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Derrick Henry, A'Shawn Robinson Declare For NFL Draft
A'Shawn Robinson, Derrick Henry, Nick Saban
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Kent Gidley
University of Alabama Heisman Trophy winning running back DERRICK HENRY and defensive back A'SHAWN ROBINSON announced on Friday that they will forgo their senior seasons to enter the 2016 NFL Draft. The announcement came in the Naylor Stone Media room, along with Crimson Tide head coach NICK SABAN, yesterday afternoon.
In his announcement Henry said he received a second-round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board, which helps underclassmen get a general understanding of where they might stand in the draft before they have to make the decision whether to leave college. In his 15 games starting for Alabama this season Henry rushed for 2,219 yards, with 28 touchdowns, and led the Crimson Tide offense to coach Nick Saban's fourth national championship in seven years at the school.
Concerning his second-round grade Henry, from Yulee, Florida, said, "I'm not satisfied with (a second-round grade), but I'm never satisfied. None of that is really under my control, so I don't worry about it. All I can do is keep working."
Henry set Southeastern Conference records for rushing with 2,219 yards, rushing touchdowns with 28 and number of carries on the season with 395. He won the school’s second Heisman Trophy while also winning the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Doak Walker Award. Henry is now the sixth consecutive starting running back at Alabama under Saban to declare early for the NFL Draft, following GLEN COFFEE, MARK INGRAM, TRENT RICHARDSON, EDDIE LACY and T.J. YELDON.
"I've been thanking God for my opportunities," Henry further stated. "It’s great. I’m getting better and better every day."
Meanwhile, Robinson, out of Ft. Worth, Texas, said he did not file for feedback from the NFLDAB, but said coach Saban informed him that Saban's NFL sources consider him a mid-to-late first-round pick. Robinson, a three-year starter for the Crimson Tide, made 46 tackles, including 3.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 10 quarterback hurries despite having to face consistent double-teaming throughout the season.
Concerning making the decision to turn pro, Robinson said, "I didn’t think it was tough. I think Coach BO (DAVIS) and Coach Saban have done everything to prepare me for this situation. I don’t think it was really that tough."
Here is what Alabama head coach Nick Saban had to say in his opening statement at yesterday's press conference:
"We provide the best information possible, so they can make a very good business decision about their future, and I think both of these guys have done a really good job of doing the due diligence they need to do, so that they can make a decision. We’ve had 20 guys go out early since 2009. Thirteen of them have been first-round draft picks, which we’re really proud of. I think every player, which was really demonstrated at the national championship game out in Phoenix, Ariz., this year when we had over 20 former players that play in the NFL now that were on the sidelines with their team, in the locker room, as if they were a part of the team. These guys know, and it’s a part of our tradition, that we’re very proud of their accomplishments. We’re very concerned about their future. We’re always here to support them and they’re always welcomed here to Alabama and we certainly encourage them to come back and make sure they get their degree. So, with that, I’ll let each of these young men make their announcement. Thank you."
The 2016 NFL Draft will take place April 28-30 at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago.
Defensive end JONATHAN ALLEN and tight end O.J. HOWARD did not attend the news conference yesterday, more than likely because of their still-anticipated decisions on whether or not to enter the NFL Draft themselves. The deadline for underclassmen to apply for early draft eligibility is this Monday.
Three Alabama Crimson Tide defensive players are set to return to the team for the 2016 campaign. Safety EDDIE JACKSON, linebacker TIM WILLIAMS and linebacker RYAN ANDERSON all have said, via social media, they will return to pursue a 17th National Championship.
Derrick Henry
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Kent Gidley
A'Shawn Robinson
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Kent Gidley
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National Champs To Be Honored
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QB Alec Morris To Transfer
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Routliffe Wins Friday Singles Match
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
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National Champs To Be Honored
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Mark it on your calendar.
The 2015 National Champion Alabama football team will be honored for their College Football Playoff National Championship victory over the Clemson Tigers, and celebrate the 2015 season, with a parade beginning at Denny Chimes as well as a program to be held on the north steps of Bryant-Denny Stadium at the Walk of Champions one week from today, Saturday, January 23rd.
The parade will feature several Alabama dignitaries as well as special guests. Of course Alabama football head coach NICK SABAN and the players will be featured, along with Alabama Director of Athletics BILL BATTLE and other Crimson Tiders. The parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. CT on University Boulevard at Denny Chimes.
The parade will end at the Walk of Champions where a ceremony will be held on the top steps of the Bryant-Denny Stadium north end zone. The event will be emceed by the voice of Alabama Crimson Tide football, ELI GOLD.
Giveaways will be abundant, including 10,000 championship posters and 5,000 national championship promotional items. The parade and celebration is being sponsored by Academy Sports and Regions Bank.
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QB Alec Morris To Transfer
Photo obtained from Bing.com
University of Alabama quarterback ALEC MORRIS has decided to go home.
Rumors have been rampant that the former Allen (Texas) High School quareterback was considering transferring from the University of Alabama to attend the University of North Texas. Morris confirmed those rumors this week, and will be leaving UA to attend North Texas.
If you recall, Morris was in the thick of the quarterback battle back in the summer into the autumn, with eventual starting quarterback JACOB COKER as well as COOPER BATEMAN, but appeared to lose ground and fall into the number three slot. It appears Morris will have an opportunity to start at his new school, or at least be very competitive. He has good size, standing 6' 3" and weighing in at 233 pounds. He had only one pass for six yards in eight games with the Tide.
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Routliffe Wins Friday Singles Match
Day one is in the books for the Alabama women's tennis team at the Wildcat Duals. The three-day event is being held on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Bama junior ERIN ROUTLIFFE led the way with her Friday singles win. The even concludes tomorrow.
Alabama fell in three doubles matches yesterday. Routliffe and junior DANIELLE SPIELMAN lost 6-1 to seventh-ranked Alex Chatt and Maddie Lipp of Northwestern. Freshman ANDIE DANIELL and sophomore ARYN GREEN lost 6-3 and losing 6-2 was senior NATALIA MAYNETTO and junior JOANNA NENA SAVVA.
While 63rd-ranked Routliffe defeated Northwestern's Erin Larner 6-4 and 6-2, Daniell lost in three sets to 61st-ranked Lipp, sophomore BENNETT DUNN, Maynetto, Savva and Spielmann all lost in straight sets.
Play continues this afternoon at 3 p.m. CT.
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Gymnastics Wins SEC Opener
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
It's always sweet to win a Southeastern Conference opener. It's even sweeter to win it at home. The sixth-ranked Alabama gymnastics team opened with a 197.175 to 196.050 win over 14-ranked Missouri yesterday in front of a crowd of 10,860. Since 1979 The Crimson Tide is 48-1-1 in home openers. Head coach DANA DUCKWORTH is now 2-0-0 in openers at Coleman Coliseum.
Duckworth said, "Out goal for tonight (Friday) was to have a better performance than we did last week and we were really able to accomplish that."
Bama will go back to work tomorrow in Birmingham at the Elevate Stage Meet where they will do battle with Auburn. The meet is scheduled to get underway at 3 p.m. CT in the BJCC Legacy Arena.
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Track & Field Having a Busy Weekend
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The University of Alabama men's and women's track & field teams opened the 2016 indoor season yesterday at the Commodore Indoor Invitational. The event is hosted by Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
Alabama junior JERMIAH GREEN turned in a personal-best performance, finishing sixth in the men's long jump with a jump of 23-10 (7.26m). His previous best was 6.97m.
Sophomore OLIVIA FOTOPOULOU also recorded a personal-best in the 200 meters, turning in a time of 24.40 and giving her a fifth-place finish.
The meet resumes at 10 a.m. CT this morning.
