TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Andre Smith will say this much publicly: He has submitted the paperwork to receive an evaluation of his NFL draft status.
Beyond that, Alabama’s All-American left tackle is keeping up his season-long refrain that he’s more worried about the next game than the NFL. Fellow All-American Terrence Cody, however, erased doubt by saying he has already told coach Nick Saban that he would return for his senior season.
Smith, who won the Outland Trophy, has been projected as a potential No. 1 overall draft pick if he skips his senior season.
“I’m not worried about it at all,” Smith said Thursday, the deadline to submit a request for feedback from the NFL draft advisory board.
Cody, another key part of Alabama’s perfect regular season, said he isn’t going anywhere and won’t explore his draft status.
“I told him I felt like I needed another year to get my weight down and get my knee back in full health and get in better condition,” the junior college transfer said Thursday evening after practice.
Smith was a finalist for the Lombardi Award before claiming the Outland Trophy given to the top interior lineman in college football at an awards show on Dec. 11 in Orlando, Fla.
Smith and the Tide (12-1) began preparations Thursday for the Sugar Bowl against Utah (12-0) after enduring their first loss of the season against Florida in the Southeastern Conference championship game.
He said he, Cody and All-Southeastern Conference tailback Glen Coffee aren’t talking about the NFL even to each other.
“We try not to even talk about that because it brings distraction,” Smith said. “Most of the time, we talk about what we are going to do and we don’t want to talk about that. We want to focus on Utah.”
Coffee said he had also submitted his name to the NFL board.
“I’d be lying if I said it was off my mind, but my focus is on the bowl game,” he said.
Saban said players should consider how high they would be drafted when deciding what to do.
“If you’re going to be a first-round draft pick, you have a real consideration and certainly would have an argument for if you went out early for the draft,” he said.
Smith has allowed just one sack this season and seven during a career that includes 38 starts.
He was only ’Bama’s second Outland winner, joining fellow left tackle Chris Samuels (1999).
Asked what goals he might have remaining for a senior season, Smith didn’t hesitate.
“A championship,” he said. “We have to get one of those. I haven’t won one since middle school, so it would be great to do.”
Tide Talk: The Tide will practice twice on Friday and work three more times before breaking Tuesday for Christmas. They gather in New Orleans on Dec. 27. ... Backup TB Roy Upchurch will miss the bowl game after having neck surgery, Saban said.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
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Comments » 22
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Was this bababama supporter tossed off of his websight? Why do we want to listen to the Bama love songs on this hate John Adams, hate Phil Fulmer site? Oh, maybe they can hate us but we have to love them, or be accused of love , I mean hate, crimes?
TommyJack writes:
987: You are sooooo full of it.
volnbig11land writes:
Dang bammer, I thought I was special when you called me mutt on another article.
Now I see you only called me that because you aren't smart enough to come up with something else.
Saban runs a clean program? Yeah for a couple of years until more money comes calling!
volnbig11land writes:
I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the life of a college coach is a little (just a little) more stable than the NFL. With that being said it only made sense for him to bolt.
Now that I think about it if money has nothing to do with his motivation why exactly did he leave lsu?
Touche' on the mullet remark, guilty as charged and will come up with some new material. See I can admit it when I'm wrong.
JMP_Vols writes:
Bama,
You seem rather chippy today buddy.
Tis the season, man. Spread the joy of Christmas.
Based on just the "eye" test, Fluker looks like a stud and Love a dud. Although I don't believe Fluker will be as good as Smith. Guess one of those guys will move to the other tackle position.
volnbig11land writes:
You ended your post without a snide remark, so truce!
After all of the bantering today I'm tired. I actually agree with your opinion about him leaving lsu and saw an interview he did.
Some coaches are much more suited for college (Saban, Carrol, Spurrier) just to name a few.
I know recruiting has to be a grind but I'm pretty sure dealing with a prima donna NFL star is quite taxing.
In closing, let's agree to support the SEC teams in their bowl games (I know I opened the door here but am trusting you) and show the rest of the college nation which conference matters!
JMP_Vols writes:
True, Fluker just looks the role of a mean, nasty lineman.
Much like Notre Dame, I think we're seeing the "Saban Effect" with these recruiting services. Fluker commits to Bama, he shoots up to the top of OT ranking. Same with Richardson. If he (and Kirkpatrick) end up choosing schools other than Bama, they'll probably fall.
Ok, I'm done discussing Bama. I feel gross.
annemarie writes:
Thank goodness!! I was about to lose my cookies over all the bickering & trying to get in the most disgusting comments. I am relatively new to this, but since I have become so adicted, I will say that when people on here talk intelligently about football, including bama987, I really enjoy it. With that said, I'll shut up & hope you boys grow up. GO VOLS - GO SEC (ALL THE SEC).
volnbig11land writes:
Not sure who you're talking about "gowing up" but my advice would (politely) involve big dogs and the porch or heat in the kitchen....
Blogs are opinions and sometimes they contain intelligent info and sometimes they don't!
That's why none of on here are getting paid.
ctownvol writes:
You don't get paid? Oops.
volnbig11land writes:
I fell like I was called and couldn't go and then went and wasn't needed it!
annemarie writes:
Thank you for explaining things to me. I will confine my comments verbally to my computer screen & my cat. I'll try to find a kitchen with a little less heat - but I sure as he11 don't belong in one! :)
volnbig11land writes:
I never said or implied you belong in the kitchen I just didn't feel like typing the entire "advice".
Don't confine comments, that's what keeps everyone entertained until football season rolls back around!
annemarie writes:
I didn't mean to imply that you implied etc. etc. etc. One day you will find that when you get old you sometimes get cranky. Sorry 'bout that. UT football means so much to me. I felt like I knew so much about it, but when I stumbled on this site about 4-5 weeks ago and started reading about recruiting - I was hooked. That's one of the things I have not been up on, so you folks are teaching me a lot. I especially love when people start talking about players from "yesteryear". Some of my favorites to watch were Steve Kiner, Jack Reynolds, Dewey (Swamp Rat) Warren. There were a lot more, but the memory gets hazy when you get older too. I'll be around - you guys just enjoy!
volnbig11land writes:
Awesome! My Mom has an autographed Swamp Rat shirt that was my Dad's.
Kiner, Reynolds = beasts!
I'm looking at my personalized autograph of Bobby Scott as I type (was a friend of my Dad's).
Enjoy the site but don't take most of the comments too serious, it's mostly all in fun.
By the way, in my humble opinion there are a couple on here that have the inside scoop on the hill. Among those are savageorange and shipperman.
If they post something you stand a good chance of reading about it in the local papers in a few days.
I'm up here in suckeye land so if you're down in the motherland go outside and breath the fresh mountain air for me.
Have a great weekend and go Vols!
easymoney writes:
Can someone tell how to get off this SEC website and onto a Tennessee Vols website?
Colliervol writes:
"We as fans are always behind our school and support decisions they make."
Then I'm sure you and the entire fan base agreed with the Alabama administration when they admitted those NCAA violations and chose not to fight them? Certainly no disagreement there, was there?
No disagreement when they picked Mike Price or Dumbose either, right?
murrayvol writes:
They may be HUGE and very good but they won't be Andre and you know it.
murrayvol writes:
Sometimes you make sense. Sometimes not so much.
murrayvol writes:
We all have high hopes. Reality has a nasty habit of getting into the mix.
I have some advice for Andre. Get the hell outta Dodge. You only go around once and you're one chop block away from the 3rd round. Good luck kid!
txvolsfan writes:
You still can't win it all!!!
orangevolz writes:
You are so full of yourself. Your statement of Bama fans always being behind their school and supporting decisions they make is a joke. Sure, it was smooth this year, but I guarantee you and the rest of the Bammers were screaming bloody murder during Satin's first year and the many years of awful coaching hires (DuBose, Price, Franchione, Shula, etc.). You are from another planet if you think Bama has always been one happy family.
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