Alabama Football Takes Part in Annual Pro Day on Tuesday
3/19/2019 4:17:00 PM | Football
The Crimson Tide showcased the talents of 19 student athletes at the annual Pro Day on Tuesday
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama football program hosted its annual Pro Day on Tuesday inside the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility, with 19 draft-eligible Crimson Tide athletes showcasing their talents in front of representatives from every NFL team.
Draft-eligible players that participated in the day's events included: Isaiah Buggs, Joshua Casher, Ronnie Clark, Lester Cotton Sr., Johnny Dwight, Damien Harris, Hale Hentges, Josh Jacobs, Austin Jones, Derek Kief, D.J. Lewis, Christian Miller, Jamey Mosley, Ross Pierschbacher, Irv Smith Jr., Saivion Smith, Jonah Williams, Quinnen Williams and Mack Wilson.
The day started at 11 a.m. CT with the athletes recording their heights and weights in the weight room. The players then followed with the bench press and vertical jump. Shortly after, they moved to the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility to test in the 40-yard dash, agility drills and position-specific drills for each respective player.
Among the 150-plus credentialed media members participating were the NFL Network, ESPN and SEC Network. The NFL Network and SEC Network each went live from the four-hour event.
There were also numerous general managers and head coaches in attendance at today's event. The list was highlighted by New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and the Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. NFL front offices were also well represented by their general managers, including: Marty Hurney (Panthers), Mike Mayock (Raiders), Mickey Loomis (Saints), John Lynch (49ers), Kevin Colbert (Steelers), Brandon Beane (Bills), Bob Quinn (Lions) and Jon Robinson (Titans).
The 2019 NFL Draft is scheduled for April 25-27 in Nashville, Tenn. The three-day event will broadcast on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
Following the conclusion of Pro Day, several Crimson Tide athletes met with media to discuss the day's events.
Alabama Pro Day Quotes:
Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban
Coach Nick Saban on Quinnen Williams' breakout year:
"Quinnen was always very athletic and had really good quickness. I think sometimes he was a little undersized and maybe that limited his role. But, as he got a bigger and stronger, with that quickness, he became a dominant player. He always played with a great attitude, lots of tenacity, was a really hard worker. He tried to do everything right, he was a smart player. So, a combination of those things helped him rise very quickly."
On Jonah Williams' best trait as a tackle:
"I think Jonah's No. 1 is he is very athletic. He is really smart. He understands what to do, how to do it and why it's important to do it that way. I think he will be a fine player for a long time."
On how he prepares his players for Pro Day:
"I think the guys understand the routine. They have sort of grown up seeing these kind of days with this many people here. I think they understand what they need to do to prepare for things like this, to try to create as many opportunities as you can to get them exposure. The best thing for our program now is for every one of these guys to get drafted as high as they can, so we try to help them in every way that we can."
Offensive Lineman Jonah Williams
On his Pro Day performance:
"It was good. I mean the combine is fun, it's a good opportunity, but there were drills that were closer to football, the stuff we do in practice. I always enjoy doing things related to real football, similar to what we do in games and on the field."
On his time coming to an end at Alabama:
"It's sad. I just got back here a couple days ago and it's just back to the old stomping grounds. I had a lot of great experiences here and a lot of success, obviously, as a team, and I will leave with a lot of good memories. It's good to be back. I wasn't gone long enough to feel like I'm actually leaving."
On working out with Ross Pierschbacher:
"It's awesome. Me and Ross have worked together and pushed each other for three years here and are continuing to do it now that we are training for the NFL. It's just an awesome opportunity to be working with someone I'm comfortable with and pushing each other and pushing against ourselves."
Defensive Lineman Quinnen Williams
On this time last year:
"I definitely didn't feel like I was going to be here today. It was probably seven months from now – I wasn't even starting or ever thought about it. It's just sinking in, being here. I don't have to perform anymore. I earned my spot now. It's crazy."
On what he learned from Da'Ron Payne:
"He taught me a lot. A lot of things he did, I didn't do. A lot of things he did, I did. He didn't perform at the Pro Day, but I'm not doing that because he didn't. It's just the fact that our lives are going in the same pattern. We play the same position, we were both hoping to go first round, kind of the same way. He's from Birmingham and I'm from Birmingham, and I've looked up to him since I was a little kid, it's just cool to see stuff like that. He's taught me a lot going into this program, this process and after this process."
Linebacker Christian Miller
On the feedback he received from teams at Pro Day:
"I've heard a lot of good feedback. They see me playing all over the place – some see me as a defensive end, some see me as a linebacker. It allows me to leave the doors open for playing multiple positions on different teams because I can fit into any scheme. I've been hearing a lot of good stuff."
Linebacker Mack Wilson
On his time at The University of Alabama:
"What I'm going to miss most is the guys on the team. I feel like that's a relationship that I've created with them, like a brotherhood. Henry Ruggs III was like my little brother, somebody I helped throughout this process, and I'm going to miss him and the guys on the team as a whole in addition to the coaches. The relationships we built and all the moments we had throughout my career, that's what I'm going to miss the most."
On how Coach Saban has helped him prepare for the next level:
"He has helped me prepare tremendously. I feel like if you ask anyone else on this team Coach Saban is a guy who is all about life. He is going to try and work you as hard as he can to get to the next level, and I feel like he did a great job with that. Coach Saban is probably one of the best coaches to ever live on this Earth, and he will continue to be that as long as he is coaching."
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