I think you are right. I would talk to the coaches and ask if he will be utilized more next year if he returns. If they say yes come back if they say no go pro.
Several reasons. Draft stock being as high as it will ever be, risk of injury and/or risk of hurting draft stock. Think about Cardale Jones. He started 3 games last year and beat Wisconsin 59-0, beat Alabama and beat Oregon. He should have declared for the draft last year because of the momentum from those games. He probably would have been picked in rounds 1-3. It only takes 1 team who really likes a player to get drafted high. Tim Tebow was a first round pick and Cardale could have been. That's just one example. OJ had a monster game vs Michigan State and Clemson on the biggest stage in college football. He will do awesome at the combine (which all teams weigh differently) and when you combine that with the last 2 games he's played that's a lot of momentum that can result in a high draft pick. I hope he comes back but it's my opinion that it's in his best interest to go. He would instantly be the most athletic tight end in the NFL. That's saying a lot..
He won't be a blocking TE in the NFL. Think Jimmy Graham.
Due to the tire tread philosophy, I think coach Saban has no problems with a RB leaving even if he goes late 2nd round. It is a unique position these days with the limited shelf life and the importance of getting to the second contract vs staying a year to work on blocking. No doubt Henry should go after the grind of this season and what he accomplished. We have been very good at working a back hard for one year only, and then getting them to the NFL. Next year will be unique because none of the back will be eligible for the first time since coach Saban has been here.
Without knowing how NFL teams are looking at him, I'd say that he's better off coming back as long as he knows he'll be featured in the offense. Clearly, he's been spending his time at Alabama developing fundementals. NFL teams prefer refined players over projects and I'd argue that they would draft him now as a project. Next year he'd have a chance to show he's the complete package.
Yeah, him too. The defense will be nasty if he comes back. He and Hamilton would be great!
I think you are right that Bo will be eligible after next year, but not due to an injury. He didn't make grades or something that caused him to not be able to enroll for a year, so next year he'll be three years removed from HS, UNLESS the rule is that the year he sat out to get his grades right counts as still being in HS and then we'd have two more years.
