With the Senior Bowl coming up next week and the Combine next in March, the 2018 NFL draft chatter has begun.
What about 2019 and beyond, though?
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr., did a media teleconference Thursday discussing a number of topics including Alabama prospects for this draft class. A few names for the future were also discussed.
The draft stocks for returning Crimson Tide players Jalen Hurts and Damien Harris were on the list.
On the quarterback, Kiper said Hurts is a great leader, plays tough and is a "phenomenal runner."
"Just did enough in the passing game to get by," Kiper said. "When they needed more, they went to Tua (Tagovailoa) and they got it. So, who knows? Nick isn't going to discard a Jalen Hurts, but to say he's a pro prospect right now, I'd say no. I don't think -- as a quarterback -- I wouldn't say he was an NFL quarterback prospect. But we'll see if he could maybe make a change to another position down the road."
Hurts is entering his junior season at Alabama. There's been no talk -- at least publicly -- that would indicate he would be changing positions after Tagovailoa's big second-half performance against Georgia in the national title game.
For Harris, the rising senior was rated among the top 10 running backs by most draft experts. He ran for 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons as the Tide's top option in the backfield.
"Damien Harris opted to go back, which I think was a wise move on his part," Kiper said. "He did not finish strong. In a lot of games, he had one big carry that led to him having a high average per carry. I think Damien Harris was smart to go back."
Harris had some of the longest plays from scrimmage for Alabama in 2017. That included two 75-yard runs against Texas A&M and Arkansas, a 61-yarder at Vanderbilt and a 48-yarder at Mississippi State. Is 7.4-yard average rush on 135 carries ranked 12th nationally.
Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande.