Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama Crimson Tide: 2013 NFL Draft Player Profile

Nov 26, 2011; Auburn, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Dee Milliner (28) returns an interception for a touchdown against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tide defeated the Tigers 42-14. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Height: 6’0″

Weight: 201

Position Rank: 1

Drafted By: New York Jets (1st round, 9th overall)

40 Yard Dash: 4.37

Bench Press: DNP

Vertical Jump: 36″

Broad Jump: 122″

2012 Statistics

Career Highlights (via Alabama athletics site)

• Unanimous first team All-American
• First team All-SEC
• Finalist for Bronko Nagurski Trophy (defensive player of the year)
• Finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award (nation’s top defensive back)
• His 34 career pass breakups are tied for second nationally, among active players

2012 (JUNIOR): Veteran cornerback who has fashioned an outstanding junior season, earning unanimous first team All-America and All-SEC honors … collected the 2012 first team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), the Football Writers of America (FWAA), the Walter Camp Foundation, the Associated Press, Sporting News and Sports Illustrated … was one of five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation’s top defensive back) and one of three for the Jim Thorpe Award (nation’s top defensive back) … also a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award (top defensive player) … team’s top cornerback in 2012, starting 12 games and totaling 51 tackles with two interceptions and 18 pass breakups … also has 4.0 tackles for loss (19 yards) and 1.5 sacks (11 yards) … the 18 pass breakups are a career best and rank third on Alabama’s single-season list … his 34 career pass breakups rank second in school history and are tied for second nationally among active players … tied for third nationally, while leading the SEC with 1.67 passes defended per game (18 pass breakups plus two interceptions) … twice has totaled four pass breakups in a game (Michigan and Mississippi) plus three at Missouri … four-time defensive player of the week by the Alabama coaches (Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee) … missed the Western Kentucky game due to injury. Michigan:Selected as the Walter Camp, Bednarik, Thorpe and national player of the week (also SEC top defender for the week) after his performance against the No. 8 Wolverines with five tackles, four pass breakups and a 35-yard interception return. Western Kentucky: Was available but held out of the WKU game as a precaution after a slight groin strain in practice. Arkansas: Recorded two tackles and broke up a pass in the shutout victory … helped hold the Razorbacks to 79 yards passing. Florida Atlantic: Made three tackles against the Owls with two solo stops … part of the Tide’s starting unit that allowed only 35 yards of offense to the Owls in three quarters of action. Mississippi: Defended five passes, with four breakups and one interception … also made three solo tackles and four total stops with half of a sack. Missouri: Broke up three Tiger passes and made four tackles … had three solo stops and one tackle for loss (three yards) … forced one fumble and helped limit the Tigers to 126 yards through the air. Tennessee: Earned Alabama defensive player of the Week honors for the second straight game … had five tackles with four solo stops … broke up one Tyler Bray pass.Mississippi State: Registered three solo tackles … blocked a first field goal for the first time in his Alabama career on the Bulldogs first drive of the game. LSU:Made a season-high eight tackles, with five solo stops … recorded the first solo sack of his career, dropping the Tigers quarterback for a loss of nine yards … matched a career-high with two tackles for loss (-14 yards). Texas A&M:Recorded a career-best 10 tackles, with four solo stops against the Aggies … broke up a pass and was credited with half of a tackle for loss. Western Carolina: Had one solo tackle in the Tide’s 49-0 shutout of the Catamounts … started but was removed along with most of the starters midway through the second quarter. Auburn: Made two tackles and returned a fumble 17 yards in the 49-0 Iron Bowl shutout of Auburn … recorded two pass breakups. Georgia: His play on the defensive side of the football was a key factor in the Tide’s 32-28 victory over the Bulldogs during the dramatic SEC Championship Game … broke up two passes and made four tackles, including three solo stops … had an interception overturned on Georgia’s final drive.

2011 (SOPHOMORE): Milliner was the Crimson Tide’s third cornerback in 2011, starting six games and seeing action in all 13 … started in all nickel or dime situations … played on the outside with DeQuan Menzie moving inside to the `star’ … finished with 27 tackles on the season, including 14 solo stops and one tackle for loss (-7 yards) … second on the team with nine pass breakups while leading the team with three interceptions that he returned for 72 yards … returned his third interception of the season against Auburn for 35 yards and a touchdown to seal the victory … finished tied for 55th nationally with 0.92 passes defended per game … also a standout on special teams, starting on the kickoff coverage team … had eight solo tackles on special teams … returned one punt for 21 yards … was the UA coaches’ Special Teams Player of the Week following the Kent State game and a Defensive Player of the Week following the Auburn win. Kent State: Made four assisted tackles while helping the Crimson Tide defense limit the Golden Flashes to 90 total yards … also broke up a pass. Penn State: Broke up a career best three passes in the Tide’s 27-11 win at the No. 23 Nittany Lions … had two solo tackles and an assist … returned his first career punt for 21 yards. North Texas: Registered four tackles with two solo stops … broke up two more passes as the Mean Green managed just 101 yards through the air. Arkansas: Had two tackles with one solo stop … intercepted his first pass of the season … had one tackle for loss of seven yards, blowing up Joe Adams on a reverse. Florida: Did not start but played extensively and made one solo tackle. Vanderbilt: Picked off his second pass of the season in the fourth quarter and returned it 37 yards to setup an Alabama touchdown.Mississippi: Made two tackles with two solo stops and one on special teams … did not start but played in all nickel and dime situtations.Tennessee: Started and made two tackles and broke up a pass as the Tide allowed just 63 yards through the air and kept the Vols out of the end zone. LSU: Played but did not reocrd any statistics in a loss to the No. 1 Tigers. Mississippi State: Came off the bench in nickle and dime situations … had one tackle on special teams. Georgia Southern: Came off the bench to make one solo tackle. Auburn: Earned Alabama Defensive Player of the Week honors for his Iron Bowl performance … intercepted his third pass of the season early in the fourth quarter and returned it 35 yards for a game-clinching score … made a season-high six tackles with four solo stops … helped limit the Tigers to just 140 total yards … AU had just 44 yards — 25 rushing — through three quarters and gained the rest after the Tide had already locked up the win in the fourth quarter. LSU (BCS National Championship Game): Came off the bench as the nickel back … made one tackle on special teams.

2010 (FRESHMAN): He played in all 13 games and earned 11 starts as a true freshman … garnered first-team Freshman All-America honors from CollegeFootballNews.com … earned freshman All-SEC honors … totaled 55 tackles, including 41 solo stops … broke up seven passes, forced a fumble, intercepted a pass and tallied a quarterback hurry. San Jose State: Came off the bench but did not record any statistics. Penn State: Totaled two tackles against the No. 18 Nittany Lions … helped hold Penn State to 156 yards in the air. Duke:Registered three tackles against the Blue Devils and helped hold them to 156 yards passing. Arkansas: Earned the start in the secondary and recorded two tackles, including a solo stop. Florida: Registered three solo tackles and broke up his first career pass. South Carolina:Registered three tackles, including two solo stops. Mississippi: Totaled four tackles, including three solo stops … broke up a pass and tallied a quarterback hurry. Tennessee: Was named one of the Defensive Players of the Week after leading the Tide with seven solo tackles … also forced a fumble and hurried the quarterback. LSU: Tallied seven tackles, including one for a loss of three yards … nearly had an interception, breaking up one pass. Mississippi State: Was named one of the Special Teams Players of the Week by the Alabama coaching staff … registered a season-best eight tackles, including three solo stops. Georgia State: Was named a Defensive Players of the Week by the Alabama coaching staff … registered four solo tackles, including two for a loss of four yards … picked off his first career pass and broke up a pass … was part of a secondary that held GSU to 74 yards passing. Auburn: Was named one of the Defensive Players of the Week by the Alabama coaching staff … career-high nine tackles, eight solo stops … one tackle for a loss of five yards. Michigan State:Made three solo tackles and broke up two passes as the Crimson Tide defeated the Spartans 49-7 in the Capital One Bowl.

Scouting Report/Player Notes

Milliner could be the next in a line of exceptional cornerback prospects coming out of the SEC. He is still pretty raw in terms of his overall ability, but as a sophomore he led a star-studded defense with three interceptions and returned one for a touchdown. He is not a polished tackler by any means, but that area of his game will continue to improve and he already does a very good job of closing on ball carriers. When I watch Milliner play, one thing that really stands out is his closing speed, especially in the running game. He does a good job of reading plays and on slow-developing runs to the outside, he makes plays 5-10 yards in the backfield with relative ease. Despite his size, still seems to struggle at times in man coverage, but as he continues to grow in reading plays I think we will see that area improve. Definitely more comfortable right now as a young player sitting in zone coverages and making plays. Has great speed and can contribute on special teams as well. Because of his phenomenal closing speed, he will occasionally whiff on some plays in the backfield as well. His size and length give him a definite advantage as a defender. First team freshman All-American in 2010 as well as a first-team All-SEC performer. Milliner is the top player at the cornerback position in his class (2013) and should be able to crack the top 10 of a group that doesn’t have a huge standout at the top.

Video Highlights (via YouTube)