Alabama Safety Xavier McKinney Declares for NFL Draft
A side effect of the Alabama Crimson Tide being so dominant is that top players often leave early for the NFL Draft.
That remains true in 2020 as safety Xavier McKinney is saying goodbye to play at the next level.
#Alabama safety Xavier McKinney will skip his senior season to the 2020 NFL draft.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 5, 2020
McKinney is projected to be a top defender in the 2020 class and will likely go in the first round barring any unforeseen setbacks.
Alabama safety Xavier McKinney is entering the NFL draft.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 5, 2020
Got a first-round grade from the NFL draft advisory committee. Some NFL people I’ve spoken with believe he has a good chance to be the first safety taken in the draft.
The NFL Draft advisory committee is often conservative with draft grades, so this kind of recognition will go a long way in helping him get selected early.
The junior had three interceptions and a touchdown in 2019 to go along with a team-best 95 total tackles.
McKinney's absence is a big loss for Alabama, but one that should have been expected by Nick Saban. Top players leave the program early on a yearly basis and he has found a way to stay on top with great recruiting.