2018 NFL Draft: Alabama vs. Georgia has many top prospects
Alabama Defense
Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB (no. 29)
Whether he’s making plays on the ball or behind the line of scrimmage, Minkah Fitzpatrick is a big time difference-maker on the defensive side of the ball.
He’s only got one interception this year after picking off six a year ago, but teams just aren’t able to successfully throw the ball his direction.
I think this guy is a lock for the top 10 in the 2018 NFL Draft, and I think he’s going to prove exactly why against Georgia.
Rashaan Evans, LB (no. 32)
Like so many Alabama linebackers before him, Rashaan Evans is poised to be a top draft pick for some team, or at worst a second round pick thanks to his playmaking abilities behind the line of scrimmage, as a pass rusher, and in coverage.
Evans was dominant in Alabama’s win over Clemson in the Sugar Bowl, and like much of the rest of this senior class at Alabama, he’s one of maybe the most mature players in a group that really seems wise beyond its years.
Listed at 6-foot-3, 234 pounds, Evans can play inside or outside, and looks like a future star at the next level.
Anthony Averett, CB (no. 28)
While Minkah Fitzpatrick generates much of the attention in Alabama’s secondary, Averett is a possible first-round corner in his own right.
He plays physical — as do many corners coming out of Alabama — and can absolutely run step-for-step with any receiver.
He’s got speed, and he can shut a game down on one side of the field. I think he’s a very special, underrated player.
Da’Shawn Hand, DL (no. 9)
The athletic Da’Shawn Hand is a former five-star prospect who hasn’t been Jonathan Allen in terms of production by any means, but has proven himself to be tough to block at times from a couple of different positions on the defensive line.
I think Hand can excel in the NFL as a 3-4 defensive end as well as a three technique, using his strength, quickness, and athleticism to beat offensive linemen.
Da’Ron Payne, DL (no. 94)
It’s easy for phenomenal athletes to get lost in the shuffle at Alabama, but Payne has found new ways to stand out…
…by getting the ball in his hands.
He showed he has some ability as a receiver in the semi-final game against Clemson, catching a touchdown pass and picking off another, but what that really showed us is that Payne is a phenomenal athlete.
For a 300-pound kid, this guy is explosive and tough to block from the interior defensive line.
He’s got tremendous upper-body strength and plays with good leverage, which is how he has 47 tackles this year as a defensive lineman.
Ronnie Harrison, S (no. 15)
Ronnie Harrison may be the greatest benefactor from the success of Eddie Jackson in his rookie season for the Chicago Bears this year.
Harrison leads Alabama with 70 tackles, following up an 85-tackle performance from a season ago, and has also picked off five passes in the past two seasons combined.
He’s 6-foot-3, 214 pounds, and despite what his length and size would indicate, he’s smooth breaking to the football and doesn’t look rigid at all.
Harrison has the ability — like most of the guys on this list — to be a first round player and a cornerstone piece of an NFL defense.