Every year between the end of the college football season and the NFL draft, dozens of the best seniors in college football descend on Mobile, Alabama for the Senior Bowl. It’s a chance for the sports veteran players to interact with NFL coaches and executives throughout the week and play in the game at the end of the week with fellow draft hopefuls, all with the goals of making the right connections and impressing the right people to increase their draft stock.
Alabama is represented by four players this year: quarterback Jalen Milroe, punter James Burnip, tight end CJ Dippre and defensive lineman Tim Smith. Defensive back Malachi Moore also accepted an invitation but will be unable to compete as he continues to recover from his injury.
The players began arriving in Mobile on Sunday and the official measurements were released on Monday. But the week really gets going when practices start on Tuesday, continuing through Thursday with the actual game on Saturday. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is also scheduled to speak to the media on Tuesday afternoon in Mobile.
Here are a few Alabama storylines to watch as the week goes on:
1. Can Jalen Milroe cement himself as a first-round draft pick?
Depending on which outlet you look at, Jalen Milroe is being projected anywhere from the No. 2 overall pick to the second round. Milroe struggled at times in his final season with the Crimson Tide, especially in the last third of the year, but he has the physical attributes and skills that are appealing to a lot of NFL executives.
Milroe’s speed and athleticism are off the charts for a quarterback. He’s also an intelligent guy, winning the William Campbell Trophy this season, and should interview well with executives. He’s shown flashes of how special he can be in the passing game, but needs to show consistency in that area This week in Mobile will be his first opportunity to get direct coaching from current NFL coaches. Can he take advantage?
