Alabama Football: A’Shawn Robinson follows Derrick Henry to NFL Draft

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson declared for the NFL Draft and could be the first interior defensive lineman picked in April’s draft.

A’Shawn Robinson slimmed down in the offseason in preparation for a standout junior season at Alabama and his hard work in the offseason paid off in a large way with Robinson earning first-team All-American honors and helping guide the Crimson Tide to a national title.

On Friday, Robinson declared for the NFL Draft, as expected, and could be the first defensive tackle taken in the draft that begins on April 28.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. projects Robinson to be the No. 12 pick in his first mock draft of the year, but could move up a few spots with a strong showing at February’s NFL Scouting Combine and at Alabama’s Pro Day later this spring.

“A’Shawn Robinson is a guy who is an ideal player for today’s NFL,” Kiper said on a conference call with reporters Thursday, via the Star-Telegram.

“He showed this year he can get after the quarterback. He was stopping the run on the way to the quarterback. He made some big plays early in his career, then became a run stopper, then he became – after he dropped some weight – a better pass rusher this year.

“He can be a 3-4 end, you can move him around. He’s a hard-working guy. He’s a leader. He’s mature beyond his years.”

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Robinson had 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss as a junior and finished his career in Tuscaloosa with nine sacks and 22 tackles for loss. Because of his versatility to play end in a 3-4 defense or defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense, Robinson won’t limit his options and that could see him be the first interior lineman taken in a draft loaded with edge players.