Alabama Crimson Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Much like the Crimson Tide's showing at the NFL combine last month, Wednesday's pro day on the University of Alabama campus will have a distinctly limited feel as many of its participants are still battling injuries sustained during the season.

The biggest setback to the event -- which will air live on ESPN3 at 10:30 a.m. CT -- came on Sunday night when ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Eddie Lacy will not participate in the workout because of a lingering hamstring injury. The running back, widely considered to be most valuable at his position in the draft, will instead wait for the soreness to subside and perform for scouts at a later date, according to the report.

Like many of his teammates, Lacy will have to watch the drills from afar. Center Barrett Jones said he will attend but will only participate in the bench press portion of the event. Cornerback Dee Milliner, who is the No. 2 player on Mel Kiper Jr.'s Big Board and a likely top-five selection, won't work out either. He was scheduled to have surgery on a torn labrum today.

Nonetheless, the program must go on, even with some of its headliners sidelined. For those expected to participate, the chance to make a final positive impression on NFL personnel is at stake. A bad combine? A poor interview? So-so tape? All that could be put aside with a solid showing tomorrow. With the help of ESPN college football and NFL draft analyst Kevin Weidl, here are TideNation's top three players with the most to gain from Alabama's pro day:

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Several of RecruitingNation's SEC sites will look this week at the players headed to the NFL combine, which begins Friday in Indianapolis. Today: Quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers.

LSU Tigers

Perhaps it says something about LSU's offense in 2012 that among a record 13 players invited to the NFL combine from the Tigers, only two are offensive skill players who are generally considered, at this point, marginal talents. Running backs Spencer Ware and Michael Ford are the only skill players invited to Indianapolis, which is understandable when one considers LSU was 10th in the SEC in total offense. It's also a sign of youth. Quarterback Zach Mettenberger, fullback J.C. Copeland, running back Jeremy Hill and all of LSU's primary threats at wide receiver will return in 2013.

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MOBILE, Ala. -- For Michael Williams, the outlook on his NFL future is a mixed bag. On the one hand, the former Alabama tight end is likely to have a home at the next level because of his ability to block. On the other hand, he could find himself struggling to stand out much because of his relative lack of production in the passing game.

Williams caught just 24 passes for 183 yards and four touchdowns this past season. His fellow tight ends on the South roster of the Senior Bowl bested those numbers. Former Tennessee tight end Mychal Rivera caught 36 passes for 562 yards in two fewer games. Former Rice standout Vance McDonald had nearly identical stats through 12 games: 36 receptions for 458 yards.

Alabama coach Nick Saban conceded that Williams has the chance to be a "good blocker" and "role player" at the next level. He noted that Williams has good hands and said, "I think there's a place for guys like Michael Williams" in the NFL.

"He's going to do a good job blocking for you every time he's in," Saban said Monday in Mobile, Ala.

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MOBILE, Ala. -- Robert Lester wants to be known for more than his brain. In a sport that often values brute force and brawn over all else, the former Alabama safety stands apart. He's the right size at 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds, but it's his football intelligence that's on the forefront of many talent evaluators' minds. They see a fifth-year player who started three seasons under the demanding, defensive-minded coach Nick Saban. They see a mind that's ready for the National Football League and question whether the body is equal to the task.

"These guys are smart as well," Lester said, surrounded by dozens of future pros at the Senior Bowl in South Alabama on Monday night. "I'm going to have to bring more to the table than just my knowledge."

While Lester acknowledged that his best attribute is his ability to "learn a new system" and "provide leadership," he also recognized the need to do the little things right, too. Game film and one-on-one interviews are one thing, but, for better or worse, minute measurements like 40-yard dash times and bench press numbers play a big part as well.

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Editor’s note: Each day between now and Alabama's date with Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship, we will review the season for a key Crimson Tide player or coach and attempt to project what’s next for him. Today we’ll look at tight end Michael Williams.

No. 89 Michael Williams
Tight end
21 receptions, 166 yards, 3 touchdowns

Role in 2012: Williams was the Crimson Tide's best and arguably only reliable option at tight end this season.

The good: The redshirt senior didn't jump off the screen, but he was consistent. As he has been his entire career since moving to offense, Williams was an above-average blocker with just enough skill in space to be a threat in the passing game. He was fourth on the team with 21 receptions for 166 yards and three touchdowns. But his worth is also measured in Alabama's success running the football. Both Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon were able to rush for 1,000 yards this season thanks in no small part to Williams' efforts.

The bad: Williams never developed into the receiving threat some might have hoped for when he transitioned from defensive end to tight end. Despite having the frame (6-foot-6, 269 pounds) and athleticism (coach Nick Saban touted his skills on the basketball court) that can cause matchup problems with both linebackers and defensive backs, Williams didn't become a weapon in the way of a poor man's Tony Gonzalez or Jason Witten.

Crystal ball: Because of his skill in the running game, Williams should find a home in the NFL. He's arguably one of the best blocking tight ends in all of college football, which is something scouts and general managers value when looking for backups. As far as the question of who will step up next year, the answer is wide open. Neither sophomores Harrison Jones or Brian Vogler have separated themselves this season. Redshirt freshman Malcolm Faciane has played and has a frame (6-foot-5, 259 pounds) to grow into. Another option might be moving wide receiver Marvin Shinn inside to tight end. The 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman would have to put on weight, but he already has played some snaps at the position early in the season. Keep an eye on two Alabama commitments to make an impact right away: O.J. Howard is the No. 2 tight end prospect in the country and Josh McNeil isn't far behind at No. 4 in the ESPN 150.

The bulk of Alabama’s 2008 signing class is gone, but a few key contributors remain.

Center Barrett Jones, tight end Michael Williams, defensive end Damion Square and safety Robert Lester are the four holdovers, and they have a chance to do something that no other class in SEC history has done.

Win three outright national championships.

Jones, Williams, Square and Lester will be among the nine Alabama seniors saying farewell to Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday against Auburn in the Iron Bowl. They came in as part of the 2008 class, but all four redshirted that first season.

It’s a class that also included the likes of Julio Jones, Mark Barron, Mark Ingram, Marcell Dareus, Dont’a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw.

Alabama coach Nick Saban didn’t hold back Wednesday when asked what that class has meant to the program.

“It’s probably the best recruiting class I’ve ever been associated with or a part of assembling,” Saban said. “The evaluation was good, and the development of the players was really good. Lot of good people in that class.

“Obviously, the amount of success they’ve had indicates the competitive character they have and the kind of people they are as well as their ability.”

Going back to their redshirt freshman season in 2009, Jones, Williams, Square and Lester are 46-5 with two national championships and a third victory in the Capital One Bowl.

“(The 2008 class) was the key to getting things turned around here,” Saban said.

Each week at TideNation we'll take a look at how Alabama's players up for postseason awards fared in action. All told, 12 Alabama players were put on watch lists this offseason.

QB AJ McCarron, Jr. (Maxwell, Manning, O'Brien, Camp): Not even a knee injury is slowing down Alabama's junior quarterback. He went into Knoxville and threw for a career-high 306 yards.

RB Eddie Lacy, Jr. (Maxwell, Walker): He didn't finish the game as the leading rusher, but the moves Lacy put on against Tennessee caught the attention of all who saw.

TE Michael Williams, Sr. (Mackey): Williams isn't going to wow anyone with receiving yards, but when he catches the ball, he's effective. Of his 10 catches, two have gone for touchdowns.

C Barrett Jones, Sr. (Rimington, Outland, Lombardi, Walter Camp): Jones went up against one of the biggest nose guards in the country in Daniel McCullers (6-foot-8, 380 pounds) and didn't give up a single sack or tackle for loss.

G Chance Warmack, Sr. (Outland, Lombardi): Each and every week Warmack stands out on the field and later on tape. His play against Tennessee was no different.

RT D.J. Fluker, Jr. (Outland, Lombardi): Alabama was able to keep McCarrron upright for the most part and the running game was effective. Another win for the line as a whole, especially Fluker who continues to do better in pass protection each week.

CB Dee Milliner, Jr.: (Nagurski): There he was again in Tennessee -- finishing with another pass breakup and ending the game near the top of the team in tackles.

LB Nico Johnson, Sr.: (Nagurski, Lombardi): Johnson's role expanded some against Tennessee but the more teams use three and four wide receivers, the more Johnson is hurried to the sideline in favor of the nickel package.

LB C.J. Mosley, Jr.: (Nagurski, Lombardi): Alabama's biggest playmaker on defense did not disappoint in Knoxville, leading the team in tackles and coming up with a key interception.

S Robert Lester, Sr.: (Thorpe, Nagurski, Bednarik): Lester might have saved the day for Alabama, turning the momentum on a key interception in the end zone against Tennessee.

DT Jesse Williams, Sr. (Outland, Bednarik, Bronko Nagurski, Lombardi): Williams held the point and the Alabama line held Tennessee to less than 80 yards rushing.

K Jeremy Shelley, Sr.: (Groza): It's been a slow and steady climb for Shelley, who converted on a 34-yard field goal attempt to continue his perfect season splitting the uprights. He has made all eight field goal attempts.