TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry and defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson are heading to the NFL, leaving the Crimson Tide to reload again for another attempt at a championship run.
The juniors announced their intentions to enter the draft on Friday, four days after helping lead the Tide to the program’s fourth national title in seven seasons.
They’re the latest underclassmen to leave Alabama, which has had 20 juniors depart since 2009, including 13 first-rounders. So far the Tide hasn’t really missed a beat despite the annual talent exodus.
Henry set Southeastern Conference season rushing records with 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns in his only season as Alabama’s fulltime starter. He had split time with T.J. Yeldon, a second-round pick, last season.
“This year has just been unbelievable,” Henry said, “something I’ll cherish the rest of my life.”
The Doak Walker and Maxwell Award winner said he received a second-round grade from the NFL’s College Advisory Committee. He feels like he can improve his status by draft time.
“I feel like I’m going in the first round,” said Henry, who hasn’t signed with an agent. “I feel like that’s about what I do and how I test at the combine and work out. I feel like I’ll be a first-rounder. There’s no doubt in my mind that I won’t be.”
The juniors who have left include tailbacks Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson,Yeldon and Glen Coffee. Ingram and Richardson were both first-rounders, Yeldon went in the second round and Coffee in the third.
The 6-foot-4, 312-pound Robinson was an Outland Trophy finalist and Associated Press All-American. He’s projected as an early first-round pick.
Robinson had 3.5 sacks and a team-high 10 quarterback hurries. He said he didn’t formally submit his name for a draft evaluation, but coach Nick Saban talked to NFL coaches about his stock. As for the decision, he said: “I don’t think it was hard at all.”
“I really didn’t look at any mock drafts,” said Robinson, who also hasn’t signed with an agent. “Still haven’t looked at any mock drafts. That really doesn’t mean anything. Those things are wrong a lot of the time. I really didn’t think about any of that stuff.”
Robinson was an anchor of probably the best defensive front seven in college football.
Seniors Reggie Ragland and Jarran Reed also are projected as likely first-round picks.
Several Tide juniors had already announced they plan to return, including linebackers Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson and safety Eddie Jackson.
Underclassmen have until Monday to declare their intentions to enter the draft. Others who haven’t announced their decisions include defensive end Jonathan Allen and tight end O.J. Howard, the offensive MVP of Monday night’s national title game against Clemson.
Robinson and Henry have been part of two SEC championship teams. Saban said both are “very close to graduation.”
“They’ve been great teammates for the other players on the team,” Saban said. “They’ve been really good leaders, setting an example. Both have done things exactly like we’d like in this program from a personal standpoint, an academic standpoint. And obviously they’ve had tremendous success on the football field individually and contributing to the team’s success.”
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