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Alabama stars Trent Richardson and Dre Kirkpatrick announced their exits at a Thursday afternoon press conference, with Dont'a Hightower following shortly after.
Shortly after Alabama Crimson Tide stars Trent Richardson and Dre Kirkpatrick announced their declarations for the 2012 NFL Draft at an afternoon press conference, linebacker Dont'a Hightower decided to do the same, reports Chase Goodbread.
SBNation.com's most recent 2012 mock draft has him filling a big hole for the Philadelphia Eagles with their No. 15 pick (not to mention kicking off a run of three straight Alabama players, not including likely first-rounders Richardson and Kirkpatrick):
I'm still amazed that the Eagles could do what they did in free agency last year and completely ignore a gaping hole at linebacker. With Hightower they get a beast who can prevent opponents from continually racking up 150 rushing yards every week.
Hightower led one of the all-time best defenses in tackles, finished second on the team in tackles for loss and quarterback hurries, and added four sacks.
For more on the Tide, visit Alabama blog Roll Bama Roll. For more NFL Draft, visit Mocking the Draft.
As expected, Alabama Crimson Tide running back Trent Richardson and defensive back Dre Kirkpatrick are leaving school early to enter the 2012 NFL Draft. Both expressed bittersweet emotions about leaving Alabama. Said Richardson on what he and his contemporaries have accomplished in Tuscaloosa:
To have two national championships in three years is pretty big. To only lose four games since we've been here is big.
Richardson is considered a solid first-rounder, which has otherwise been becoming something of a rarity for modern running backs. Kirkpatrick is also expected to go in the first round. In SBNation.com's latest 2012 mock draft, Kirkpatrick went No. 11 to the Seattle Seahawks and Richardson went No. 21 to the Cincinnati Bengals, along with a host of other Bama players going all over the place.
Coach Nick Saban said both players are committed to returning at some point to finish up their degrees. Richardson has previously said he was torn due to how close he was to graduating.
For more on the Tide, visit Alabama blog Roll Bama Roll. For more NFL Draft, visit Mocking the Draft.
When the Alabama Crimson Tide dropped off the note Wednesday afternoon that Nick Saban would be holding a press conference Thursday at 2 p.m. ET, Bama fans shook with worry while the rest of the college football world had a pretty good time. Saban's clearly going to announce his retirement, now that he's solved college football forever.
The actual content of the presser turned out to be far less dramatic. Bama players will announce their NFL Draft intentions.
Running back Trent Richardson, a likely first round pick, is the biggest name expected to be there. Just before Monday's game, he was still offering up pros and cons on the decision:
"It's going to be a good decision, but it's still tough," Richardson said in the locker room. "I'm only a few hours away from my degree.
"At the same time, I've got mouths to feed. I'm going to go talk to coach and sit down with my momma and see."
Cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, linebacker Dont'a Hightower and safety Robert Lester also have decisions to make, though Lester's already reportedly chosen to stay.
If the Tide's defense takes a hit, the offensive line sure won't. Outland Trophy winner Barrett Jones is coming back, as are tackle D.J. Fluker and guard Chance Warmack.
For more on the Tide, visit Alabama blog Roll Bama Roll.
Trent Richardson has had a pretty distinguished career with the Alabama Crimson Tide, but that doesn't mean it's going to end anytime soon. The junior running back said before the season that he plans to return for his senior season and, after winding up third in this year's Heisman voting, there may still be some unfinished business.
Richardson has already garnered plenty of accolades while at Alabama as he won the Doak Walker award, the SEC Offensive Player of the Year award and was named a consensus All-American this season. Nobody would blame him if he left school this year, but he told the media, via SB Nation's Mocking the Draft, that that wasn't part of his plan before the season started.
"I have got a whole 'nother year," Richardson told the media. "I'm not worried about anything else. I'm going to be here for a whole 'nother year. I'm just ready to stay here and play football."
Richardson is ranked as the third best prospect, according to SB Nation's NFL Draft experts, and has a chance to lead Alabama to a national championship on Monday night. After that, it seems, is when the questions will really heat up regarding if hes going to go pro.
For now, though, let's just take him at his word.
For more on Richardson and the Alabama Crimson Tide, be sure to visit Roll 'Bama Roll. For more on the NFL Draft in general, Mocking the Draft has you covered and for all of your football needs, be sure to visit SB Nation's NFL hub.
Alabama Crimson Tide running back Trent Richardson has said he'll stick around for his senior season instead of entering the 2012 NFL Draft. We'll see, but if he does return to Bama, that would have to be good news for Virginia Tech Hokies running back David Wilson.
It's going to be a thin herd of backs, with or without Richardson, but Wilson could emerge as the top prospect. He's filing paperwork with the NFL to see where he might wind up if he does declare:
"Regardless of my decision, I would like to see where I would end up if I was to take that route," Wilson said.
Wilson is third in the country in rushing yardage, and fifth in yards per game despite being 13th in attempts. He's also eighth in total yards from scrimmage.
For more on the Hokies, visit Virginia Tech blog Gobbler Country. For more NFL Draft, visit Mocking The Draft.
Dre Kirkpatrick Arrested: Alabama Star Cited For Marijuana Possession
Alabama Crimson Tide cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, a potential top-10 NFL Draft pick, was arrested late Monday night for possession of fewer than 20 grams of cannabis, Manatee County Sheriff's Office records show.
Kirkpatrick, a junior, declared early for the 2012 NFL Draft after Alabama won the BCS National Championship Game over the LSU Tigers. Until the arrest, he was expected to be perhaps the first defensive back taken, going No. 7 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in SBNation.com's latest 2012 mock draft. Now he'll probably tumble into Bill Belichick's waiting arms, where he'll be a perfect citizen for the next decade and everybody will wonder how he ended up in New England. That's what usually happens.
Kirkpatrick was named a second-team AP All-American in 2011, concluding a college career that began when he arrived in Tuscaloosa as a consensus five-star recruit.
For more on Kirkpatrick at the Tide, visit Alabama blog Roll Bama Roll.
Jan 17 3:24p by Jason Kirk - 3 comments