🏈 Looking Forward: Juniors We Lose

[It Takes Eleven]

After last season, I had thought we would have a bit of a letdown this season (meaning not win the NC) but we'd have a better chance of winning the NC in 2011. Now that we've hit our stride thus far in 2010 (with a long, long way still to go), I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on which juniors we might lose to the draft, and key senior positions we'll need to replace.

Senior starters (based on Florida game stats):
Offense - McElroy, Carpenter, Dial
Defense - Chavis Williams

Junior starters:
Offense - Ingram, Julio Jones, Maze, Vlachos, Hanks
Defense - Upshaw, Menzie, Barron, Chapman, Dareus

I probably missed some. Most notably, Hightower is shown as a sophomore but I believe he is eligible to declare.

I like the personnel we have to replace our seniors. Which juniors will be leaving us after this season?

RTR,

Tim

 

[RollTideRandy]

My guess would be Julio, Ingram, and Dareus. Maybe Upshaw if he keeps winning the Player of the Week awards.

 

[Argo]

I can see Ingram, Julio, Barron, Dareus and possibly Upshaw leaving as juniors.

I don't believe Hanks, Maze or Vlachos will project high enough. Menzie? Not sure. He really hasn't made any outstanding plays, but he also hasn't been thrown at a lot. If Chapman is a junior (don't know why but I was thinking he was a senior) I also don't believe he'll project high enough to leave.

What will make this interesting is the possibility of an NFL lockout due to contracts. I don't believe the lockout will actually take place, but I wonder if the uncertainty will affect the draft.

 

[joeman546]

I doubt hightower goes, even though he is a junior(since i dont think they gave him a medical redshirt, so they probably listed him incorrectly). Hightower isnt back to himself yet, so this might end up a rehab year. He hasnt been that impact guy he was so far.

I agree with Argo on chapman, and I will add that i think vlachos stays another year. I dont think centers are taken very highly in the draft, so it doesnt seem appealing. its like why andre caldwell didnt leave.

Dareus is gone, Julio and Ingram will likely both declare or both will not. There are a few scenarios where they dont go, but many more where they do. Julio has first got to prove that these nagging injuries he gets donnt impact on field production like they did last year, and clean up some drops, or he may fall down a round or two in the draft at this rate. If he becomes known for being injury plagued, it can doom a player.

 

[rammerjammer]

If the NFL has a lockout, which is a very distinct possibility. We lose none of them. :shock:

 

[BamaCore]

I doubt hightower goes, even though he is a junior(since i dont think they gave him a medical redshirt, so they probably listed him incorrectly). Hightower isnt back to himself yet, so this might end up a rehab year. He hasnt been that impact guy he was so far.

No, it's listed right. He was given the medical redshirt. I wouldn't say he isn't an impact guy, he's just had a lot different responsibilities up to this point. He's doing more behind the stat sheets than you probably realize. Now that he's going back to WILL, expect to see more.

 

[AlabamaAubKiller]

If the NFL has a lockout, which is a very distinct possibility. We lose none of them. :shock:

I agree with this.
According to the talking heads @ ESPN & others...... there's a 90% chance the NFL will Strike in 2011.
If it even LOOKS like that rain may fall....look for a ton of Jr;s Around the country to stay on for thier Sr. year
rather than loose that last year of eligibility to the uncertinty of a strike. Last thing any of these guys wanna do is skip that last year
come out for the NFL and instantly get sidelined by replacment players.

 

[RollTideinGA]

After last season, I had thought we would have a bit of a letdown this season (meaning not win the NC) but we'd have a better chance of winning the NC in 2011. Now that we've hit our stride thus far in 2010 (with a long, long way still to go), I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on which juniors we might lose to the draft, and key senior positions we'll need to replace.

Senior starters (based on Florida game stats):
Offense - McElroy, Carpenter, Dial
Defense - Chavis Williams

Junior starters:
Offense - Ingram, Julio Jones, Maze, Vlachos, Hanks
Defense - Upshaw, Menzie, Barron, Chapman, Dareus

I probably missed some. Most notably, Hightower is shown as a sophomore but I believe he is eligible to declare.

I like the personnel we have to replace our seniors. Which juniors will be leaving us after this season?

RTR,

Tim

I dont see some of those guys leaving early. Not all of the ones listed will hit the draft board and they would be better after another year. Also with the current NFL situation and the potential for a lockout it is possible we will see no draft this year. With the lockout NFL owners cannot sign contracts with players. So those Jrs may stay.

 

[psychojoe]

Dareus, Barron, Ingram, Jones, Upshaw. Comparing Hightower with Rolando last year would be a reasonable basis for judgment at this point. To me Hightower has not shown he's a first round pick.

Considering that there are only eight scholarship seniors on the roster (or at least eight I can be confident about having schollies) if there is a lock out we're going to have to make some tough decisions regarding our incoming freshmen and returning players for next year. Personally I don't think there will be a lock out, and that all the talk is just trying to get some leverage in the negotiations.

 

[Kozlowski]

No, it's listed right. He was given the medical redshirt. I wouldn't say he isn't an impact guy, he's just had a lot different responsibilities up to this point. He's doing more behind the stat sheets than you probably realize. Now that he's going back to WILL, expect to see more.

He's lost a step IMO which is sad to say

 

[BamaCore]

He's lost a step IMO which is sad to say

I'm sorry, I just don't see it. He's been playing a different position, I think it only looks as if he's lost a step.

 

[Lamon]

i bet it would make AJ feel a whole lot better to have Julio and Mark come back. lol

 

[UAgrad93]

I can't help but see a Lockout coming for the NFL. Bad news for the pros and everyone that gets into those fantasy leagues, but it's great IMHO for the college game.

 

[LBS]

This should have started off as:
"Noting Coach Saban's preaching that unless a Junior is projected to go in the top 10-15 picks it is best for him to stay for his Senior year, which Juniors will leave?"

That considered, I would say Ingram, Jones, and Darius.

The talk of a lock out only helps us keep those who might run for the "middle money".

 

[UAgrad93]

I think it keeps those in the top 10-15 as well. Why jump out when there will be nothing to jump to? It would be a wasted year of doing basically nothing.

 

[Duder]

Using Mel Kiper's rankings as a guide, the player with the best shot at being a top ten is Dareus. I personally think Ingram is a lock for the top ten but some media outlets disagree.

Dareus is easily a first-rounder but he may not get the type of hype some of the other defensive players around the country. For a DE it would be based on where the greater need is. Looking at the bottom ten in the league, most of them pretty much need everything. Kiper has him ranked as the #7 player overall and the #3 defensive lineman (one end and one DT in front of him). He projects as a top ten pick, easily. It may be a crap shoot as to whether he actually gets there or not. For the record--he is certainly a top ten talent; I'm not taking anything away from him. All of the teams that figure to have a top ten pick have a greater need on offense.

Last time I saw a WR ranking Julio was #2 or #3--I think it was #2, behind AJ Greene; Julio is not ranked in the top 32 listed on ESPN.com as of the moment. I think his lack of consistency will bite him if he makes the jump this year. It seems like he only has problems dropping the ball when it is easily catchable. If the ball is thrown 20 yards over his head he will make some super-ninja move and somehow end up with it. This guy would've been a Heisman winner with Spencer Pennington at the helm of the offense. In all seriousness, I think Julio needs to come back. If he can regain his form as a receiver, not just a punishing blocker and return guy, from his freshman year with his size and strength this guy becomes the first receiver taken in the draft.

Kiper has Ingram as the number one running back, number 21 overall. I disagree--I think this guy is easily a top ten type quality and he should make the jump this year. My gut says Kiper has him ranked so low because he missed the first two weeks and didn't do much relative to yards gained against Florida. I'm sure his stock will continue to rise as the season progresses.

An interesting scenario sets up with New England and I could easily see them going for Ingram or Dareus. New England gets Oakland's first round pick this year, which figures to be in the top ten. New Englad is not a team in need of anything, really. Given that Saban is part of the Belichick coaching tree and knowing Bill is a defensive guy, I could see him picking up Dareus because he knows he has been well-coached from a coach that Belichick respects. Another thought would be the Pats taking Ingram. Again, Saban guy--someone Saban thinks the world of. The Pats haven't had a running game to speak of for several years and they've still been tops in the league. Ingram is a PERFECT fit for that kind of offense. He blocks well and is a legit receiving threat out of the backfield. He would also give them the added dimension of a game-changing running back, which is something they have not had in a few years.