Dee Milliner, Junior, Cornerback, Alabama
Overview:
Dee Milliner has quickly developed into one of the best cover corners in the nation. As a true freshman in 2010, he started 11 games. That is no small feat for a defensive player for Alabama. The corner was not much of a ball hawk as a freshman, but he did garner 55 tackles. It was during his sophomore season when Milliner started to make some bigger plays. His tackle numbers dipped considerably (to 27) and he was not even a full-time starter, but Milliner broke up nine passes and picked off three, including a game clincher for a touchdown against rival Auburn.
Milliner will have more of an opportunity in 2012 to make a name for himself in Tuscaloosa. He should play a much bigger role with the likes of Dre Kirkpatrick out of the picture.
Final Projection:
It remains to be seen how Milliner will respond to a larger leadership role in the Tide’s secondary, but there is no reason to believe that he will not be up for the job. That will make Milliner one of the top corners eligible for the 2013 NFL Draft. And if he does struggle a little bit in 2012, he can stick around for the 2013 season.
4/11/2013 Update by Joel Welser:
There was no need for Milliner to stick around for his senior season. He had a great season for the Crimson Tide in 2012, helping his team win the BCS National Championship. Milliner turned into a shutdown corner and a leader in Alabama's secondary. He is certainly the best cornerback in this class. The question then becomes just how high can he go in the draft? In the worst case scenario, Milliner should not drop past the top ten and could hear his name called much sooner than that.
See All NFL Draft Profiles and Rankings
