*Jonah Williams – Noteworthy
Thirty-three and five-eighths of an inch. The number was effectively tattooed to former Alabama left tackle Jonah Williams forehead Thursday in Indianapolis. The projected top-10 pick made NFL combine headlines a day earlier when his arms hit that measurement — 33 and 5/8 of an inch. It quickly made news in draft circles with ESPN’s Todd McShay saying 34 and 1/2 inches and up is the desire for most NFL teams at tackle. By Thursday’s media interview round, Williams had enough of the chatter.
“Joe Thomas, Joe Staley, Jake Matthews, Jason Peters, La’el Collins, Ryan Ramczyk,” Williams listed off. “Those are some guys off the top of my head that had shorter arms. I don’t think that’s necessarily a huge deal. I’m proud of the way I played. My approach to the game is what makes me a great player. “So, if my fingers were an eighth of an inch longer, would I be good enough?” The questions continued for several minutes at the podium reserved for high-profile players. The questions weren’t as much about his ability to play NFL football, but if his arm length was more suited for an interior lineman like guard. “I was the best tackle in college football so I know I can play it at the next level,” Williams said. “But I’m a competitor. I want to be on the field.” – Birmingham News
Damien Harris – Noteworthy
As Damien Harris climbed atop a podium Thursday inside the Indianapolis Convention Center to meet with the media at the NFL scouting combine, he glanced to his right and saw Josh Jacobs sitting on a similar platform. Roughly 530 miles from Tuscaloosa, Harris was once again forced to share the stage with a teammate – or a former one in this case. It was, oh-so fitting for Harris, a player who tag-teamed with a slew of running backs during his four seasons at Alabama. The revolving cast of ball carriers alongside Harris included everyone from bankable stars – most notably Derrick Henry – to solid backups such as Kenyan Drake and Bo Scarborough to names who were soon forgotten like B.J. Emmons and Derrick Gore.
They all conspired to restrict Harris’ opportunities on the field, which counterintuitively has helped increase his marketability to NFL teams looking for a running back who hasn’t sustained much wear and tear. And they’re all in search of a player in good condition, because they know – as the old saying goes – you can’t make the club in the tub. “I just want the narrative to be that I am fresh, I am healthy,” Harris said. “I am healthy. I made it through college with very few limitations, no real major injuries. I had a healthy career. That’s what I am trying to tell teams…But that’s kind of the narrative out there right now.” – Birmingham News
Ross Pierschbacher – Noteworthy
Ross Pierschbacher is putting his marketing degree to good use during his meetings with NFL clubs at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine. A four-year starting lineman at Alabama, with multiple starts along all three interior positions – right guard, left guard and center – under his belt, Pierschbacher is doing his best to sell himself to NFL teams on the lookout for a versatile road grader. Currently projected as a likely Day 3 selection during next month’s NFL Draft, the 6-foot-4, 307-pound Pierschbacher knows he’s probably going to have to work his way into a starting position at the next level, especially given his perceived lack of impact power that is usually a requirement when facing the big and fast defensive linemen propagating today’s NFL.
Still, the seasoned veteran isn’t worried about those sorts of criticisms. He’s too busy making his best sales pitch to NFL teams in the market for what he’s selling – experience and versatility. “That’s one of my biggest selling points. I like to tell teams, ‘Hey, I’ve started in the SEC at all three interior positions. I know what it looks like to win, I know what it takes to win, and I’ve played at the highest level (in college football) at all three interior positions,’” Pierschbacher explained Thursday. “Obviously with the offensive line position in the NFL, they only carry seven guys, so (somebody’s) going to have to play multiple roles. So, I think that’s a huge bonus for me, and something that’s definitely going into my sales pitch to teams.” – Montgomery Advertiser