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In 2016, Alabama's defense was the definition of suffocating, allowing just 13 points per game, forcing 29 turnovers and scoring 11 defensive touchdowns. It helps, of course, that the unit was stacked with legit NFL talent. Five of Todd McShay's current top-40 defensive players in the 2017 NFL draft played for the Tide. Florida also has five such prospects, but after the Gators, no other school has more than three. Nick Saban's program could be the first since Oklahoma in 1984 to produce five defenders in the top two rounds of the draft.
So, who are these defensive studs? I studied the tape and talked to talent evaluators throughout the league to break down the strengths and weaknesses of Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, Marlon Humphrey, Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson.
Jonathan Allen, DL
McShay's ranking: No. 2 defender, No. 2 overall
Best team fits: Bears, Jaguars
NFL comp: Gerald McCoy
Positives: Allen has this natural power to rag-doll blockers. His tremendous footwork and burst off the ball helped him consistently live in the offensive backfield (22.5 sacks and 21 QB hurries in his past 30 games). He had a Superman-like sack against Texas A&M in 2016 where he tossed the offensive guard out of the way and then launched over a cut block to bury Trevor Knight. Rare stuff for such a big man. In a league starved for interior pass-rushers, Allen is a top-10 talent.
Negatives: Allen didn't miss a game over his final three seasons, but he has moderate arthritis in both of his surgically repaired shoulders. That will raise red flags for some teams. And then there are Allen's below-average combine numbers: 5.00 40-yard dash with a 1.74 10-yard split. Those make you question whether Allen can be a pure edge defender in the NFL. In all likelihood, he profiles as an interior pass-rusher who may occasionally struggle versus the run because of his 286-pound frame.
Reuben Foster, LB
McShay's ranking: No. 7 defender, No. 9 overall
Best team fits: Bengals, Titans
NFL comp: Thomas Davis
Positives: At 6-foot and 229 pounds, Foster is one of the most vicious hitters in this class. He laid a memorable lick on Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, who went helicoptering through the air in the CFP National Championship. And as he showed against LSU star Leonard Fournette, Foster has a knack for squeezing through the tiniest of gaps to wrestle ball carriers to the ground. He posted incredible production playing inside linebacker for Alabama (116 tackles, 13 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, eight QB hurries in 2016), but because of his ability to run sideline-to-sideline and check running backs and tight ends in coverage, Foster might fit best at weakside linebacker in the pros.
Negatives: Sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the NFL sent Foster home from the combine after he had a "heated altercation" with a hospital worker. That will be a red flag for some teams. Scouts also worry about Foster's history of stingers, and he recently had rotator cuff surgery. On the field, Foster needs to use his hands better to avoid getting glued to blocks. He could get away with the occasional poor read at Alabama. Not in the NFL.
Marlon Humphrey, CB
McShay's ranking: No. 20 defender, No. 35 overall
Best team fits: Seahawks, Chiefs
NFL comp: Xavier Rhodes
Positives: With long arms (32¼ inches), an ideal frame (6-foot, 197 pounds) and elite speed (4.41 40), Humphrey thrives when playing press-man coverage. This cat competes at the line against bigger wide receivers, and he also shows great awareness when playing zone. Lying in the weeds as a rolled-up flat defender against Texas A&M this season, Humphrey put his eyes on the QB and sank underneath the corner route for a pick. That's stealing. He showed his physicality in the run game against A&M, too, blowing up multiple WR screens. He's just too physical, too strong to be blocked on a consistent basis.
Negatives: When asked to play off the ball or transition down the field, Humphrey looks a little stiff. In particular, his technique suffers at the top of the route on inside cuts, leaving him vulnerable to the post or the deep dig route. Scouts also have concerns about his ability to finish plays on deep throws (just two interceptions and five pass breakups in 2016). In the CFP National Championship, Humphrey struggled to win 50/50 balls against Clemson's Mike Williams. You have to find that rock and finish in the pros.
Tim Williams, OLB
McShay's ranking: No. 29 defender, No. 45 overall
Best team fits: Steelers, Cardinals
NFL comp: Leonard Floyd
Dimensions: 6-3, 244 pounds
Positives: When he's locked in, Williams has the first-step quickness to victimize offensive tackles. I mean, this guy launches off the ball like a missile. Check out the LSU tape, where Williams rocked the O-lineman back on his heels and created an open door to go get the quarterback. His speed at the snap translates to the pro game as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in a 3-4 base, and as a defensive end in nickel sets. While he develops, put Williams in the game and let him go after the QB.
Negatives: Off-field issues make a first-round selection unlikely: Williams has admitted to failing multiple drug tests and faced a gun charge in September. On the field, he doesn't always give consistent effort, and his raw skill set might limit his role early on. Based on his tape and leaner frame, I expected Williams to test better than he did at the combine (a 4.68-second 40 and 7.36-second 3-cone are both below average for OLBs). Williams needs to bulk up a bit, and find the right system/coaching staff to reach his potential.
Ryan Anderson, OLB
McShay's ranking: No. 37 defender, No. 57 overall
Best team fits: Ravens, Lions
NFL comp: Rob Ninkovich
Dimensions: 6-2, 253 pounds
Positives: Hold the rock and Anderson will find you. He maximized his production in 2016 -- 19 TFLs, 9.0 sacks, four forced fumbles -- with unmatched effort. He had this one play against Auburn where he forced the QB to evacuate the pocket with pressure and chased him halfway across the field for the sack. Built like an old-school linebacker with that thick upper body, Anderson is a relentless run defender. And at the Senior Bowl, he showed better movement skills in coverage than I expected.
Negatives: With 4.78 speed and average athleticism, scouts question whether Anderson will find a role as a sub-package linebacker. He lacks the natural ability you typically see from NFL pass-rushers and may have to come off the field in obvious passing situations as he develops. With elite intangibles, Anderson has a shot to play for a long time in this league, but he has a lower ceiling due to concerns over his ability to run with the top TEs and make plays in space.