Alabama Pro Day News & Notes: Trent Richardson Show Off His Top 5 Talent
By Josh Sanchez
The stars were out at the second Alabama Pro Day of the offseason. Alabama boasts a handful of potential first-round picks — Trent Richardson, Mark Barron, Courtney Upshaw and Dont’a Hightower — along with a large group of draft eligible players.
Alabama’s top prospects put on a great show for NFL personnel and some big names were in attendance. Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Cleveland Browns head coach Pat Shurmur and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel were all in attendance along with some team GM’s — Trent Baalke of the 49ers, Tom Heckert of the Browns, Steelers Kevin Colbert and Martin Mayhew of the Lions.
Safety Mark Barron and running back Trent Richardson were hoping to show they were fully healthy, but Barron was around 70-80% while Richardson was around 70%, according to ESPN. Richardson ran a his 40-yard dash in 4.45-4.49 range.
The 40 time was solid for the big, powerful back, but Richardson really showcased his power in drills. During a blocking drill, Richardson planted Cleveland Browns running backs coach Gary Brown right on the seat of his pants. Richardson and Brown should get familiar — they could be working together for years to come.
Upshaw was a disappointment at the ‘Bama Pro Day. He showed up seven pounds heavier than he was at the Scouting Combine. His forty time registered in the mid-4.7’s.
While Richardson was the star of the day, Dre Kirkpatrick and Dont’a Hightower also made good impressions. All three players are surefire first-round picks. When all was said and done at the Alabama Pro Day, NFL personnel left with high praise for a number of their stars that should roll on to the next level with success in their future.
The other players included in Alabama’s Pro Day were cornerbacks DeQuan Menzie and Phelon Jones, outside linebackers Jerrell Harris and Alex Watkins, wide receivers Marquis Maze and Darius Hanks, tight end Brad Smelley and offensive linemen William Vlachos, Alfred McCullough and John Michael Boswell.
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