Alabama Crimson Tide

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. is rolling out his early top five rankings at each position this week.

Here's what he's looked at so far:

• Wide receivers and defensive ends
• Running backs and safeties

Now, we're taking a look at Kiper's top quarterback and cornerback draft prospects. We'll start with the quarterbacks and look at the corners later today.

Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel ranks third on Kiper's list, while Alabama's AJ McCarron comes in at No. 5. Ole Miss' Bo Wallace made Kiper's "Next up" list, while Georgia's Aaron Murray made his "More I like" list.

Manziel is getting all sorts of draft attention after his record-breaking, Heisman-winning season. He's the most talked about quarterback in the country and while he doesn't have an elite arm, he's extremely athletic and slippery. He's looking to develop more into a passer, but his ability to improv will continue to help him when his arm can't.

McCarron is someone who could have left for the NFL this year, but decided to stay in school. He makes great decisions with the ball (he threw 30 touchdowns to three interceptions last season) and certainly knows how to win. He has two national championship rings and is going for his third straight. He hasn't been asked to do a lot at Alabama, but he's put up some pretty good numbers and is easily the most talented quarterback Saban has had at Alabama.

Wallace has a tremendous amount of athleticism, but he had a lot of decision-making issues last year. He threw for nearly 3,000 yards, but threw 22 touchdowns to 17 interceptions. Fixing his turnover issue is the biggest thing Wallace has to work on this fall. He has good arm strength and can get out of trouble situations with his feet.

Then you have Murray, who isn't getting a lot of draft love. He flirted with heading to the NFL, but also decided to stay in school. Murray's height (listed at 6-1) has hurt his draft status, but he has a solid arm, moves around well with his feet and has really improved his decision making. He had the stigma of not coming up in big games, but showed improvements in 2012 with his second-half effort in the Dawgs' win against Florida and with the way he played against Alabama in the SEC championship game. He'll probably end the 2013 season with a handful of SEC/Georgia records and should become the first SEC quarterback to throw for 3,000 yards in four straight seasons.

Other draft-eligible quarterbacks I'm keeping an eye on this fall:

• Jeff Driskel, Florida: He wasn't great last year, but there's no denying Driskel has talent. He's more comfortable with the playbook, and he has a lot more confidence. He must have more command and develop better chemistry with his receivers this fall.
• James Franklin, Missouri: He spent most of last season battling injuries, but finally isn't dealing with excruciating shoulder pain. His confidence was up this spring and that will go a long way this fall.
• Zach Mettenberger, LSU: He really came along in November and has all of his receiving targets back. People at LSU feel like he's much more comfortable with Cam Cameron's guidance.
• Tyler Russell, Mississippi State: He's had an up-and-down career with the Bulldogs, but when he was on last year he was extremely efficient. He lost all of his receivers from last year and can't press like he did late last season.
• Connor Shaw, South Carolina: It's hard to find a tougher quarterback out there. Shaw has dealt with a lot of injuries, but when he's been on the field, he's had a lot of success. Here's a chance for him to really improve his draft stock.

During the summer, TideNation will analyze each of the scholarship players on the Alabama roster -- excluding the Tide's 2013 recruiting class -- in our Crimson Countdown series. Starting with No. 1 Dee Hart, we will go through the roster numerically, finishing with No. 99 Brandon Ivory.

No. 4 T.J. Yeldon
Sophomore running back

Expectations for 2013: Where does Yeldon go from last season? A spot on the All-American team? A seat in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony? Honestly, after a freshman campaign in which he outperformed Eddie Lacy at times, it's hard to imagine what Yeldon will do next. One thing is certain, though. He'll be the unquestioned starter at running back this season and will carry the ball upwards of 15 times per game.

Best-case scenario: If he hasn't already peaked, it's hard to believe he isn't close to maximizing his full potential. But for Yeldon to truly cement himself in the conversation of great Alabama tailbacks, he must stay healthy. And with Alabama's penchant of sharing the football, he should avoid the wear and tear usually put upon featured backs. At the end of this season, don't be surprised if it's Yeldon in the Heisman conversation, not quarterback AJ McCarron. Only one running back has won the award since 2000, but that man was Mark Ingram.

Worst-case scenario: If it were even five years ago, Yeldon would be in line to get the ball 25 times a game this season. As it stands now, that won't happen. Alabama likes to rotate in at least three backs and save its featured back some tread on the tires, and that will be the major argument against Yeldon in a Heisman conversation. He simply won't have the reps of what Ron Dayne or Ricky Williams -- two of the last three tailbacks to win the award -- had in college.

Future impact: Barring injury, Alabama fans are looking at two more seasons of Yeldon carrying the football. Because of the short shelf life associated with running backs, don't expect him to stay any longer than that. As Saban said of Lacy's decision to turn pro early: "When you’re a running back in the NFL, it’s the shortest shelf-life of any position. So I kind of get it; I get where you’re at.’"

During the summer, TideNation will analyze each of the scholarship players on the Alabama roster -- excluding the Tide's 2013 recruiting class -- in our Crimson Countdown series. Starting with No. 1 Dee Hart, we will go through the roster numerically, finishing with No. 99 Brandon Ivory.

No. 3 Vinnie Sunseri
Junior safety

Expectations for 2013: It's not a make-or-break year for Sunseri, but it's awfully close. A standout as a freshman in 2011, he took a step back as a sophomore, faltering in coverage a few too many times in key games. It was a clear indication again of where the junior's talents lie: in space, not one-on-one against a speedier receiver. Expect Sunseri to compete for a starting job but get rotated out depending on the situation. If it's a running team and he's needed near the line of scrimmage, he'll play significant reps. If it's a passing team that goes four- and five-wide, then he could be used sparingly.

Best-case scenario: He's got the experience and he has the trust of the coaching staff. For that alone, he'll have a leg up on Landon Collins for the starting safety spot opposite Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix. Sunseri has seen action in 27 of 27 games in his career, and he's shown in that time that he's capable of being a playmaker on the field. We've seen his nose for the football on special teams and we've seen it from a utility role on defense. The question is whether he can become a contributor on every down.

Worst-case scenario: The talent disparity between Collins and Sunseri is obvious. And while player rankings can be overrated, the difference between the No. 1 safety in his class and the No. 18 outside linebacker is fairly significant. Collins, of course, is the former in that scenario and Sunseri the latter, and this spring we got to see why as the former five-star prospect from Louisiana made big play after big play at A-Day. He'll push Sunseri and fellow safety Nick Perry for the starting job throughout the fall.

Future impact: Whether it's as a starter or a reserve, Sunseri will have an impact on the Tide for the next two seasons. What he does on special teams and from a leadership standpoint cannot be overvalued. There might be more talented guys on the roster, but the experience Sunseri brings to the table will be enough to keep him on the field in some form or fashion.

During the summer, TideNation will analyze each of the scholarship players on the Alabama roster -- excluding the Tide's 2013 recruiting class -- in our Crimson Countdown series. Starting with No. 1 Dee Hart, we will go through the roster numerically, finishing with No. 99 Brandon Ivory.

No. 2 DeAndrew White
Junior wide receiver

Expectations for 2013: If he hadn't been hurt, White might still be starting alongside Kevin Norwood at receiver, as he did for the first five games last season. But a major knee injury sustained against Ole Miss cost the talented junior his season and opened the door for Amari Cooper to break into the starting rotation, where he developed into the most prolific rookie at the position in school history. Even though the possibility of becoming a starter again seems minute, it doesn't mean White won't be a major contributor on offense. After a strong spring in which he showed he's close to 100 percent again, it's safe to say he'll have an opportunity to be among the first receivers off the bench.

Best-case scenario: White will see the field plenty and could break back into the starting rotation in the likely event of an injury during the course of the season. (SEC defenses aren't kind, and the position has had its fair share of durability issues in years past.) White, if healthy, is a guy who can stretch the field and allow offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier to go three, four or five wide any time because of the depth he and his fellow receivers will provide.

Worst-case scenario: Depth cuts both ways, though, as White won't be the only reserve with starting potential. Kenny Bell, Chris Black, Christion Jones and Raheem Falkins will all vie for time this season as well, leaving White as high as third on the depth chart or as low as seventh depending on how things shake out. The thing fighting against White is his lack of a niche skill. He doesn't have elite size like Falkins or superior speed like Bell, Black or Jones. But as a guy like Norwood can attest, the game is about more than measureables.

Future impact: White should be a steady contributor for Alabama over the next two seasons. When Norwood and Bell graduate after this year, an opportunity to start will again open up. But again, there will be plenty of contention from others, including the No. 2 receiver in the ESPN 150, Robert Foster.

In this week's SEC Official Visit, we talk about a trio of big commits for the Auburn Tigers, and a top QB decides to stay home in Kentucky.

During the summer, TideNation will analyze each of the scholarship players on the Alabama roster -- excluding the Tide's 2013 recruiting class -- in our Crimson Countdown series. Starting with No. 1 Dee Hart, we will go through the roster numerically, finishing with No. 99 Brandon Ivory.

No. 1 Dee Hart
Redshirt sophomore running back

Expectations for 2013: Until he proves he can get to 100 percent and stay there, it's hard to determine just what kind of impact he'll have on the football field. He does have a unique skill set, though, with the speed to get outside the tackles and the hands to catch the ball out of the backfield. Simply put, he's a scatback in a room full of bruisers. But it's also a crowded rotation with T.J. Yeldon, Kenyan Drake and Jalston Fowler all vying for carries. The addition of early enrollee Derrick Henry further complicates things, and it's conceivable that one of the three incoming freshmen at the position creates a role for himself as well.

Best-case scenario: Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier can get creative with Hart if he chooses. In addition to being a threat in the return game, Hart could be a weapon on third down and a possibility to split out as a wide receiver at times, something Alabama hasn't done much of in years past. He may not be a guy the defense circles in the running game, but he's someone it will have to account for as a pass-catcher. However, Hart's biggest asset might be his knowledge of the system and his ability to pass protect, something Yeldon struggled with at times last season and something the younger backs will have to pick up quickly.

Worst-case scenario: Hart isn't someone the staff should rely on this season. You can't ignore back-to-back major knee operations. And even if he finds a way to stay healthy, there are still questions whether or not he'll have the same burst that made him such a highly regarded prospect coming out of high school.

Future impact: A few carries per game a significant role on special teams looks to be Hart's future at Alabama for the time being. After a spring spent learning the ropes on defense, there's also a real possibility that he could transition to cornerback in the event of a few injuries at that position.