Alabama head coach Nick Saban speaks with cornerback Cyrus Jones (5) during their game in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Sept. 6, 2014.CYRUS JONES ARRESTED
Alabama senior cornerback Cyrus Jones was arrested early Wednesday morning and charged with third-degree domestic violence criminal mischief and third-degree domestic violence harassment. According to a release from the Tuscaloosa Police Department, Jones damaged the 22-year-old victim's cell phone and threatened to assault her in front of a witness. He is the fourth Alabama player arrested since the start of spring practice, joining safety Geno Smith (DUI), defensive tackle Jonathan Taylor (domestic violence) and tailback Tyren Jones (marijuana possession). Taylor and Jones were dismissed following their arrests. "We don't ever condone any behavior that shows any kind of disrespect," Nick Saban said Wednesday in a released statement. "There was no physical contact in this situation. Once we get the facts, we will take the necessary steps to correct this behavior in the future." Jones was the Crimson Tide's most consistent corner last season, racking up 46 tackles, three interceptions, two tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. He played through a torn labrum in his hip but underwent surgery in January, which resulted in him missing spring practice.
Recent National Football League drafts have doubled as infomercials for Alabama's talent-rich program, and that isn't expected to change tonight.
Former Crimson Tide receiver Amari Cooper has been widely projected as a top-10 pick, with ESPN analyst Todd McShay pegging him as high as third overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Safety Landon Collins, who joined Cooper in forgoing his senior season in Tuscaloosa, is also a first-round projection.
"I played my heart out for Alabama, and they're going to get the same thing when I get to the NFL," Collins said during his interview at the NFL scouting combine in February. "Wherever I get drafted, I get drafted, and I know I've got to work to take somebody's spot."
Should Cooper and Collins get selected this evening in Chicago, it would extend the Crimson Tide's record of early draft dominance.
When Baltimore picked linebacker C.J. Mosley 17th overall and Green Bay took safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix 21st in last year's draft, it marked the first time in NFL history that a school had produced multiple first-round picks in five consecutive drafts. Southern Cal (1968 to '71) and Miami (2001 to '04) had shared the previous mark at four.
Alabama has set the new standard emphatically, producing four first-round picks in 2011 (Marcell Dareus, Julio Jones, James Carpenter and Mark Ingram) and in 2012 (Trent Richardson, Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick and Dont'a Hightower). The Crimson Tide had three more in 2013 (Dee Milliner, Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker).
Collins accepted an invitation to attend tonight's first round, but Cooper declined along with quarterbacks Jameis Winston of Florida State and Marcus Mariota of Oregon. With only one of his players scheduled to be in attendance, Alabama coach Nick Saban chose to skip this year's event as well.
"I didn't think it was necessary," Saban said Tuesday night before speaking in Dothan. "We've always had two or three guys and sometimes four. It's something we're very proud of, and I'm happy for the players who get selected."
Collins, who grew up idolizing former Miami Hurricanes and Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, could slip into the early stages of Friday's second round and is the obvious key to the Crimson Tide continuing their streak. Alabama also has produced five first-round defensive backs over the past five years.
CBS labeled Collins "the unquestioned top safety in 2015, but he is susceptible to a fall on draft day because he is better in run support than coverage. That would be music to the ears of the Colts, who need a physical presence like Collins in the secondary."
Indianapolis has the 29th pick tonight.
The selection of Cooper will give Alabama a seventh consecutive year with at least one first-round representative. Florida holds the Southeastern Conference record at nine, accomplishing that from 1983 to '91.
After Cooper and Collins, the next two Alabama players chosen could be running backs. Tailback T.J. Yeldon has been projected in the second or third round, while fullback Jalston Fowler has been pegged for the fifth or sixth.
Offense linemen Arie Kouandjio and Austin Shepherd are projected for the sixth or seventh round, while quarterback Blake Sims, receivers Christion Jones and DeAndrew White, guard Leon Brown, defensive tackle Brandon Ivory, linebackers Xzavier Dickson and Trey DePriest, and safety Nick Perry are expected to be undrafted free agents.
DePriest racked up 39 career starts and 237 career tackles in his Crimson Tide career.
"I think he's way overrated," one NFL scouting director said. "He's squatty and just has a bad body. He's not that fast, so I just don't think there is that much that will make Trey an NFL player."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.