Alabama standouts Amari Cooper and TJ Yeldon have decided to join teammate Landon Collins and enter the NFL Draft. This isn’t much of a surprise for either players, Cooper is coming off one of the most prolific seasons a wide receiver could have and Yeldon has been a mainstay for the Tide’s offense since he stepped foot on campus.
Alabama junior receiver Amari Cooper and junior running back T.J. Yeldon plan to leave school early and declare for the NFL draft, sources told ESPN.com’s Chris Low. They’ll be joined by junior safety Landon Collins, according to his mother, April Justin.
Cooper had 16 touchdown catches this season, the most by an SEC player since Reidel Anthony, and set the conference record with 18 in 1996.
Cooper is the No. 4 overall prospect in the 2015 NFL draft class and top wide receiver, according to ESPN’s Scouts Inc.
“There’s nothing Cooper doesn’t do really well, and he’s probably more explosive than he looks because his movement is so precise,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper said of Cooper, who is ranked third overall on his Big Board. “He separates with ease, has a good sense of how to find space against a zone and will make contested catches. His work rate is legendary and will be a big selling point.”
Yeldon, meanwhile, had 932 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, just missing his third straight 1,000-yard season. Yeldon is the draft’s No. 6 running back prospect and No. 49 overall.
Like Collins, Cooper should hear his named called very early in the first round, I can’t see him getting outside of the Top 10. Yeldon on the other hand will probably have to wait little longer than his teammates. I see him as being a 2nd day pick barring something drastic happening.