As the Alabama Crimson Tide gets ready to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday, it’ll be a huge SEC game with a scintillating match-up of the high-powered Arkansas offense versus the elite ‘Bama defense.
That defense has three guys on it that could be round 1-2 picks in next April’s draft.
Dre Kirkpatrick, 6-2, 192 CB
Coach Nick Saban talked about the confidence Robert Lester and Dre Kirkpatrick got after last year’s game against Arkansas, and how that will affect their professional development:
“I think the experience of playing last year, making plays and not only learning from the plays that they made, but also the mistakes that they made, helped them develop as good, consistent players. That’s what impacts their confidence and ability to perform more effectively in the game. A combination of all of those things can help contribute in a positive way to a player’s development.
We made a lot of mistakes last year, especially early in the game. We didn’t adjust the formations right, busted a long touchdown, and we didn’t have anybody dropping a flat. There’s a little more consistency, knowledge and experience, and I think a little more ability to adapt to circumstances and situations. I think when you play a team like Arkansas, they do a lot different things.
Conceptually, they’re the same things, but it is typical NFL style where they do it in a different way than how you practiced. Last year at this time, we weren’t very adaptable relative to the knowledge and experience that we had. I think we have better knowledge and experience now, and I hope we’ll make better adjustments in this game and not make those kinds of mental mistakes.”
Kirkpatrick is a big, physical defensive back with speed and agility. He won the Bobby Johns Defensive Back Award and captured the Bart Starr Most Improved Player Award in the spring.
Hightower sung his praises:
“He’s one of those guys who stepped up a lot in trying to be one of those vocal leaders on the team, trying to get everyone amped up and ready to go.”
Kirkpatrick could be the first CB taken this draft, and should be a top 10-15 pick.
Dont’a Hightower, LB,6-4, 260
The Arkansas game was memorable for Hightower, but for a very bad reason. He suffered a knee injury in the first quarter when he was cut blocked by an Arkansas lineman. Diagnosed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and missed the rest of the season. Having played only four games, he was granted a medical redshirt making him a redshirt sophomore in 2010.
Hightower believes the defense is better this year going into the Arkansas game than last season:
“I feel like we have matured a lot. You can see that through the first three games this year, especially last week putting up the goose egg and then at Penn State, playing against those guys and having a good game. I feel confident on defense and feel like that is our strength this year.”
Hightower looks like a late first round, early second round pick.
Mark Barron, 6-2, 218, Safety
A first-team All-American by the FWAA in 2010 and a third-team Associated Press All-American in 2009, Barron is a hard hitting defender who’s blessed with excellent size and speed. He had 7 INTs and 76 stops as a sophomore in 2009 for the national title team.
Barron is considered a strong NFL prospect, who could have possibly come out after his junior season if he wanted to. NFLDraftScout.com, rates Barron as the second best safety in his class. The website also projects him going in the late first round of the 2012 NFL draft.
His stock has taken a hit though this year, and he may slip into the second round as Barron was arrested in Mobile, Alabama for second-degree hindering prosecution, a misdemeanor in the state of Alabama, two days before spring practice.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site that generates millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
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