NFL Draft Rumors: Latest News, Notes and Rumors from Alabama's Pro Day

The University of Alabama is staging a second pro day on Thursday, and with such stars as running back Trent Richardson, safety Mark Barron and linebacker Courtney Upshaw set to work out in front of NFL scouts and coaches, here's a recap of the latest going on in Tuscaloosa.

Trent Richardson looking good at pro day

After gaining over 2,000 total yards as a junior, Richardson got his first opportunity to show off for scouts and coaches Thursday, as surgery to repair a knee injury caused the All-American to miss the NFL Scouting Combine and Alabama's first pro day. ESPN's Tide Nation reports that Richardson hasn't disappointed, and the 5'10", 227-pound bellcow seems to be solidifying his status as a Top-10 pick in April's draft.

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Trent Richardson is going through every drill he is being asked to do, and there are a lot of them. Most of the drills involve footwork and not speed or strength.

To this point, Trent Richardson is performing well and not doing anything to hurt his status as a potential top-5 pick in the NFL draft.

A few scouts grabbed some blocking pads for a drill to test Trent Richardson's blocking ability. Richardson knocked down one of the scouts. Everyone got a good laugh.

 

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Upshaw's workout struggles continue

Outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw has been widely projected as a first-round draft pick after a 2011 campaign in which the 6'2", 272-pound second-team All-American racked up 9.5 sacks, but a lackluster showing at February's combine left Upshaw hoping that a big pro day could help rehab his lagging draft stock.

It doesn't appear that Upshaw produced that strong performance at Thursday's pro day, however, as Tide Nation states that Upshaw's workout once again left something to be desired.

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Courtney Upshaw also runs a second 40-yard dash and has an unofficial time of 4.81, the same time he had on his first run.

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Upshaw's performance Thursday may not have blown any doors off, but there are miles of game tape that demonstrate Upshaw's ability to get after the quarterback. Given the number of teams running the 3-4 defense that need pass-rush help, including the San Diego Chargers, New York Jets and Green Bay Packers, it's highly unlikely that, bad pro day or not, Upshaw will slip from the first round of April's draft.

Cowboys looking to Roll Tide in round one?

Among the coaches in attendance at the Alabama pro day Thursday is Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, and with this being the first pro day Garrett has attended this spring, Calvin Watkins of ESPN Dallas theorizes that Garrett's appearance may have tipped the Cowboys, hand regarding their first-round draft plans.

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Last year, Garrett visited the USC pro day, and the Cowboys selected Trojans tackle Tyron Smith in the first round.

Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones hinted the team has interest in drafting a defensive player with the 14th overall pick of the first round this year.

Alabama has three players -- safety Mark Barron, outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick -- who might be available when it's time for the Cowboys to pick.

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Given the Cowboys needs in the secondary, Kirkpatrick would seem the most obvious fit for the Cowboys at 14th overall, but Garrett tried to downplay the possibility that his being in Tuscaloosa means that Dallas intends to draft the 6'2", 186-pound cornerback or any other Alabama defender for that matter:

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"As of now, it’s the only one of scheduled to go to," Garrett said. "Alabama had a pro day earlier in the month and a number of their players were not able to work out cause of injury. We felt it was worthwhile. Logistically it made sense. I am here. I'm going back to Texas. We are going to fly right over Tuscaloosa. It made sense for me to stop there and go to this workout tomorrow. So that is one of the reasons. We have had reps from the Cowboys at a lot of different pro days."

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