Iron Bowl

Alabama defensive back Bradley Sylve and Auburn wide receiver Quan Bray battle for control of a pass during the second half Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, at Bryant-Deny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Julie Bennett/ jbennett@al.com)

(JULIE BENNETT)

It was just 20 minutes into a light tune-up session the day before Alabama's recent Pro Day, and it was just a standard movement that Bradley Sylve had made countless times before without any issue.

But the light backpedal was followed by the departing Tide cornerback stopping and firing forward. When he did, he heard the pop from his Achilles tendon and had that unmistakable feeling like he had just gotten kicked familiar to anyone that's ever had a torn Achilles tendon.

Sylve hoped it was nothing serious, but he immediately lost feeling in his heel and Achilles. After sitting down and feeling the Achilles, he knew he had suffered a serious injury.

"It felt like Jell-O," Sylve said. "That's when I knew I tore it."

Sylve got the confirmation after hopping to Alabama's training room.

A brief examination was followed by Sylve receiving the devastating news that he had torn his Achilles tendon just one day before his chance to work out in front of representatives from all 32 NFL teams.

"All I remember doing is -- when they told me that -- I just put my head down and started crying," Sylve said. "I cried the whole day and the whole night."

Sylve wasn't projected to be selected in this year's NFL draft by sites such as CBS Sports. However, posting a fast time in the 40-yard dash has a way of creating opportunities for players.

Sylve, who also ran track at Alabama, had the third-fastest 40 time on the Tide's football team last spring, running a 4.38 without any training for the 40.

Sylve was timed at 4.27 in February and felt he had gotten faster leading up to the Pro Day while also adding around 15 pounds of muscle.

The 40-yard dash record at the NFL scouting combine is 4.24.

"I just had that feeling that on Pro Day I was going to run a 4.1," said the 6-foot Sylve, who was up to 185 pounds after finishing last season weighing around 170. "I just had that feeling because of the work I had put in. I felt more explosive, stronger. I just had that feeling that I was going to run a 4.1 or a low 4.2."

While Sylve was just a backup as a redshirt senior last season, he started three games as a redshirt sophomore in 2013, started Alabama's season-opener as a redshirt junior and was one of the Tide's four Special Teams Players of the Year last season.

He tied for the team-lead with nine special teams tackles.

Pro Day was supposed to be an opportunity for Sylve to show NFL teams that he has the speed, attributes and ability to play in the NFL.

Instead, Sylve was at a hospital in Birmingham undergoing surgery while his former teammates participated in the Pro Day.

Doctors told Sylve that he faces a six-to-nine month recovery.

Alabama, though, has been helpful.

Coach Nick Saban was immediately in contact with Sylve and his family. The surgery was done by one of the Tide's team doctors, Norman Waldrop. In addition, Alabama paid for the surgery and told Sylve that he can rehab for free at the Tide's team headquarters in Tuscaloosa.

The focus for Sylve shifts to getting healthy and continuing his push for an NFL opportunity.

Sylve's mother has regularly posted motivational quotes on his Facebook page since he suffered the injury.

One recent one was, "When life puts you in tough situations, don't say 'why me?'. Just say 'try me.'"

"I'm not giving up on my dream," Sylve said. "This is what I've been dreaming about since I was a little kid. And I just know God's on my side and that this is just a test, so I've got to keep my faith in him, and I'm going to prevail. I'm going to make it to the next level."