Tide's Lacy, Milliner and Fluker to enter draft

Alabama stars Dee Milliner, Eddie Lacy and D.J. Fluker have announced they will forgo their senior seasons and enter the 2013 NFL Draft, according to TimesDaily.com.

Milliner and Lacy were hosts of a press release at the Mal Moore Athletic Facility, while Fluker was unable to attend.

“It’s been a great experience for me, my three years here,” Milliner, the team’s top corner, said. “I’ve become a better man.”

Milliner is the No. 1 overall corner prospect for the draft class of 2013 and is expected to be selected early in the first round. He was awarded first-team All-American honors this season.

“It’s been an amazing experience here,” told Lacy. “I’ve developed well as a person and a player.”

The 6-foot-1, 220-pound brute of a running back took 204 carries for 1,322 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Tide this year, including 551 yards off a 8.1 yards-per-carry average in his final four games.

Lacy is projected as a late first-round or early second-round pick.

Fluker, standing at a mere 6-foot-6, 335 pounds, started 35 games in his career with Alabama and was a second-team All-American selection by the Associated Press. He is listed as the No. 4 offensive tackle and could be taken in the first or second round.

All three losses are substantial for Nick Saban, but none are surprising (in fact, what would have taken me back would if they had decided to stay). However, any more early departures to the NFL would be unexpected.


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