Personnel points: Barron impressive

Each week, Mel Kiper gives updates on the another group of prospects that have caught his eye, some well-known, others well under the radar.

Mark Barron, DB, Alabama Crimson Tide

When Barron decided to return to Tuscaloosa for his final season, Crimson Tide fans breathed a collective sigh of relief. A leader on defense and the glue that holds the deep patrol together, Barron has been a top-flight performer for Alabama at strong safety since being inserted into the starting lineup as a sophomore and finishing the season with seven interceptions and 76 tackles.

In the Tide's 27-11 win against Penn State on Saturday, the 6-foot-2, 218-pound senior showed why he is expected to hear his name called very early on the second day of the draft. Barron is very good in run support, has good ball skills and is a punishing tackler. He produces at a high level each week and goes about things in a very business-like manner.

To see other players that impressed Mel over the weekend, you must be an ESPN Insider.

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Mel Kiper Jr.

Football analyst

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• ESPN NFL Draft analyst since 1984
• Contributes to SportsCenter and ESPN Radio
• Writes weekly for ESPN Insider