SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The season's barely over and the clock is ticking.

A handful of Alabama underclassmen have NFL draft decisions to make and there isn't much time to waste. The deadline to declare is Friday, though there's a 72-hour window to reverse course and return to school.

The close proximity of the deadline and the national title game is an issue Nick Saban said needs to be addressed. But the rules aren't changing this year with a half dozen Alabama players weighing options.

One of those with a decision to make is tight end O.J. Howard. Fresh off an offensive MVP award in the 45-40 title-game win over Clemson, Howard explained his next step.

"I don't think it'll be hard at all," Howard said. "Once I set down with Coach Saban and my family, Coach will help us make the right decision. He's always done that for me since I've been here at the university. You don't have to think about it too much during the season; you just want to play football. If you get focused on trying to leave early, the only things, you mess up on stuff."

Howard said he expected that meeting with Saban to come Wednesday.

Among the other players with decisions include Derrick Henry, A'Shawn Robinson, Jonathan Allen, Eddie Jackson, Tim Williams.

Saban said the advice he gives remained the same. If the draft advisory board gives them a first-round grade, they should go. If not, there's a real benefit in sticking around. Earlier this week, it was reported Alabama underclassmen agreed not to open the envelopes containing the draft grades until the season ended. Williams, however, said Saturday he received a late-first, early-second-round grade and was considering leaving.

"We've had a significant number of players, 17, I think," Saban said, "I might be off one or two, and there were only two of those 17 guys, 15 made good decisions about the best business decision for them."

With Howard and Jackson sitting at the same podium, Saban went through a list of players who made the right decision in returning to school.

"Reggie Ragland last year had a second-round grade," Saban said. "I'm sure he'll be a top-15 pick this year. If you want to do the math on that, that's like maybe $12-, $14-million decision. Mark Baron did it a few years ago. He was a second-round guy, maybe (to) the seventh pick in the draft. That was a $16, $18-million decision, plus he graduated."

Saban explained the process the underclassman follow to reach the decision. After the SEC Championship Game, there's a meeting for players hoping to submit their names to get a draft forecast. They hold an agent education program to teach the players and their families about the factors to consider.

"Then I let the players sort of decide how they want to manage it," Saban said. "Do we want to do this now, between now and the bowl game and now and the playoff game or whatever the circumstance is, or do you guys want to sort of postpone it until we get finished playing. Even though we had guys submit paperwork this year because they have to do it by December 18th, everybody chose to postpone it.

"So we'll have meetings on Wednesday, tomorrow, when we get back, and I'll share the information that we've gathered from teams as well as the junior committee so that everybody has the best chance to make the best business decision that they can for their future."

Saban praised the maturity of this group and the way it remained focused on team goals over the individual riches.

A year ago, Saban said draft decisions became a distraction leading up to the semifinal loss to Ohio State. Three players ultimately left for the draft -- Amari Cooper, T.J. Yeldon and Landon Collins. Only Cooper was taken in the first round.

"So there's a business aspect to making this decision that I've always tried to get our players to make a business decision," Saban said. "I know every player that's a good player on our team has aspirations and goals and wants to play in the NFL. But you can sort of minimize your value if you get antsy and go out for the draft early because now you're going to sign a three- or four-year contract for a lot less money, and you've got to play with that."