When is the Alabama Pro Day, and who are the 2023 NFL Draft prospects to watch at the event? Here’s a primer for the Crimson Tide’s upcoming talent showcase.
When Is Alabama’s Pro Day?
The Alabama Pro Day is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 23. The even will help cap off a week that’s been packed with Power Five Pro Days. From Monday through Friday, schools like Iowa, Syracuse, Auburn, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Stanford, and Penn State all had events planned.
You can view the full schedule of college pro days across the nation here at Pro Football Network.
Alabama Prospects To Watch at Pro Day Include Bryce Young, Eli Ricks
Just as we’ve come to expect from the Crimson Tide, the program’s 2023 NFL Draft class is a strong group. It’s led by a host of first-round offensive and defensive prospects, but there’s depth present as well.
Bryce Young, QB
Bryce Young is very likely a top-five — even top-three — pick, regardless of his outlier size. At this point, very little will change that. But at the moment, the Panthers aren’t locked in to any one player at No. 1 overall, so Young’s throwing session at his pro day could have an impact.
MORE: The Case for Bryce Young To Be the No. 1 Pick
Young will throw at his pro day, after forgoing the throwing session at the NFL Combine. That decision was interesting, especially after seeing C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson impress at the event. Young’s pro day throwing session will give him a chance to prove his arm talent passes the desired threshold in Round 1 while also displaying his trademark accuracy.
Will Anderson Jr., EDGE
Will Anderson Jr. is arguably the best non-QB prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he’s comfortably in that position. His NFL Combine was a win, as he ran a 4.6 40-yard dash while measuring in at 6’3 1/2″, 253 pounds, with near-34″ arms. Anderson could forgo testing at his pro day and simply go through positional drills, but it’ll be interesting to see if we get a more complete athletic profile from him through explosiveness and agility metrics.
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB
Jahmyr Gibbs used the Combine for what he needed — confirming his athleticism. Running a 4.36 40-yard dash at 5’9″, 199 pounds, Gibbs checked that box effusively. At his pro day, he’ll be able to emphasize his ability as a receiver, catching passes from Young. That’s an element of Gibbs’ game that goes overlooked at times, but he’s a truly elite receiving threat at RB.
Brian Branch, S
Brian Branch was one of the highly-regarded prospects scrutinized for a non-elite testing performance at the NFL Combine. He logged solid explosiveness numbers, but his 4.58 40-yard dash was a bit underwhelming.
Branch may look to run that again at his pro day, but regardless, his short-area athleticism and fluidity are stronger athletic traits. He can put those on display in positional drills.
Eli Ricks, CB
There was a point early in the 2022 season where it wasn’t clear if Eli Ricks would have a case to declare. However, he eventually entered the starting lineup and proved his mettle. Listed at 6’2″, 188 pounds, with 32 3/8″ arms, he has great size and length. And after passing on drills at the Combine, he’s expected to test and partake in field activities. In a deep CB class, testing will be big for Ricks, whose top selling point is his upside.
Jordan Battle, S
It’ll be fascinating to see where Jordan Battle is valued in the 2023 NFL Draft safety class. He’s not a flashy prospect, and as his 4.55 40-yard dash showed, he’s not quite an elite athlete. But he’s intelligent, versatile, physical coming downhill, and overall a strong utility player. More complete testing numbers gathered at his pro day could settle him into a more confined range as a prospect.
Tyler Steen, OT
Tyler Steen is one of the bigger sleepers in the 2023 NFL Draft. He has experience at left and right tackle, and at 6’6″, 321 pounds, with 33″ arms, he’s a solid athlete — as evidenced by his 29.5″ vertical, 9’1″ broad jump, and 4.59 shuttle time, which was sixth overall among linemen at the Combine. A good 40-yard dash — and, more importantly, a good 10-yard split — would compound Steen’s positive momentum from Indianapolis.
Byron Young, DT
Quietly, Byron Young’s Alabama Pro Day showing is very much worth watching. Young scored a Day 2 grade from me in this DT class. At 6’3″, 294 pounds, with 34 3/8″ arms, he has excellent size and natural leverage. He’s a monster as a run defender already but flashed exciting pass-rushing upside late in 2022. He’s expected to run the 40-yard dash, and a strong 10-yard split could win over some teams.
Henry To’oTo’o, LB
Henry To’oTo’o needed to put up solid numbers at the NFL Combine, and he did that. His 4.62 40-yard dash was passable, and it featured a very good 1.57 10-yard split. However, his 4.4 shuttle time was subpar, and it aligns with the hip stiffness that appears on To’oTo’o’s tape at times.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Big Board
To’oTo’o might be inclined to re-run agilities at his pro day. Regardless, his coverage drills will bear weight for NFL evaluators.
Cameron Latu, TE
Like Ricks, Cameron Latu opted to wait until Alabama’s Pro Day to work out and provide testing numbers for teams. Latu is a former edge rusher who had a near-37″ vertical coming out of high school, so explosiveness is expected to be a strength for him. The catching session might be more important for Latu, who experienced drops at times in college.
Emil Ekiyor Jr., G
It’s unclear if Emil Ekiyor Jr. will test at the Alabama Pro Day. He didn’t test at the NFL Combine and only participated in the bench press, where he logged 23 reps with near-34″ arms. At 6’2″, 314 pounds, Ekiyor has fielded buzz as a mid-round prospect with projected center/guard versatility. If he wants to boost his stock beyond that, quantifying his short-area explosiveness through testing may be key.
DeMarcco Hellams, S
Demarcco Hellams ran a 4.57 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and also added a 31″ vertical and a 10’1″ broad jump. That testing drew attention to Hellams’ lack of burst — an issue that shows up on tape. He’ll need to show he can transition in space at his pro day, but at 6’1″, 203 pounds, his willing physicality is a trait that could win over evaluators in the later rounds.
D.J. Dale, DT
D.J. Dale tested at the NFL Combine, logging a 5.26 40-yard dash, 25.5″ vertical, 8’2″ broad, 7.69 three-cone, and 4.8 shuttle time at 6’1″, 302 pounds, with near-33″ arms.
MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Defensive Tackle Class
Dale’s testing was a confirmation of what we knew: He’s a limited athlete without much developmental upside. However, he is a sturdy run defender, and for teams in need of a rotational early-down plugger and a good locker room add, he has some appeal.
Kendall Randolph, OL
NFL teams always like experienced, team-first players with versatility, and that’s what Kendall Randolph is. He was primarily a reserve player in his six years at Alabama, but he did log rotational reps as a guard, played on special teams, and served as an inline tight end at times. At 6’4″, 300 pounds, with 33″ arms, he has a solid frame, and good testing numbers could earn him interest as a PFA.
D.J. Fluker, OT
D.J. Fluker isn’t a prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft. In fact, he was drafted a decade earlier in the 2013 NFL Draft. A first-round pick by the San Diego Chargers, Fluker started 96 of 108 games from 2013 to 2020. Now, he’s attempting a comeback at 32 years old, and he’ll work out at the Alabama Pro Day to give scouts a look at his current form.
Fluker logged snaps at both tackle spots and right guard across his NFL career, so his positional versatility alone presents appeal. Back in 2013, he ran a 5.31 40-yard dash and jumped 27.5″ in the vertical. Now, at 6’5″, 330 pounds, with 36 3/8″ arms, he could earn a prove-it contract with an NFL team if he looks good.