🏈 SI's Tony Pauline hearing Lacy and Fluker to declare...

[TerryP]

Following the 2013 BCS National Championship between the No. 1 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish and No. 2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, at least two key underclassmen from the Alabama offense will be making the jump to the NFL.

Multiple sources within the draft community have confirmed to SI.com draft expert Tony Pauline that Alabama running back Eddie Lacy and offensive tackle DJ Fluker will forgo their final year of eligibility and declare for the 2013 NFL Draft.

Both players should receive first-round consideration.

As the draft approaches, look for the discussion to pick up regarding both of these Alabama prospects. Lacy, in particular, will be valued by teams that like big, physical rushers. A team like the Pittsburgh Steelers immediately comes to mind, with Rashard Mendenhall likely being shown the door this offseason.

SI's Fansided.com

 

[psychojoe]

Many think Milliner will make the jump as well. I have not heard speculation about A J leaving early, at least not from folks who are more knowledgeable than I am about draft prospects.

I have seen speculation tha Fluker might better his draft position by coming back and switching to guard.

 

[bamafan4ever]

We certainly will have reinforcements coming in at the RB position this year in the recruiting class. Looks like a little rebuilding will have to take place on the OL. Going into next year, that's my primary concern especially if DJ declares.

 

[XXL TideFan]

I have pondered long and hard about the the O and D lines next year.

 

[DustyG]

Fluker and Milliner are almost certainly 1st rounders (maybe high 2nd round for DJ). Lacy is a different question. I think Lacy will have to "Combine" his way into the first round, and maybe even the second. There aren't a lot of high profile running backs coming out this year, though, even with the addition of Lattimore.

 

[JoshB]

Fluker and Milliner are almost certainly 1st rounders (maybe high 2nd round for DJ). Lacy is a different question. I think Lacy will have to "Combine" his way into the first round, and maybe even the second. There aren't a lot of high profile running backs coming out this year, though, even with the addition of Lattimore.

Not at all, Lacy is an early 2nd rounder (maybe even low 1st rounder) NOW...

Lacy will sure up his spot when teams get to work him out and see him at the combine.

I'm not surprised by either guys and was expecting it, Milliner & Mosley will jump imo too... Mosley is the guy I'm 50/50 on tho and would be huge if he came back. Milliner is a done deal tho, he's the highest rated DB on Kiper (and others) boards.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

Not at all, Lacy is an early 2nd rounder (maybe even low 1st rounder) NOW...

Lacy will sure up his spot when teams get to work him out and see him at the combine.

I'm not surprised by either guys and was expecting it, Milliner & Mosley will jump imo too... Mosley is the guy I'm 50/50 on tho and would be huge if he came back. Milliner is a done deal tho, he's the highest rated DB on Kiper (and others) boards.

I'll be very surprised if Mosley goes, and very surprised if Milliner doesn't - he's rated higher then Kirkpatrick was by some services.

 

[TerryP]

I have pondered long and hard about the the O and D lines next year.

I expect a few growing pains on the OL but it's not a big concern. Unless Leon Brown ends up a bust, and according to the reports this season he's doing very well, the RT position is his to lose. Steen takes the RG, Arie ends up where Chance has played. Kelly has held his own this season so he'd be my guess for the C position right now.

I'm guessing we're starting Stinson, Pagan, and Ivory on the DL. Fanning and Pettway back up the ends. Lake, Ball, Kirven, or Bonds maybe to spell time in the middle?

 

[It Takes Eleven]

I have pondered long and hard about the the O and D lines next year.

I'd love for Fluker to come back at guard, have Kouandjio bookends and deal with just a new center.

 

[ElephantStomp]

AJ is coming back. I expected Fluker to go, but I think Lacy is making a mistake by leaving early. He's a good back, but he isn't a first round back in my mind.

 

[DustyG]

Not at all, Lacy is an early 2nd rounder (maybe even low 1st rounder) NOW...

Lacy will sure up his spot when teams get to work him out and see him at the combine.

I'm not surprised by either guys and was expecting it, Milliner & Mosley will jump imo too... Mosley is the guy I'm 50/50 on tho and would be huge if he came back. Milliner is a done deal tho, he's the highest rated DB on Kiper (and others) boards.

Almost every Mock Draft I've seen so far have no Running Backs taken in the first round. In fact, most don't show a RB taken before pick 50. I know, these are Mock Drafts and are not indicative of what will actually happen in April, but they should give a good baseline for where Lacy would grade out relative to the other backs in the draft. You would need to be of the opinion that Lacy is the best RB in the draft for him to be a high 2nd rounder or 1st rounder. I think there are some who would argue that, at times, Lacy hasn't been the best RB on our team. I like him a lot, but I don't think he goes in the first round without a heck of a combine performance.

Milliner is a top 10 pick, btw. Mosely is a low 1st rounder or a high 2nd rounder by most of the Mocks.

FWIW...

 

[planomateo]

Lacy could be the 1st RB taken.

 

[ElephantStomp]

Lacy could be the 1st RB taken.

He could be, but he will have to have a hell of a combine to be the first RB taken. On none of the position breakdowns is Lacy in the top 5 even when including juniors coming out early. There has been a lot of the year that he hasn't even been the best back on our team, so I don't think barring a fantastic combine I don't see him being the first back taken

 

[JoshB]

He could be the first Running Back (certainly one of the first two or three) taken in the draft, period in my opinion. People said it didnt make sense for Kareem Jackson to jump to the NFL either, we saw where he got drafted...

 

[musso]

I have pondered long and hard about the the O and D lines next year.

me too.

 

[planomateo]

He could be, but he will have to have a hell of a combine to be the first RB taken. On none of the position breakdowns is Lacy in the top 5 even when including juniors coming out early. There has been a lot of the year that he hasn't even been the best back on our team, so I don't think barring a fantastic combine I don't see him being the first back taken

Are you suggesting he isn't top 5 running back or top 5 pick?

 

[musso]

I expect a few growing pains on the OL but it's not a big concern. Unless Leon Brown ends up a bust, and according to the reports this season he's doing very well, the RT position is his to lose. Steen takes the RG, Arie ends up where Chance has played. Kelly has held his own this season so he'd be my guess for the C position right now.

I'm guessing we're starting Stinson, Pagan, and Ivory on the DL. Fanning and Pettway back up the ends. Lake, Ball, Kirven, or Bonds maybe to spell time in the middle?

terry, any chance we get OTs Tunsil and/or Golson?

i never understood the risk taken on Ivory. i hope Lake is ready for serious PT next season. i think we'll need him. i see Ball functioning as a passing down NT like Gentry.

 

[BamaFan615]

Milliner will almost definitely be taken in the top 15 picks of the draft. He'll more than likely jump to the pro's, and SHOULD.

I don't see Fluker as a 1st round pick. I agree with the thought that his play is more suited to be a guard at the next level. But then again, he is 6'6" which is taller than most OG's in the NFL. How much that hurts him or if he even considers making a switch is anyone's guess...I wouldn't blame him for making the jump.

I will say this about Fluker - I don't know that he really benefits much by coming back for his senior season.

EL is tough for me to get a feel for. He's a heck of a college RB, but he kind of runs tall, and doesn't have the best receiving skills either. My guess is that he'll go somewhere around the 3rd round depending on what kind of shape he is in at the combine and the 40 that he is able to produce. And much like Fluker, even though I don't see EL as a 1st rounder I don't know that he will benefit all that much by coming back for his senior year.

CJ would probably be drafted at worst in the late 2nd round, and at best in the middle of the 1st round. I feel CJ would benefit from coming back for another season, and adding some beef to his frame...but hell, I don't blame him one bit if he decides to make the jump.

 

[bamaraider]

Fluker is graduating in December right? I expected him to leave, San Diego sadly might be his main destination.

I'm not sure how Lacy would do in the NFL, by all means he is a good RB, just might have some concerns for me.

I do expect Milliner to go, our DB's next year will be interesting.

 

[bamaraider]

Seriously hope CJ doesn't leave, him leading the young LBers next year will be huge. Plus he could improve his stock draft wise into a first rounder and graduate.