Alabama could dominate first round of draft

“Yes, I’ve had a chance to study all those guys,” said Newsome, a former Crimson Tide player who picks 29th in the first round.

Richardson could go as high as fourth to the Cleveland Browns.

Then the defensive players from Alabama will start coming off draft boards. Barron, a safety, likely will be the next player followed by Kirkpatrick, Hightower and Upshaw.

With the key four defenders leading the way, the Crimson Tide’s vaunted defense shut out LSU in the national title game. Newsome went so far as to compare the Crimson Tide’s defense with the record-setting 2000 Baltimore Ravens’ unit.

“I was at the national championship game,” Newsome said. “In watching that defense this year, it was very similar to the way we played defense in 2000.

“They were able to stop the run. They could rush the passer and then they had guys in coverage with a ball-hawker at safety. If you want to compare the two, it’s hard to do a college team versus a pro team, but they looked very similar to me. For that level of football, they were as dominant of a defense as it could be for that level.”

Four Alabama players — including Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones — were selected in the first round last season.

If five players are selected, it will be the fifth time since the common draft began in 1967 (after the 1966 AFL/NFL merger) that a school has had five or more players selected in the first round.

Ohio State was the last school to have five players selected, in 2006. Miami had six in 2004 and five in 2002. USC had five in 1968.

If all five are selected in the first round, the Crimson Tide will set an SEC record for the most first-round picks in a single draft. LSU (2007), Auburn (2005) and Alabama (2011) each had four first-rounders tabbed.

In addition to the potential first-rounders, Alabama nose tackle Josh Chapman, cornerback DeQuan Menzie and wide receiver Marquis Maze are projected to be drafted.

“They won two national championship in the last three years,” ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said. “Nick [Saban] has done a great job in terms of recruiting and coaching these guys properly and motivating them properly.”

While some in the SEC country have questioned some of Saban’s recruiting tactics, his name is gold in NFL circles. His players are considered to have high football intelligence.

“For [Saban], it’s just tremendous recruiting and outstanding coaching,” Kiper said. “There are a lot of guys who are heavily recruited and don’t pan out. In Alabama, you don’t see many of these guys fall by the wayside. Most of these guys, Nick and his coaching staff, once they get their hands on them, they work with them. These guys turn out to be real good players.”

Richardson is widely considered the best running back to come out of the college ranks since Adrian Peterson in 2007.

Barron, who’s had postseason hernia surgery, can cover tight ends.

“Barron is one of the best players in the draft,” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said. “I believe he’s going to go between 10 and 15.”

Less than a week after declaring for the draft, Kirkpatrick was arrested for marijuana possession in Florida. The charge later was dropped.

Hightower should be the fourth Alabama player taken in the first round.

“I know he had the knee injury, and he doesn’t have elite speed, but he’s 265 pounds and is great versus the inside run,” McShay said.

Upshaw is the Alabama player most in danger of slipping out of the first round.

“He’s not an elite athlete, but a great football player,” McShay said. “I kept watching the tape, and I know that he doesn’t have the great explosiveness off the ball. I know he’s not an elite athlete. I know he doesn’t really have that burst around the edge, but the guy is always around the ball. He’s tough, he’s physical, and he’s strong versus the run.”