Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Cyrus Kouandjio declare for draft
Alabama Crimson Tide left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio (71) on the line of scrimmage during the second quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Cowboys Stadium. Alabama beat Michigan 41-14. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The Alabama Crimson Tide have some more great prospects heading into the NFL Draft in this year’s class, as the likes of A.J. McCarron and C.J. Mosley will be in this year’s crop of former Tide stars heading to the NFL. Joining them are star safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that both juniors will enter the draft.
Clinton-Dix is an elite draft prospect in every sense, and it would be an utter shock for anyone else to be the first safety off the board. This is a guy who definitely deserves to be a top 15 pick, and he has all the tools to be an elite strong safety. Heck, he’s good enough in coverage to play at free safety, too, and he is arguably one of the top ten prospects in the draft class.
Kouandjio isn’t as good of a prospect as Clinton-Dix is, but he ‘s comparable to former Tide star D.J. Fluker, who was a first-round pick in last year’s draft and has been a solid starter for the San Diego Chargers. Like Fluker, Kouandjio’s skill-set and frame make him better suited for the right side than left side (some are worried that he will have to play guard), but there’s no doubt that having a solid right tackle is still very important in this league. Kouandjio is almost a sure-fire first-round pick, especially since Texas A&M Aggies star tackle Cedric Ogbuehi, who was a likely top 15 pick, is staying in school.