Iron Bowl 2011: 10 Alabama Draft Prospects To Watch

It’s not hard to figure out which sideline will have the most talent when Alabama and Auburn clash in the annual Iron Bowl game this Saturday.

The No. 2 Tide are one of the most talent-stocked teams we’ve seen since the Miami Hurricanes squads from back in the early 2000s.

Nick Saban has basically assembled an NFL JV team, and it’s pretty astonishing to go over Alabama’s depth chart and pick out all of the future pros lining up on both sides of the ball.

Auburn, on the other hand, is lacking in top-tier NFL talent this year after sending guys like Cam Newton and Nick Fairley to the pros after its championship season last year.

The young Tigers will once again be sending the big names to the pros soon enough, but this year, it’s all about Alabama and its big-name prospects.

Here’s a look at the 10 Alabama players to keep an eye on in Saturday’s Iron Bowl.

Running Back Trent Richardson

Alabama’s Trent Richardson hasn't just shown that he's worthy of being a top-10 pick. With the way he's played in 2011, Richardson deserves to be the No. 1 overall pick if he decides to come out.  

Richardson, who looks like he was born in a weight room and never left, is the strongest and most powerful college back we've seen in years.

The powerhouse runner has already rushed for 1,380 yards and scored 22 TDs, and if he keeps it up, he may run all the way to the stage at the Heisman ceremony.

Richardson reminds me of a bigger, stronger version of Ahmad Bradshaw, but he also has shown similar traits to guys like Maurice Jones-Drew and Ray Rice.

The 5’11’’, 220-pound junior is definitely a special prospect, and he's the rare type of running back who's worthy of an early first-round pick.

Linebacker Courtney Upshaw

With the continued growth and popularity of the 3-4 defense in this NFL era, the 3-4 rush linebacker is becoming one of the draft’s premium positions. If you can find an elite young pass-rusher to set loose off the edge in a 3-4 front, you better snag him up.

This year, the top 3-4 rush linebacker in the country is Alabama’s steady defensive star, Courtney Upshaw.

At 6’2", 265 pounds, Upshaw not only has the size, but he also has the edge speed to be a pass-rushing force for a 3-4 defense in the NFL.

Last year, Upshaw was one of the most consistent performers on a superbly talented Alabama defense.

He made a living in the opponent’s backfield, racking up 14.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks, and this season he’s on pace to actually outperform those gaudy numbers, as Upshaw already has 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

The steady senior is the type of impact player who can step in and immediately help an NFL defense.

Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick

If you’re looking for a perfect cornerback for a Tampa 2 system, you can’t build them much better than Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick.

At 6’3’’, 190 pounds, Kirkpatrick has the type of length and size to step right into a Cover 2 defense and flourish, and the fact that he’s physical at the line in bump-and-run coverage and plays the run well only helps add to his value.  

Kirkpatrick reminds me a lot of Charles Tillman of the Chicago Bears, another corner who is a great fit for the Cover 2.

Don’t let his lack of interceptions fool you. Teams are afraid to test Kirkpatrick, and if he keeps up his current pace, the big junior will definitely think about testing the NFL waters after this season.

Linebacker Dont’a Hightower

Dont’a Hightower has been one of Alabama’s most consistent players since returning from a knee injury that cut his 2009 season short.

Hightower isn’t the fastest linebacker on the planet, but he’s got great versatility and he can line up all over the field and make an impact.

The 6’4’’, 260-pound junior currently leads the team in tackles with 72 stops, and he’s also racked up 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.

Hightower’s got the type of size and instincts to be a great fit as an inside linebacker in a 3-4 system in the pros.

Safety Mark Barron

Mark Barron was thrust into a leadership position last season, as he became the veteran of a vastly inexperienced defensive unit that lost nine starters from the year before. 

Even though there were a few instances when he was caught just a split second out of coverage last season, it was still a role that Barron flourished in, leading the Tide with 75 total tackles. 

The 6’2’’, 215-pound senior still plays like a linebacker more than a safety at times, but he’s got the type of range and instincts to be a stalwart in an NFL secondary for years, and he's the type of locker room leader that pro scouts covet.

Offensive Tackle D.J. Fluker

Both of Alabama’s offensive tackles—D.J. Fluker and Barrett Jones—will be playing in the NFL someday, but Fluker is the real player to watch.

Even though he’s only in his second year as a starter, the big 6’6’’, 335-pound redshirt sophomore has already established himself as one of the top overall offensive line prospects in the country.

Physically, Fluker resembles former Alabama franchise tackle prospect Andre Smith, and like Smith, he’s got the strength and power to dominate smaller defensive ends in the running game.

Defensive Tackle Josh Chapman

Nose tackle Josh Chapman is the elder statesman of the Alabama defensive line, and while guys around him like Jesse Williams and Damion Square have all stepped up, he’s still remained the leader of the front three.

The big, stout 6’1’’, 310-pound senior has the perfect makeup you look for in a nose tackle in a 3-4 defense.

Chapman isn’t the type of tackle who is going to penetrate and make a ton of plays in the backfield, but he’s got the size and strength to eat up blockers and free up Alabama’s talented linebackers to make plays.

Safety Robert Lester

Robert Lester announced himself to the college football world last season by leading the SEC with eight interceptions in just his first year as a starter.

Lester may only have two picks this year, but he’s still played at a high level throughout the season, and he’s proven that the Barron-Lester tag team is truly the best safety tandem in America.

The 6’2’’, 210-pound junior may not be quite the same caliber of leader that Barron is, but he’s more naturally gifted, and if he continues to learn his trade, he should have a better NFL career than his fellow safety.

Linebacker Nico Johnson

Courtney Upshaw and Dont’a Hightower get most of the national publicity when it comes to Alabama’s talented linebacker corps, but Nico Johnson may just have as much NFL upside as either of them, even though he has yet to put together the same type of resume that Upshaw and Hightower have.

Johnson is a versatile defender who has the size and speed combo that pro scouts look for in a top-notch linebacker prospect.

The 6’3’’, 245-pound junior may want to stay another year to boost his stock, but I can guarantee you that he’s already got the NFL personnel folks talking.

Offensive Tackle Barrett Jones

Stanford’s David DeCastro is clearly this year’s top eligible guard prospect, but Alabama’s Barrett Jones isn't far behind.

This year, Jones has shown that he has the athleticism to handle manning the left tackle position, but he’ll likely end up back inside at guard in the NFL.

The 6’5’’, 310-pound junior is in the running for All-American honors and possibly the Outland Trophy this season, and there’s a good reason why—Jones has been dominant since stepping in as a starter back as a freshman, and he's one of the best run-blockers in the country.

Jones may not be a true first-round talent, but he won’t last long on day two if he decides to come out after this season.