Florence, Ala. | Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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Alabama's Lacy, Milliner, Fluker to turn pro early
By Mark Edwards
The TimesDaily

Photo by Gary Cosby Jr.
Alabama running back Eddie Lacy (runs through a tackle by Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o and safety Zeke Motta during the first half of the BCS National Championship Game on Monday. That will be Lacy's last game with Alabama because he said today he will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

TUSCALOOSA — Three stars from Alabama’s national championship team are headed to the NFL.

At a news conference today at the Mal Moore Athletic Facility, Crimson Tide running back Eddie Lacy and cornerback Dee Milliner announced they will bypass their senior seasons and make themselves eligible for the NFL draft April 25-27. Alabama offensive tackle D.J. Fluker did not attend the news conference, but Alabama coach Nick Saban said Fluker is turning pro as well.

Saban added he hopes no other juniors are declaring for the NFL.

"We've been surprised in the past, but we hope this is it," Saban said.

NFLdraftscout.com lists Milliner as a likely first-round draft choice. NFLdraftscout.com’s Rob Rang has Lacy as the top running back in the draft and a possible second-round choice.

Said Milliner: “It’s been a great experience for me, my three years here. … I’ve become a better man.”

Said Lacy: “It’s been an amazing experience here. I’ve developed well as a person and a player.”

Milliner was a consensus first-team All-American for Alabama this season as the Crimson Tide posted a 13-1 record and won the BCS National Championship Game for the second straight season.

Fluker made second-team All-American, while Lacy was voted the most valuable player of the SEC Championship Game and the most outstanding offensive player in the BCS win.

In the last four drafts, nine Alabama juniors heard their names called in the first round.

Linebacker C.J. Mosley and quarterback AJ McCarron announced in December they will return, while the university issued a news release Wednesday starting guard Anthony Steen has decided to come back

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