Nick Saban refutes idea Alabama has multiple top-15 draft picks on roster
The idea that Alabama would have a number of top players sitting out the Citrus Bowl hasn’t necessarily developed.
As the Crimson Tide get ready to face Michigan, most of Alabama’s star power will be playing in the game. While CB Trevon Diggs and LB Terrell Lewis are skipping the bowl game, star players WR Jerry Jeudy, OT Alex Leatherwood, and WR Henry Ruggs III are expected to play.
Head coach Nick Saban addressed the idea of players skipping vs playing in the bowl game earlier this month. For players who are not rated as a surefire, high first-round draft pick, Saban believes the bowl game provides an opportunity to build your stock. That may have something to do with most of Alabama’s players ready to play vs Michigan.
According to Matt Zenitz with AL.com, Saban claimed on Monday that just one of Alabama’s players has received a top-15 grade for the 2020 Draft with the teams he has spoken with. That player is star QB Tua Tagovailoa who is injured and unable to participate.
The NFL teams Nick Saban has talked to only have one Alabama player with a top-15 draft grade, Tua Tagovailoa.
He discussed that with players while talking about the benefits of playing in the bowl game.
"I said (to the team) we only have one guy with that high of a grade."
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 30, 2019
There are definitely some questions that come up when looking at Saban’s comment. There is no indication of how many teams Saban talked with, nor do we know who he spoke with related to those teams.
Then again, not every player is focused on being that high of a draft pick. Sometimes, a player sits out the bowl game simply to remain healthy and begin preparing for the next level. After all, players have used the NFL Combine as a way to boost their draft stock for some time now.
Either way, it does look like most of Alabama players will try and boost their stock with a strong game against the Wolverines. Hopefully, Jim Harbaugh’s squad is up to the task.