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Trio of Alabama players declare for NFL draft

Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker, running back Eddie Lacy and cornerback Dee Milliner announced Friday that they will forgo their senior seasons and enter the 2013 NFL Draft.

All three project as potential top-40 selections in April.

Milliner is currently NFLDraftScout.com's No. 1 cornerback prospect and projected top-10 pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. He finished 2012 with 54 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two interceptions. Milliner led the conference with 22 passes defended and earned first-team All-SEC honors.

Listed at 6 feet 1 and 198 pounds, he has an impressive combination of size, length and strength for the position. Although he probably won't run a blazing 40-yard dash time, he has enough speed to be an impact starter in the NFL. Milliner is extremely aggressive with the ball in the air and plays with excellent timing, instincts and anticipation.

Lacy is rated as NFLDraftScout.com's No. 1 running back and No. 43 prospect overall. He will compete with Giovani Bernard and a few others to be the first running back off the board, likely in the second-round range.

Although overshadowed at times this season by true freshman T.J. Yeldon, Lacy was strong down the stretch with a career-high 181 rushing yards against Georgia in the SEC championship game followed by 140 rushing yards in the BCS title game, earning offensive player of the game honors. Lacy finished the 2012 season with 1,322 rushing yards on 204 carries (6.5 average) and 17 touchdowns, earning first-team All-SEC honors.

At 220 pounds, Lacy has the power to run over defenders but also shows the fluid feet to sidestep would-be tacklers and accelerate down the field. He runs tough and determined with an angry attitude to finish each run and pick up positive yardage.

While not quite as highly regarded as his predecessors Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, Lacy projects as a starting running back in the NFL, similar to a more agile Michael Bush-type. Fluker is NFLDraftScout.com's No. 4 offensive tackle and borderline first-round pick in the April NFL Draft. He started all 14 games this past season for the Crimson Tide, leaving Alabama with 36 career starts at right tackle under his belt.

At 6-6 and 335 pounds, Fluker has the mammoth frame and length to engulf rushers and be a mauler as a run blocker. He plays tight in space and can have trouble against speed rushers, causing some to thing he's better suited inside at guard.