Alabama Football: Which Former Player Will Have Best NFL Rookie Season in 2012?

With eight former Alabama stars selected in last month’s NFL draft (five of the top 35 picks), the odds could be favorable for one of Nick Saban’s former prized pupils to claim Rookie of the Year honors this season.

The last three Crimson Tide players to get selected in the later rounds could end up being steals, considering the integral roles they each played in helping the school earn its second national title in three years.   

Defensive tackle Josh Chapman (fifth round to the Colts), defensive back De’Quan Menzie (fifth round to the Chiefs) and tight end Brad Smelley (seventh round to the Browns) will all get a chance to show their talents—but they likely will not be counted on early in the season compared to their former teammates taken before them.  

Running back Trent Richardson steps into a situation in Cleveland where he could instantly become the top skill player on the roster. 

Plus, given the fact that the Browns traded up one spot to take Richardson with the third overall pick, the reigning Doak Walker Award (given to college football’s top running back) winner has become a trendy pick to claim offensive rookie of the year honors this season.  

Coming into the draft, safety Mark Barron was widely viewed as one of the safest picks available in the first round.  

With Tampa Bay and new head coach Greg Schiano selecting him seventh overall, Barron will be counted on from day one to bring the same discipline and playmaking ability he displayed while running Saban’s defense for four years.

However, in a division with stud quarterbacks like Cam Newton, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan, the Bucs and their rookie safety will certainly have their work cut out for them.  

Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick steps into a situation in Cincinnati similar to the beginning of his college career. 

The 17th overall pick figures to plug one of the few holes in one of the league’s top defenses last season.  

Meanwhile, Dont’a Hightower will be on the opposite end of Kirkpatrick’s situation, considering only one team (Green Bay) fielded a defense that surrendered more yards than the Patriots in 2011.  

While Courtney Upshaw may have fallen into the second round, the argument could be made that he ended up in the perfect place all along with the Baltimore Ravens.  

And that was before All-Pro Ravens defensive end Terrell Suggs was lost for the upcoming season with a ruptured Achilles. 

With that news in the background, Upshaw’s opportunity to make an impact this season becomes significantly greater.  

So which former Crimson Tide star will have the best rookie season in the NFL?  

I think it comes down to Richardson and Upshaw.  

Richardson will be the man from day one, and is likely to carry the burden for fellow rookie and quarterback Brandon Weeden.  

Upshaw will be surrounded by playmakers on a loaded team—plus the added motivation of falling into the second round will give him the necessary fuel in his effort to prove teams wrong for passing on him.  

Ultimately, give me Richardson in the slightest of nods.  

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