Fansided

College Football Week 3: NFL Draft big board rankings

By Nathaniel Reeves

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans scrambles with the football during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans scrambles with the football during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 32
Next
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 09: Defensive Back Tony Brown #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The Clemson Tigers defeated The Alabama Crimson Tide 35 to 31. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – JANUARY 09: Defensive Back Tony Brown #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game against the Clemson Tigers at Raymond James Stadium on January 9, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The Clemson Tigers defeated The Alabama Crimson Tide 35 to 31. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
28

Tony Brown

Cornerback, Alabama

One year after losing nearly its entire front seven to the NFL, Alabama’s secondary should have a pair of first round picks in next season’s draft, starting with Brown.

Once again, Brown wasn’t thrown at much in Alabama’s comfortable 41-10 victory over Fresno State on Saturday, and recorded just two tackles as a result. Brown was a major contributor in holding the ultra-athletic Florida State passing offense to 210 yards in the impressive season-opening victory, racking up a tackle and pass defense along the way.

Nick Saban’s secondary didn’t play quite up to its usual level in 2016, but Brown was stellar with 32 tackles and two interceptions. The senior was sparingly used in his first two seasons in Tuscaloosa before settling in as the starting nickelback, and had one of his best career games in the narrow title game loss to Clemson.

Scouts will surely notice Brown’s superior speed and athleticism, and he finished in 11th place in the 100 meters in last June’s NCAA Track and Field championships. Brown’s size is a bit of a concern at 6-0 and 198 pounds, although he makes up for his with hard-hitting ability and the versatility to be line up anywhere.

The Crimson Tide’s defense should roll again in Saturday’s matchup against Colorado State, giving Brown another opportunity to add to his stats.

Home/College Football