In the dizzying 2014 Iron Bowl in which Alabama rallied past Auburn for a 55-44 victory, Crimson Tide quarterback Blake Sims and Auburn counterpart Nick Marshall combined for 768 passing yards and seven aerial touchdowns.
That may have to serve as a lasting memory for both.
After failing to dazzle in the quarterback workouts during last weekend's NFL combine, Sims and Marshall will enter the upcoming draft as uncertain commodities. Sims set Alabama's single-season passing record as a senior, throwing for 3,487 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in guiding the Tide to the Southeastern Conference title.
"I think Blake is probably an undrafted free agent," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper said this past week on a conference call. "Maybe you can change positions with him. There is the possibility there that he could."
Alabama quarterback Blake Sims (6) runs past Missouri defensive lineman Charles Harris (91) in this Dec. 6, 2014, file photo.Sims began his career with Alabama as a tailback before shifting to quarterback, where he backed AJ McCarron for three seasons before taking over last year. The 5-foot-11, 218-pounder rushed for 350 yards on 83 carries (4.2 per carry) last season, and those numbers include negative yards for sacks.
After receiving a late NFL combine invitation, Sims told reporters that he knew a change of position was not out of the question.
"That could happen," Sims said. "Maybe I could play slot (receiver) or something, but right now I'm focusing on quarterback."
Sims completed 4 of 11 passes for 50 yards in the Senior Bowl and ran three times for 23 yards. Marshall received a late Senior Bowl quarterback invitation and elected while in Mobile to switch to cornerback.
Marshall went through quarterback and defensive back drills in Indianapolis. Several of his throws were off target, but he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.54 seconds and had a vertical jump of 37.6 inches.
Oregon's Marcus Mariota had the fastest 40 time for a quarterback at 4.52 seconds, with the 6-1, 207-pound Marshall second and Sims third with a 4.57.
"Marshall is intriguing to me," Kiper said. "You look at a guy who could do a lot of things as far as special teams, and he's a cornerback/safety combo guy. To me, he is more of a safety than a corner, but you never know. He's a competitor, and he began his career as a defensive back when he was at Georgia.
"When you've got a kid with that kind of competitiveness and desire, I think you take him in the third- to fifth-round area, but I would say more third to fourth."
Marshall threw for 2,532 yards and 20 touchdowns last season, and he rushed for 798 yards (5.2 per carry) and 11 scores. As a junior, he threw for 1,976 yards and rushed for 1,068, accounting for 26 touchdowns on a team that won the SEC before coming up short against Florida State in the final BCS championship game.
Four Alabama quarterbacks have been drafted in the past 20 years -- McCarron (2014), Greg McElroy (2011), Brodie Croyle (2006) and Jay Barker (1995) -- compared to just two by the Tigers. Auburn's Cam Newton (2011) and Jason Campbell (2005), however, were first-round selections who have enjoyed longer pro careers than the Tide alumni.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.