You don’t get to the National Championship without NFL caliber talents on both sides of the ball. Dabo Swinney and Clemson have paved their way to the title game with recruiting classes and NFL athletes that rival the Miami (FL) talents of old. Nick Saban and his NFL factory at Alabama offer pro-ready linemen and the Heisman Trophy winning running back.
While Alabama offers more depth in terms of NFL talent, including three defensive linemen that may be drafted in the top-40 picks, Clemson boasts the two top NFL draft picks and a sophomore quarterback that finished third in the Heisman voting. Alabama may be a heavy favorite, but both teams offer top-end talent that expands past just this top-10 list.
- Ryan Kelly, OC, Alabama
Derrick Henry has often given credit to his offensive line for his Heisman success, and none deserve it more than the Rimington Award winner Ryan Kelly. Kelly’s a bit of an overachiever (generally, a prospect without great athletic talent but wins at the college level), but his ability to generate strength against SEC defensive tackles at a high-level speaks to his NFL potential.
Highly efficient in his post-snap footwork, Kelly positions his shoulder with power and control consistently well on man-blocks, keeping his shoulders ahead of his feet and maintaining control. Kelly wins off the snap in both pass and run blocking more often than most college centers could against the type of physical defensive linemen he faced each week, and he looks the part of an NFL starter, albeit not a sexy early draft pick, for years to come.
- Cyrus Jones, CB, Alabama
Thriving most as a dangerous punt returner for the Crimson Tide, Jones’ dynamic return skills stem from confidence in his reads and remarkable acceleration to his top speed. He’ll be the second biggest threat for Clemson to deal with, after Derrick Henry, for the Alabama offense to thrive.
As a cornerback, Jones is an athletically gifted and speedy cornerback whose footwork in underneath and comeback routes coupled with poor footwork and timing in vertical routes stunt his NFL upside. His willingness to be physical and as an effective tackler will make him a solid cornerback prospect, but one that will need time and safety protection early and often during his NFL career.
- Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
One of three Alabama defensive linemen on this list, Reed is the best run defender of the bunch. Playing primarily the nose guard (in 3-4 set) or 3-technique spot (in 4-3 sets), Reed gets his hands up quickly to establish position and hold ground well on the interior.
His extension off the snap and extremely sturdy lower half allows him to thrive against the run, and he’s the key to Alabama’s interior run defense that allows top players like Jonathan Allen and Reggie Ragland to thrive. He’s a bit under-appreciated and not an exciting draft pick, but he plays the role of unheralded yet crucial cog in the Alabama defense.
- Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Why is the Heisman Trophy and FBS rushing leader only the 7th best prospect in the National Championship? While he’ll certainly be the most important player in the game for Clemson to stop and for Alabama to ride, his pro prospects may not lead him to the draft’s first round.
A combination of positional value, his interior offensive line’s dominance in getting him easy yards to start, and his running style all may push him out of the top-32. While not a shifty back and certainly winning with power, it’s Henry’s subtle steps to get defenders initially and at the second level to give him build-up speed that has scouts excited. He’s not the second coming of Eddie Lacy in that he’s a power-only runner, and he looks built to be an effective, persistent, and powerful NFL runner that can use his play against Clemson to solidify that he’s among the draft’s top-3 rushers.
- Jayron Kearse, SAF, Clemson
While other safeties in the 2016 NFL Draft may be more refined and polished, Kearse beats nearly every draft eligible safety (outside of Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey) in athletic upside. He offers elite length and explosiveness for a safety in run support as an edge blitzer, two areas that really make him stand out. He plays multiple safety roles with athletic ease, and can be groomed to fit any defense as well as offer rare versatility as a defensive back.
He struggles to read and react to runners and running lanes, is a bit of a waiting tackler, and lacks great footwork or patience to breakdown and finish tackles against top runners. And while he thrives thanks to his length and fluidity in short-area man coverage, he struggles in footwork in traditional zone reads. But despite his rawness and inconsistency, it’s Kearse’s rare athletic upside that could have this physical specimen land in the late first-round.
- Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama (JR)
Playing a variety of spots on the Alabama defensive line, primarily on the outside, Allen is more rotational than a true starter for Alabama. Still raw in his hand placement, rush moves and block anticipation, he can be neutralized with more frequency than other Alabama defenders.
But what he lacks in refinement and sometimes inconsistency, he makes up for in remarkable explosiveness, converting speed to power on the perimeter, and confidence and control in space. At this point in his career, he’ll need to play more situationally and be utilized more on stunts than an every down defensive end. But his ceiling is the highest of any Alabama defender.
- A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (JR)
The third of three Alabama defensive linemen on this list, Robinson offers great versatility to play nose tackle and 3-technique in their 4-3 sets and 5-technique in their 3-4 sets. Despite hovering around 300 pounds, Robinson offers a leaner, longer build that allows him to sink lower and drive initially as a one-on-one pass rusher.
Gaining separation with relative ease as an upfield penetrator, his forceful pop off of the line coupled with lateral control allows him to transition between run and pass defense easily and with ample body control. He is a bit susceptible to cross blocks against zone teams and doesn’t win battles as rusher often enough against top offensive linemen to be a first-round lock, but he’ll certainly hover that area thanks to unique length and explosiveness for an interior defensive lineman.
- Reggie Ragland LB, Alabama
Ragland is destined to be compared to prior Alabama linebacker turned first-round pick CJ Mosely, but Ragland is a slightly different type of inside defender. While not an elite athlete, Ragland’s adeptness in mid-field pass coverage is part of how the Alabama pass-rush is able to thrive so much.
A polished, patient and calculating inside presence, Ragland doesn’t take his defensive line’s play for granted, rarely taking false steps and reacting at a high level on the perimeter. Ragland’s range, effectiveness in space and coverage upside should have him land in the first-round. NFL teams will covet his readiness, but his athletic testing at the NFL combine could be difference in whether he’s pick between 25-40 or 10-25 overall.
- Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson (RS So)
As I wrote in anticipation of his match-up against Oklahoma’s Sterling Shepard, Mackensie Alexander may be the best cornerback in the country, above Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves. His versatility to play in the slot at a high level as well as protect downfield against top vertical receivers should excite teams, despite the fact that he’s a sub-6’0 cornerback.
His performance against Oklahoma (and Notre Dame before that) proves that he’s not only a first-round cornerback (should he declare), but in the mix for the top-15 picks. He won’t get a chance to shine too much again Alabama based on their offense, but I expect his knack for disallowing touchdowns (just two allowed in his last 23 games) to continue.
- Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson (JR)
Dealing with a knee injury that took him out of the team’s game vs. Oklahoma, he’ll be to forced to wear a knee brace against Alabama, likely limiting his impact. Still, Lawson’s strength, athleticism to adjust off initial blocks and devastating spin move should give Alabama’s talented yet inconsistent pass blockers some trouble.
Lawson, expected to declare for the draft, should have his sights set on a top-10 draft pick, not out of the question for arguably the draft’s best defensive end after Joey Bosa. His impact might not be 100% against Alabama, but his rare burst and elite 6’4, 280-pound size should reek havoc on Sundays.
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