On Sunday, Alabama safety Xavier McKinney has decided to forgo his senior season in Tuscaloosa and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft.
On Sunday, Alabama safety Xavier McKinney has decided to forgo his senior season in Tuscaloosa and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft. He made the announcement on his Instagram.
During his career at Alabama, McKinney became a huge leader on the Alabama defense. This season, McKinney recorded 95 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 3 interceptions. In his career, he recorded 177 tackles, 6 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and 6 interceptions.
Roll Tide Wire will keep you up to date on the very latest regarding the 2020 NFL Draft.
Alabama star receiver Jerry Jeudy announced via twitter that he will forgo his Senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft 4ever a Crimson Tide ✌ pic.twitter.com/YSGihoPnfe – JJ⁴ (@jerryjeudy) January 4, 2020 Jeudy is expected to be the first wide …
Alabama star receiver Jerry Jeudy announced via twitter that he will forgo his Senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft
Jeudy is expected to be the first wide receiver taken off the board in the draft and is the No. 1 wide receiver in the draft class according to Matt Miller’s positional big board.
In his three years with the Crimson Tide, he has reeled in 159 receptions for 2,742 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Jeudy is the second Alabama Junior to declare for the draft after offensive tackle Jedrick Wills announced his decision just hours before.
There are still plenty of players left to make a decision on the future of their careers.
Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on all things Alabama football including the 2020 Draft decisions of others.
Bleacher Report’s NFL draft expert, Matt Miller, released his most recent mock draft for the 2020 NFL Draft. With the NFL season finally coming to an end, and the early first round order set, football fans can now get a better look at their teams’ …
With the NFL season finally coming to an end, and the early first round order set, football fans can now get a better look at their teams’ placement in the draft and who their team will be selecting.
Miller has a record eight players from Alabama being selected in the first round of his mock draft.
Let’s take a look and see who he believes will be going from the Crimson Tide to the NFL.
4. New York Giants – Jerry Jeudy, WR
Miller believes that if the Giants want Daniel Jones to be their quarterback of the future, they better find him some offensive help. What better way to do that than draft possibly the best wide receiver in the draft.
5. Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa, QB
Looks like the Dolphins will be winning the ‘Tank for Tua’ sweepstakes in Miller’s scenario. The draft analyst breaks down Coach Brian Flores’ ability to lead a team and their need for a quarterback to build around. Miller mentions that this is all continent upon Tagovailoa declaring for the draft and not returning to Alabama.
11. New York Jets – Jedrick Wills, OT
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
If the Jets want Sam Darnold to work out long-term, they have to protect him. Wills proved in 2019 that he is more than capable of protecting the quarterback. A strong offensive line could be the missing piece to a Jets offense full of talent, but no production.
13. Indianapolis Colts – Henry Ruggs III, WR
Miller recognizes that the Colts are in desperate need for a quarterback after Andrew Luck unexpectedly retired before the 2019 season. However, Miller doesn’t believe that any of the available quarterback at this pick are worth taking this early. So instead, they will look to give Jacoby Brissett some weapons for 2020 as they’ll look aead for a quarterback.
19. Las Vegas Raiders – Dylan Moses, LB
The Raiders will utilize their second of two first-round draft picks on Moses, who cold be a big piece of their 2020 defense. Miller acknowledges the fact that the linebacker didn’t play a single snap in 2019, but argues that it likely won’t negatively affect his draft stock.
23. Buffalo Bills – DeVonta Smith, WR
Much like Miller’s reasoning for the Giants selecting Jeudy, if the Bills want Josh Allen to work out long-term, they need to give him weapons. Miller claims that the Bills won too many games in 2019 to earn a early draft pick for a top-tier receiver, but Smith would be a good fit if he declares for the draft.
26. Seattle Seahawks – Terrell Lewis, EDGE
Miller believes that if it weren’t for Lewis’ injuries while at Alabama, he would be a top-15 pick. He thinks this is a smart pick for the Seahawks as they can pair him with former SEC standout, Jadeveon Clowney.
31. San Francisco 49ers – Xavier McKinney, S
Miller’s explanation for this pick was fairly simple: the 49ers need a safety, and he’s the best safety on the board. Miller also claimed that McKinney’s talent was overlooked at Alabama due to most of the attention given to the offense.
Michigan football takes on Alabama in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. Which five players should you focus on when game day comes?
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Michigan’s final game of the year is coming soon and the final opponent is a tough one in the Alabama Crimson Tide. Michigan finished their regular season 9-3 and is looking to get their 10th win of the season, finishing 10-3 and it would be head coach Jim Harbaugh’s fourth 10-win season at Michigan. Harbaugh has been coaching at Michigan for five years, with his worst season being 8-5 back in 2017.
Going up against Alabama won’t be an easy game for the Wolverines. While the Alabama defense isn’t as tough as it usually is, the offense is still explosive. Despite being without their starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, backup quarterback Mac Jones has played well this season, going 81/116 for 1,176 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Michigan will have to dig deep if they are going to upset the Crimson Tide and there are some impactful players who could help change the momentum of how the game goes. Check out the five players to watch in the Citrus Bowl.
1. WR Donovan Peoples-Jones – MICHIGAN
One of the biggest headlines heading into this game is whether Michigan wide receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones and Nico Collins will return to Michigan next season. The one that seems to have a more positive NFL draft grade so far is Peoples-Jones and depending on how he can do against Alabama could affect his decision on returning or not to Ann Arbor.
Peoples-Jones will be going up against some good competition in the Alabama secondary and lucky for him there is lots of talent around him at the position where he might get some single coverage. Michigan will need to be in a scoring duel with Alabama as Alabama has a top 10 offense and the Wolverines defense will need to do it’s best to slow them down.
So if Michigan wants to stay in the game, they will need to air the ball out. Peoples-Jones will need to make some big plays, and whether that is as a wide receiver or a punt returner, his play will be huge for the Wolverines offense.
For Alabama’s offense, one of their star wide receivers on their team…
Big shocker of the day, the Alabama Crimson Tide have yet another safety that could be a top draft prospect in this year’s class.
McKinney is another safety that is often spoken of in the same breath as Grant Delpit. Both safeties will be highly coveted in this year’s class. McKinney is more of the cover safety, in fact he spent some time in the nickel corner role last season due to injury. He excels in coverage with two interceptions during his sophomore year and 10 passes defended. This year back in his more natural role, McKinney added three more picks, five passes defended and four forced fumbles.
McKinney has good reactions when playing in coverage. He can close quickly when coming downhill. He will be a solid tackler at the next level because he rarely whiffs on tackle attempts. He is very much a swiss army knife in that he does a little bit of everything. He can play coverage, blitz off the edge with success or be an extra body in the box in run defense. Well rounded and seems to do everything well.
Weaknesses
While Xavier McKinney does a lot of things well he isn’t a player you want to leave one on one in coverage too often. He can get burned by his over aggressiveness in coverage. Doesn’t have elite athleticism to play center fielder as a single high safety but does enough to get the job done.
There aren’t many things that McKinney needs to improve upon. He does need to be more refined in his tackling technique as he can come in too high at times.
Bottom Line
Xavier McKinney is a top two safety in this class with his ability to play all over the defense. Some have referred to him as a poor man’s Minkah Fitzpatrick. Maybe it is the crimson jersey that he wears on Saturdays, but definitely see that in his game.
The Draft Network, a site dedicated to analyzing, predicting and breaking down the NFL Draft, has started putting out mock drafts ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft. Their most recent mock draft, this time from Joe Marino, has a total of eight Alabama …
The Draft Network, a site dedicated to analyzing, predicting and breaking down the NFL Draft, has started putting out mock drafts ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Here’s where Marino believes members of the 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide will start their NFL careers:
3. Miami Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa, QB
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Marino believes that the unfortunate injuries Tagovailoa has sustained late in his Junior season aided the struggling Miami Dolphins win the ‘Tank for Tua’ sweepstakes.
7. New York Jets – Jedrick Wills, OT
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
The reasoning behind this pick: Sam Darnold can’t throw if Sam Darnold keeps getting sacked. He needs protection, and Wills is one of the best at offering it in this draft class.
10. Denver Broncos – Jerry Jeudy, WR
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Jerry Jeudy’s route-running paired with a healthy Drew Locke? Sounds like an SEC Football reunion in Denver. Can the Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton combo replace the elite Denver duo that was Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas?
13. Oakland Raiders – Henry Ruggs III, WR
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Marino’s reasoning for this pick has nothing to do with how well Ruggs would fit into the Raiders’ offensive scheme, but rather how big of a weapon he would be on an offense with his speed and versatility.
14. Cleveland Browns – Alex Leatherwood, OT
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Much like the Jets’ pick of Jedrick Wills earlier in the draft, this is a team with offensive talent and promise, but they are no use if Baker Mayfield can’t get the ball off without getting hit. If the Browns want to protect Mayfield, Leatherwood is their guy.
27. New Orleans Saints – Dylan Moses, LB
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Marino recognizes the fact that Moses didn’t play a single snap in the 2019 season due to injury, but cites that it shouldn’t hinder his draft stock because of how well he’s played in previous years. He believes Moses will fill a hole the Saints have in the secondary.
28. San Francisco 49ers – Xavier McKinney, S
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Marino believes that McKinney could offer some versatility to the secondary that the 49ers need. He cites the different skillsets McKinney has learned while at Alabama which could make him a valuable asset to the San Fransisco defense.
32. Baltimore Ravens – Terrell Lewis, EDGE
(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Would the Ravens really be the Ravens if they didn’t at least consider and Alabama player for their first round pick? Marino doesn’t believe so. He also feels that Lewis could be a big help for the ravens defense as a monster with the blitz.
Which Alabama juniors should leave school early for the 2020 NFL Draft?
The Alabama Crimson Tide will lose several of its key players to graduation following the conclusion of the 2019 season.
Guys such as outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings, defensive lineman Raekwon Davis and cornerback Trevon Diggs are all seniors, so getting them back in 2020 is out of the question.
But what about the Crimson Tide’s third-year players who are eligible to leave early for the 2020 NFL Draft? That topic is what this article will focus on.
There are a lot of elements involved with making these sort of decisions, some of which we do not know. But here at Roll Tide Wire, we’ve decided to give you our take on which players should — or shouldn’t — leave early for the NFL.
Najee Harris, Running Back
Nov 30, 2019; Auburn, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Najee Harris (22) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
The perfect opportunity awaits for former five-star running back Najee Harris to cash in following this season. After being limited to a rotational role in 2018, Harris was given 185 carries, turning them into 1,088 yards and 11 touchdowns.
More impressive, however, were his receiving stats. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound junior out of Antioch (Calif.) hauled in 27 catches for 304 yards (11.3 YPC) and a whopping seven touchdowns.
Harris proved capable of being a workhorse down the stretch too. In the final seven games, he racked up 837 total yards (637 rushing, 200 receiving) and 14 total touchdowns.
It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Harris isn’t considered one of the top running backs in the 2020 NFL Draft.
A look at the Colts’ crop in the latest mock draft.
The Indianapolis Colts (6-70 are facing official elimination from the playoffs when they travel south to take on the New Orleans Saints (10-3) in a primetime matchup Monday night.
With the Colts’ season all but over, much of the focus has been shifted to who they might select in the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft. While that is still a long way away, it will soon become the dominating topic of discussion.
What the Colts will actually do in the draft is impossible to tell. Even in the week leading up to the draft, it will be immensely difficult to figure out what direction they go in.
Many are vying for a quarterback in this year’s class. With the struggles of Jacoby Brissett and the questions that have risen with him as a franchise quarterback, there are many hoping that general manager Chris Ballard pulls the trigger if the opportunity presents itself.
If they don’t, though, there are other positions that need help as well. The Colts must add impact players to the interior defensive line. They must also add more depth to the wide receiver position.
Free agency will dictate much of what the Colts do in the draft, but there are plenty of options that could help them when April rolls around.
Alabama’s Xavier McKinney has not only recorded two interceptions, but he returned the second interception 81 yards for the Crimson Tide.
In less than 10 minutes, Alabama’s Xavier McKinney not only recorded two interceptions, but he returned the second interception 81 yards for the Crimson Tide.
Of course, the NFL season hasn’t ended yet, but the first round of the draft is starting to take shape, so we might as well speculate.
With the 24th pick, the Vikings take safety Xavier McKinney out of Alabama.
At this point in the draft process, it’s probably smarter to take a look at what position draft experts have the Vikings taking than the actual player.
The Vikings have their two starters at safety with Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris, but is an unrestricted free agent after the year.
Minnesota drafted Marcus Epps in the sixth-round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but released him last week to make room for Andrew Sendejo.
McKinney has 43 tackles, two sacks and an interception as a junior.
