4. s Xavier McKinney – Alabama
Another secondary player that needs to be talked about is Alabama’s safety Xavier McKinney. McKinney is one of the top safeties in the upcoming NFL draft if he declares and he’s had a strong junior season. McKinney has 85 total tackles, four and a half tackles for loss, five pass deflections, four forced fumbles, three interceptions, two sacks, and a fumble recovery.
McKinney will need to help the Alabama secondary cover the multiple stud wide receivers at Michigan. While Peoples-Jones will have some attention, Nico Collins, Ronnie Bell, Giles Jackson, Mike Saintristil, and Cornelius Johnson will also be the wide receivers who will probably play and go up against McKinney and the Alabama defense.
If Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson takes any deep shots, he will have to be wary of McKinney when doing so. McKinney can create turnovers, keep up with wide receivers, and contribute in the run defense as well.