Tide shows for bowl; UM not so much … When the bowl schedule was announced earlier this month, the one non CFP playoff game that really jumped out was the New Year’s Eve day ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa between Alabama and Michigan (Noon ET; ESPN). Indeed, it had all the feel of an ‘unofficial’ playoff game between the last team out of the CFP field and the defending national champions who were coming off another signature win in their annual big game against traditional rival Ohio State that is in the playoffs. The game also looked like a potential bonanza for pro scouts as Alabama is, well, Alabama, while despite a down year, Michigan still has as much front-line draft talent as any program in the country. Unfortunately, though, it doesn’t appear that Michigan got the memo as just about anybody who was anybody on their roster opted out of Tuesday’s game including CB Will Johnson, DTs Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, RBs Donovan Edwards and Kalel Mulling and TE Colston Loveland.
On the other hand, it appears it will be all hands on deck for Alabama which is still smarting from being passed over by CFP committee for the final wild card spot. That includes QB Jalen Milroe who may end up being one of the more polarizing prospects for the upcoming draft if as expected he turns pro this winter. Jalen Milroe had all the look of an emerging dual-threat type with top 10-15 potential through the early part of the season, but has looked more like a good athlete playing the position rather than necessarily a poised passer, although he does appear to still be the #3 QB in this year’s draft class. Truth be told, though, if Milroe were to slip out of this coming April’s opening round, Alabama’s record streak of having at least one player selected in the first round for 17 straight years could very well be in some jeopardy as no one else on the roster is considered to be a lock at this time to be selected in the opening round in 2025. However, what Alabama does have is a solid group of early to mid second-day type prospects including OG Tyler Booker (#52, 6-4, 325), MLB Jihaad Campbell (#11, 6-2, 245), safety Malachi Moore (#13, 6-0, 205), DT Tim Smith (#50, 6-3, 315), and TE CJ Dippre (#81, 6-5, 265). Meanwhile, scouts will also be keeping an eye on star WR Ryan Williams (#2, 6-0, 175), a freshman who won’t be draft eligible for several more years, but has already shown some big play ability.
