Jessie Williams.

NFL teams and management not only look at your physical abilities and statistics but there is much more to the game of football that goes into be a great player.  Chance Warmack understands that, as do most Alabama players these days, and how his career at Alabama should help him to not only prepare for pro day but also the NFL “You know how to handle and carry yourself in tight situations, so when all eyes and cameras are on you, you don’t really feel so nervous. I think everybody feels the same way when I say we handle pressure really well here because we’ve been in so many tight situations, and that’s a blessing and a good thing to have.”

The next Pro Day is April 2^nd, with the NFL Draft only a couple of weeks later which will be held April 25-27 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.