Lots of Alabama Crimson Tide players raised their NFL Draft stock Monday night, especially on the offensive side of the ball. In their pummeling of Notre Dame, especially the way the OL and running game dominated a previously had been elite defense, some Alabama players made themselves a lot of money in the 42-14 shellacking.
Juniors Dee Milliner and Eddie Lacy announced their decision to enter the 2013 National Football League Draft on Friday morning. Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced that junior D.J. Fluker will also forego his senior season to enter the draft.
Lacy finished the 2012 season with 1,322 yards and 17 touchdowns. The 17 rushing touchdowns are tied for the third most in single season school history. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry and 94.4 yards per game. In the national championship game the Geismar, La., native was named the Offensive MVP after rushing for 140 yards and scoring two touchdowns.
He could be a 2nd or 3rd round pick, as there’s no stud running back in this class.
Milliner finished his junior season with 54 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and 22 passes defended. He also forced a fumble, recovered a fumble and blocked a kick. The Millbrook, Ala., native was a finalist for the Thorpe Award and was a consensus first-team All-American.
He could be a top five pick, possibly going to the pass defense starved Detroit Lions.
Fluker started 36 games at right tackle for the Tide, including all 14 games in 2012. He was named a Walter Camp and Associated Press second-team All-American. The Foley, Ala., native blocked for 10 individual 100-yard performances on the season and helped Alabama average 227.5 yards per game on the ground and 218 yards in the air.
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