Alabama Football: 2016 NFL Combine Results for Former Crimson Tide Stars

They made a lot of noise but didn’t make much news, which is exactly the way the nine former University of Alabama players wanted it at the NFL combine.

Generally speaking, noise at the combine is a good thing. People are talking about you, social media is abuzz with reaction and speculation and, most importantly, you’re on the mind of various NFL officials.

Meanwhile, making news at the combine can be a good thing, but it usually goes in the other direction. A bad press conference, a slow time or a poor medical report can make all the difference.

NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock touches on it when he regularly says, “Fast guys run fast, slow guys run slow. It's only a story when the opposite happens,” like during his regular on-site press conference in Indianapolis over the weekend.

While it will take everyone a few days to crunch all the numbers, Daniel Jeremiah’s pre-combine top 50 prospects for NFL.com included No. 13 Reggie Ragland, No. 14 Jarran Reed, No. 15 A’Shawn Robinson, No. 25 Ryan Kelly and No. 33 Derrick Henry. 

All of them appeared to justify those rankings, if not more.

Here’s a specific look at how the Crimson Tide contingency fared:

Kenyan Drake, running back 

Although NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks called him one of the biggest winners of the first day of workouts, the only way to significant raise his draft stock was to show that he can be an every-down running back at the NFL level.

Drake’s good time in the three-cone drill reinforced the notion that he has good body balance, and his 40 time proved that if he’s been slowed by his leg fracture it’s not by much.

However, he’s still probably a third-down back in the NFL who can be part of a rotation and return kicks.

Measurements: 6'1", 210 pounds, 31 ¾" arm length, 9 ¾" hands

40-Yard Dash: 4.45 seconds

10-yard Split: 1.64 seconds

Bench Press (225 lbs): 10 reps

Vertical Jump: 34.5 inches

Broad Jump: 123.0 inches

Three-Cone Drill: 7.04 seconds

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.21 seconds

Derrick Henry, running back

Henry is the kind of player who stands out at a combine just by his measurements, although he backed it up by posting some impressive numbers including 37 inches in the vertical leap. That’s not just outstanding for someone weighing 247 pounds, it would be for a point guard at the NBA combine.

Henry’s numbers were so good that the NFL Network compared them to linebacker Von Miller when he was the second overall selection by the Denver Broncos in 2010.

Not to be outdone, ESPNStats claimed that Henry and Falcons linebacker Vic Beasley were the only players in the last decade to do each of the following while weighing at least 235 pounds: 

"

• 4.54 40-yard dash or faster
• 37-inch vertical leap or higher
• 130-inch broad jump or farther
• 22 bench press reps or more

"

The not-so-good news for Henry was that his times in the three-cone drill and the short shuttle reflected concerns about ability to change direction, but whatever team drafts him will know going in that he’s not going to be the next Barry Sanders. It's not his game. 

Henry's appeal is his power game, which might result in a first-round selection.  

Category	Henry	Miller
Year	2016	2011
Position	RB	LB
Height	6'2 ⅝"	6'2 ⅝"
Weight	247	246
40-Yard Dash	4.54	4.53
Bench Press	22	21
Vertical	37	37
Broad Jump	10'10"	10'06"

Measurements: 6'3", 247 pounds, 33" arm length, 8 ¾" hands

40-Yard Dash: 4.54 seconds

10-yard Split: 1.61 seconds

Bench Press (225 lbs): 22 reps

Vertical Jump: 37.0 inches

Broad Jump: 130.0 inches

Three-Cone Drill: 7.20 seconds

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.38 seconds

60-Yard Shuttle: 11.50 seconds

Dominick Jackson, offensive lineman 

If Jackson’s combine visit were to be graded, he would get an incomplete after opting not to participate in most drills. 

The ones he did didn’t exactly turn heads, either. 

During his media session, Jackson told Rivals.com that he was surprised to get a combine invitation after not receiving one for the Senior Bowl.

“It was exciting,” he said. “I felt like they wanted to see what I could bring to the table.”

At this point, the guess here is that he'll be a guard in the NFL.

Measurements: 6'5", 313 pounds, 33" arm length, 9 ¾" hands

40-Yard Dash: Did not run

10-yard Split: Did not run

Bench Press (225 lbs): 20 reps

Vertical Jump: 26 inches

Broad Jump: 97.0 inches

Three-Cone Drill: Did not run

20-Yard Shuttle: Did not run

Cyrus Jones, cornerback

Jones probably breathed a huge sigh of relief when he measured 5'10", but then he also justified Mayock’s No. 5 ranking among cornerbacks in his pre-combine position rankings. 

His 40 time of 4.49 seconds was good, but where Jones really made a big impact was during the position drills, where his footwork, ability to break on the ball and technique were were on display. It's the one combine drill in particular that a cornerback wants to stand out, and Jones did.

“This is a good defensive back here,” Mayock said during the broadcast.

Measurements: 5'10", 197 pounds, 31 ⅜" arm length, 9 ⅛" hands

40-Yard Dash: 4.49 seconds

10-yard Split: 1.56 seconds

Bench Press (225 lbs): 10 reps

Vertical Jump: 33.0 inches

Broad Jump: 116 inches

Three-Cone Drill: 6.71 seconds 

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.21 seconds

Ryan Kelly, center

Kelly saw his draft stock rise when he measured among the top half of all the offensive linemen in arm length. Consequently, he’s a legitimate prospect at guard in addition to center.

"He's significantly better than Barrett Jones," a scout told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Bob McGinn. "Not even in the same category. Jones didn't have nearly the ability that Kelly has. He's the best center in the draft."

The question now is if it’ll be enough for Kelly to be a first-round selection. 

Measurements: 6'4", 311 pounds, 33 ⅝" arm length, 9 ⅝" hands

40-Yard Dash: 5.03 seconds

10-yard Split: 1.75 seconds

Bench Press (225 lbs): 26 reps

Vertical Jump: 30 inches

Broad Jump: 103 inches

Three-Cone Drill: 7.58 seconds

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.59 seconds 

D.J. Pettway, defensive lineman

If there were a disappointing score among the Alabama contingency, it was Pettway bench-pressing 225 pounds just 17 times. That was one of the lowest numbers among linemen and only reinforced that he’s one of the smallest defensive ends in the draft.

Pettway plays with good power, so it might not affect his draft stock much, yet his 4.99 time in the 40 was pretty average against probably the draft’s deepest position group.

Something to keep an eye on, Pettway participated in the the hybrid drills with other collegiate defensive ends who might switch to outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. He'd be mroe of a project, though, if selected by one of those teams. 

Measurements: 6'2", 265 pounds, 32 ¼" arm length, 9 ½" hands

40-Yard Dash: 4.99 seconds

10-yard Split: 1.69 seconds

Bench Press (225 lbs): 17 reps

Vertical Jump: 28 inches

Broad Jump: 108 inches

Three-Cone Drill: 7.74 seconds

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.69 seconds

Reggie Ragland, linebacker

Ragland’s decision to come back for his senior season keeps looking better and better. In addition to winning another national championship, his draft stock continues to rise.

“Reggie Ragland to me is a top-20 pick, “ Mayock said. “Reggie Ragland can rush the quarterback well enough, and can cover well enough that he doesn’t have to come off the field. I like Reggie Ragland.”

Some consider Ragland the best interior linebacker in the draft, and teams that need help there include No. 7 San Francisco, No. 8 Miami, No. 17 Atlanta and No. 27 Green Bay, with Packers coach Mike McCarthy telling reporters at the combine that Clay Matthews will move back to outside linebacker next season.

That might put Ragland at the top of the Packers’ wish list, but they'll probably need to trade up to get him.

Meanwhile, some of the other top linebackers had a rough combine, including Notre Dame’s Jaylon Smith, as Mayock (h/t NFL.com's Chase Goodbread) indicated that his knee injury is a major concern.

Measurements: 6'1", 247 pounds, 32" arm length, 9 ⅞" hands

40-Yard Dash: 4.72 seconds

10-yard Split: 1.66 seconds

Bench Press (225 lbs): Did not do

Vertical Jump: 31 ½ inches

Broad Jump: 116.0 inches

Three-Cone Drill: Did not do

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.28 seconds

Jarran Reed, defensive lineman 

One of his most impressive showings was during a bag drill in which the aim is to show power, not necessarily speed. He was hitting the bags so hard that the holders had a tough time keeping their footing.

Reed appeared to have a good overall performance, although he didn’t bench. Probably the only way he falls out of the first round is if numerous teams decide that there’s so much talent among the defensive linemen that they can wait to take one in the second round, but that seems pretty unlikely.

Measurements: 6'3", 307 pounds, 33 ⅜" arm length, 10 ½" hands

40-Yard Dash: 5.21 seconds

10-yard Split: 1.8 seconds

Bench Press (225 lbs): Did not do

Vertical Jump: 31.0 inches

Broad Jump: 104.0 inches

Three-Cone Drill: 7.77 seconds

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.75 seconds

A’Shawn Robinson, defensive lineman

The rest of the college football world learned what the Alabama reporters already knew, that despite being just 20 years old, Robinson was as intimidating as anyone in college football.

Meanwhile, some of players he went up against this past season raved about Robinson to 247Sports' Connor Tapp.

"I think No. 86 from Alabama, in the three-down, he's a beast of a guy, he's a long guy," Wisconsin tackle Tyler Marz said.

"In the run game, A'Shawn Robinson was a real strong dude," Ole Miss tackle Fahn Cooper said. "He's probably the best interior D-lineman I played."

Measurements: 6'4", 307 pounds, 34 ½" arm length, 10 ½" hands

40-Yard Dash: 5.20 seconds

10-yard Split: 1.78 seconds

Bench Press (225 lbs): 22 reps

Vertical Jump: 26 inches

Broad Jump: 106.0 inches

Three-Cone Drill: 7.80 seconds

20-Yard Shuttle: 4.74 seconds

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Christopher Walsh is a lead SEC college football writer. Follow Christopher on Twitter @WritingWalsh.