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re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition
Posted on 6/4/14 at 10:24 pm to TideSaint
Posted on 6/4/14 at 10:24 pm to TideSaint
I posted a few pages ago a twitter update that he said he is heading to ttown. Haven't seen anyone else mention the visit though.
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What's interesting is that he is putting Bama back in his top group where he didnt have us there before.
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What's interesting is that he is putting Bama back in his top group where he didnt have us there before.
1
Posted on 6/4/14 at 10:26 pm to chattabama
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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - T.D. Moton didn't play football during his junior season at Shreveport's Woodlawn High School, but that didn't stop schools from going after the star defensive tackle.
Moton had to sit out due to transfer rules, but coach Jerwin Wilson said he kept his spirits up and had a great spring. Moton committed to Alabama on Monday, giving the Crimson Tide its 18th commitment for the 2015 signing class.
AL.com caught up with Scout.com recruiting analyst Chad Simmons (follow him on Twitter), who offered up his thoughts on Moton.
"Agility is a strength of Moton's," Simmons said of the 6-foot-3, 310-pound recruit. "He can move well for a prospect of his size. He flashes quickness off the ball, he can re-direct well and he can get penetration. He has a great frame and very good power.
"He did not play as a junior, so we will see where he is now compared to where he was in the fall of 2012. He needs his technique and more than anything, his consistency. His pad level can be better. He needs to work his hands more, and just play more consistent overall."
Simmons feels like Moton is athletic enough to play at the five-technique position on the end and at nose tackle.
"He can play the run well, plug the gap up the middle, and make plays there as well," Simmons said. "He could be a guy that moves around, but if I had to predict something now, he would be a guy who plays on the inside long term at Alabama."
Simmons said Alabama, including Crimson Tide assistant Billy Napier, are doing an excellent job recruiting in northern Louisiana, though he didn't think Moton's commitment would directly lead to more commitments from there. Alabama has a Louisiana commitment for this class in receiver Daylon Charlot.
"You can bet he will be talking up the Tide to all the recruits he knows though," Simmons said. "He has been set on Alabama for some time, so it would appear that Alabama is the only school on his mind right now. We will see if anything changes, but for now, things look good for Alabama holding onto this one."
Moton is the first true defensive tackle commit for the Crimson Tide, but Jonathan Ledbetter (6-foot-4, 265, listed as a DE) could grow into a tackle. Ledbetter visited Auburn for Big Cat Weekend, though he made the trip to Tuscaloosa for Alabama's camp this week as well. Dadeville's Anfernee Jennings (6-foot-3, 257) is another big defensive line commitment, but he's also listed as an end.
Alabama continues to have the No. 1 recruiting class and isn't done recruiting defensive tackles. Shades Valley standout Daron Payne, a 5-star, is in Tuscaloosa this week and is a high priority. Of 43 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions, all but one prediction has Payne choosing Alabama. Another 5-star, Albany, Ga., standout Trent Thompson, was at Alabama camp this week but seems like a longer shot.
Moton has been in Tuscaloosa for several days and seems to be enjoying his time there.
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TD Moton @__moton
Alabama Camp I'm watching today been here since Saturday night .. great place great people thats why…
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Posted on 6/4/14 at 10:36 pm to chattabama
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At the end of spring practices, there was one player from the recruiting class of 2009 remaining on the University of Alabama football roster, although most Crimson Tide fans probably don't remember ever seeing him on the field.
He was rated a 3-star player. He's since lined up at two different positions and finally saw his first game action last season.
His name? Anthony Orr.
It’s almost hard to believe that same recruiting class also had Trent Richardson, Dre Kirkpatrick, D.J. Fluker, James Carpenter, Chance Warmack, Eddie Lacy and Nico Johnson, who have all been in the National Football League for at least a year, while AJ McCarron, Kevin Norwood and Ed Stinson were selected in the recent draft.
That’s five first-round selections, an NFL rookie of the year and winners of too many collegiate awards to list. Most were also part of winning three national championships.
“I really do think the most accurate way to be able to rank any recruiting class would be three years down the road,” Nick Saban said on national signing day, “because I think the challenge for all these young men that got recruited today, wherever they're going, is to be able to stay focused on what they need to do to improve as players and do the things that they need to do to become very effective college football players.
Dave Martin/Associated Press
Nick Saban has surrounded himself with an amazing amount of talent.
“And it is a challenge to go from high school to college. Maybe the biggest challenge of all, maybe even more so going from college to the NFL.”
Nevertheless, with a unanimous No. 1 recruiting class this year, the Crimson Tide remains loaded with talent. Despite needing arguably 11 new starters (four offense, seven defense), the lineup looks like something straight out of one of those high-profile all-star games that the nation’s best recruits play in every year.
So after reviewing the Crimson Tide position by position earlier this week, the following is a different look at Alabama’s roster based on how each player was evaluated as a prospect. After each name is the year he signed, what level he was assigned (stars, five being the best) and his overall national rank according to the composite rankings by 247Sports.
Quarterbacks (5)
David Cornwell, 2014, 4, 79
Cooper Bateman, 2013, 4, 80
Blake Sims, 2010, 4, 275*
Jacob Coker, 2011, 3, 532 (FSU)
Alec Morris, 2012, 3, 569
Running backs (7)
Derrick Henry, 2013, 5, 12
Bo Scarbrough, 2014, 5, 16
T.J. Yeldon, 2012, 5, 28
Altee Tenpenny, 2013, 4, 53
Tyren Jones, 2013, 4, 66
Kenyan Drake, 2012, 4, 130
Jalston Fowler, 2010, 4, 220
Wide receivers (9)
Robert Foster, 2013, 5, 23
Chris Black, 2012, 4, 45
Amari Cooper, 2012, 4, 46
Cameron Sims, 2014, 4, 84
ArDarius Stewart, 2013, 4, 86
DeAndrew White, 2010, 4, 107
Derek Kief, 2014, 4, 221
Raheem Falkins, 2013, 3, 361
Christion Jones, 2011, 3, 365*
Tight ends (5)
O.J. Howard, 2013, 5, 19
Malcolm Faciane, 2011, 4, 190
Brian Vogler, 2010, 4, 228
Kurt Freitag, 2012, 3, 480
Ty Flournoy-Smith, 2014, 3, 103 (JC)-x
Offensive line (16)
Cam Robinson, 2014, 5, 4
Grant Hill, 2013, 4, 61
Ross Pierschbacher, 2014, 4, 74
Brandon Greene, 2012, 4, 125
Dominick Jackson, 2014, 4, 2 (JC)
JC Hassenauer, 2014, 4, 172
Arie Kouandjio, 2010, 4, 173
Ryan Kelly, 2011, 4, 237
Alphonse Taylor, 2012, 4, 266
Joshua Casher, 2014, 4, 280
Leon Brown, 2013, 4, 19 (JC)
Isaac Luatua, 2011, 3, 391
Montel McBride, 2014, 3, 422
Bradley Bozeman, 2013, 3, 471
Brandon Hill, 2013, 3, 505-x
Austin Shepherd, 2010, 3, 623
Defensive line (15)
Da’Shawn Hand, 2014, 5, 5
Jonathan Allen, 2013, 5, 16*
A’Shawn Robinson, 2013, 5, 33
Dee Liner, 2013, 4, 46
Josh Frazier, 2014, 4, 85
Korren Kirven, 2012, 4, 166
Jarran Reed, 2014, 4, 13 (JC)
D.J. Pettway, 2011, 4, 206 (2014, 4, 14 JC)
Dalvin Tomlinson, 2012, 4, 217
O.J. Smith, 2014, 3, 398
Johnny Dwight, 2014, 3, 429
Dakota Ball, 2012, 3 432
Darren Lake, 2012, 3, 584
Brandon Ivory, 2010, 3, NA
Anthony Orr, 2009, 3, 582
Linebackers (14)
Reuben Foster, 2013, 5, 6
Rashaan Evans, 2014, 5, 15
Trey DePriest, 2011, 5, 29
Xzavier Dickson, 2011, 4, 34
Christian Miller, 2014, 4, 39
Reggie Ragland, 2012, 4, 41
Ronnie Clark, 2014, 4, 70
Ryan Anderson, 2012, 4, 78
Tim Williams, 2013, 4, 82
Dillon Lee, 2012, 4, 101
Denzel Devall, 2012, 4, 139
Shaun Dion Hamilton, 2014, 4, 203
Keith Holcombe, 2014, 4, 281
Walker Jones, 2013, 3, 658
Secondary (14)
Landon Collins, 2012, 5, 7
Tony Brown, 2014, 5, 9
Marlon Humphrey, 2014, 5, 12
Cyrus Jones, 2012, 4, 43*
Laurence “Hootie” Jones, 2014, 4, 50
Geno Smith, 2012, 4, 61
Maurice Smith, 2013, 4, 84
Bradley Sylve, 2011, 4, 106*
Jarrick Williams, 2010, 4, 130
Nick Perry, 2010, 4, 250
Anthony Averett, 2013, 4, 273
Jabriel Washington, 2011, 4, 285
Eddie Jackson, 2013, 3, 349
Jonathan Cook, 2013, 3, 524
Special teams (3)
Adam Griffith, 2012, 3, 656
JK Scott, 2014, 3, MA
Cole Mazza, 2013, 3, NA
*Wasn’t necessarily recruited at the position now playing.
x-Hill attended Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia while Flournoy-Smith went to Georgia Military College to quality academically.
There are some interesting things that stand out.
At which position is Alabama most set?
Defensive line
Linebackers
Running backs
Wide receivers
Other
SUBMIT VOTE vote to see results
Roster
Alabama doesn’t release scholarship information, but the above roster gives the Crimson Tide 42 offensive players, 43 defensive players and three specialists, which adds up to 88, three over the limit.
Saban usually doesn’t disclose information about players who may not return until after the fact, or about incoming players who haven't qualified academically. At least one has yet to arrive at the Capstone and the coach recently said that a couple of signees may need summer classes.
Incidentally, Orr has already graduated.
Year-by-year totals
With six players from the recruiting class of 2011 already in the NFL there are just nine remaining, the same number of holdovers from 2010. Meanwhile, 20 players from 2012 are still on the roster.
With two departures already, there are 23 players remaining from the recruiting class of 2013.
Stars galore
If it wanted to, Alabama could start a 5-star recruit at every defensive position minus two (it’s a linebacker and safety short). Overall, it’s slated to have 15 5-star players (six on offense, nine defense), and 50 (25 and 25) who were rated as 4-four prospects on the roster this season.
Combined, that’s a staggering 76.5 percent of the roster.
Christopher Walsh is the lead Alabama football writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
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I miss Chris Walsh at BOL. He was solid. Marc leaves some to be desired.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 10:39 pm to chattabama
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I miss Chris Walsh at BOL. He was solid.
I agree. I would like to know what actually happened there.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 10:46 pm to I Like FBall
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With three new additions to Alabama's top-rated 2015 recruiting class within the last week, Nick Saban and the coaching staff are cleaning up on the recruiting trail.
Fourteen of the Tide’s 18 pledges are 4-stars or higher, and 10 rank among the nation’s top 100 players, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings.
With that type of talent headed to the Capstone, a handful of potential impact players are capable of making the jump to the college level and earning playing time as freshmen.
Which current commits fit the bill of being able to make an impact on the field next fall?
Next posts will be from this slide show. LINK
Posted on 6/4/14 at 10:47 pm to chattabama
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On the recruiting trail, two of the main traits in demand by defensive coaches are length and versatility.
Those traits are exactly what make 4-star defender Mekhi Brown such a coveted commodity.
The 6’6”, 220-pound Brown, who has been committed to the Tide since April 2013, fits the mold of the new hybrid player who can transition seamlessly between positions such as defensive end and outside linebacker.
Given his athleticism and body type, Brown is a candidate to help the Tide in packages that are designed to slow down hurry-up offenses which possess mobile quarterbacks.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 10:47 pm to chattabama
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Similar to Brown, Keaton Anderson's versatility is part of what makes him an intriguing addition to the Tide’s stellar crop of 2015 defensive commitments.
The 6’1”, 215-pounder can play linebacker or line up in the secondary as an extra defensive back in nickel and dime sets. He may not carry the star power of some of the other members of this class, but he's exactly the type of player who could excel in a niche role created by Saban and Kirby Smart.
In fact, as noted by BamaOnline's Charles Power (subscription required), Anderson feels that he could line up in multiple positions when his college career begins.
"I think I’m a Will linebacker and maybe their Star position,” Anderson said. “Right now, I see myself playing Will. I can move around pretty well and I think I can fit different packages. Wherever I can get on the field is all that matters to me. I think I’ll be able to contribute pretty well."
The potential opening at the star position, which will be manned by senior Jarrick Williams this season, offers Anderson a chance to step in and put his diverse skill set to use as a freshman
Posted on 6/4/14 at 10:48 pm to chattabama
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On the heels of landing 5-star corners Tony Brown and Marlon Humphrey in the 2014 class, Saban and Kirby Smart took another huge step in retooling the secondary by landing 5-star New Jersey native Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The 6’1”, 198-pound Fitzpatrick ranks as the fourth best corner in the class of 2015 after recording a combined six interceptions and 33 pass breakups over the last two seasons.
With a frame that appears ready to handle the rigors of playing corner in the SEC, Fitzpatrick’s arrival figures to ramp up the competition for playing time next season.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 10:49 pm to chattabama
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Alabama is noted for the amount of quality depth throughout the entire roster.
However, following the Tide’s spring game, Saban referenced the inside linebacker position as one area where the Tide could use a lift.
“From a front-seven standpoint, I feel a lot further along (this year),” Saban said. “Maybe not quite enough depth at inside linebacker, and there will be some opportunities for some young guys to continue to develop at that position.”
With upperclassmen such as Reggie Ragland, Dillon Lee and Trey DePriest projected to man the inside this fall, plus former 5-star recruit Reuben Foster's struggle to remain healthy, those opportunities may still be available heading into 2015.
Leo Lewis, tabbed as the nation’s top inside linebacker prospect, tallied 100 tackles as a junior in 2013.
The 6’3”, 225-pounder told BamaOnline’s Charles Power that his ability to be a run-stuffing middle linebacker is what made him stand out in the eyes of the Alabama coaching staff.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 10:49 pm to chattabama
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The last time Alabama dipped into the recruiting hotbed of South Florida for a receiver prospect, it landed record-breaking standout and rising junior Amari Cooper.
With the commitment of 4-star pass-catcher Calvin Ridley, the Tide snagged one of the nation's most explosive playmakers in the 2015 class.
Considering that Ridley averaged a ridiculous 28 yards per reception on his 41 catches and scored 12 touchdowns as a junior, the parallels to Cooper may just be beginning.
The 6’2”, 170-pounder ranks as the second-best receiver prospect in Florida. With Cooper potentially testing the NFL draft waters following the season, the Tide may have already found his eventual replacement in the electric Ridley.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 10:59 pm to chattabama
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Marc leaves some to be desired.
In Marc Torrence's defense, he graduated from college just last month. I knew him when we were both students at Alabama and he's a good guy. Give him a little while to gain experience. He'll get better.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 11:04 pm to RollTide1987
Oh, I agree. You go from Chris Walsh who has been a beat writer forever to a recent graduate there is going to be a drop-off. I just miss all of Walsh's commentary and depth of understanding of the game.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 11:06 pm to chattabama
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You don’t want to say that any time the University of Alabama football program doesn’t play for the national championship under Nick Saban the season wasn’t a success, but last year essentially showed otherwise.
The Crimson Tide beat Texas A&M Johnny Manziel on his home field, won the always-difficult matchup against LSU and with an 11-0 start were incredibly close to being No. 1 from start to finish during the regular season.
Of course, the last time the Crimson Tide came up short they responded by winning the next two national championships, so Saban is hoping that history repeats itself. Even with major questions at quarterback and in the secondary, there’s no doubt that Alabama has enough talent to contend, so the big question this spring was if it had the right mental makeup.
“I’m very encouraged by the attitude that we have on our team,” Saban said.
So far Alabama has been able to avoid the major distractions it had to deal with a year ago and nearly everyone who signed on as part of the nation’s top recruiting class (the unanimous choice among top recruiting evaluators) are already on campus taking summer classes.
“Guys are just a lot more hungry,” senior linebacker Trey DePriest said. “We didn’t finish the season like we wanted to. Guys knew that and they just took a different approach to it, and are trying to get back to the standard to how we do stuff.”
Here’s a position-by-position look at the 2014 Crimson Tide
Next couple of posts coming from this article: LINK
Posted on 6/4/14 at 11:06 pm to chattabama
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Alabama will go into the fall with three players vying for the starting job including Florida State transfer Jacob Coker, who arrived in May with his degree and two years of eligibility remaining. The other two are senior Blake Sims and redshirt freshman Cooper Bateman.
No one on the roster has ever made a start at the collegiate level. Alabama has only had three quarterbacks start since 2006 (John Parker Wilson, Greg McElroy and AJ McCarron).
Coker played in 10 career games for the Seminoles and had one touchdown pass. Sims has participated in 23 games for the Crimson Tide and last season completed 18-of-29 passes for 167 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions to go with 15 carries for 61 rushing yards.
The only other quarterback with any game experience is sophomore Alec Morris, who played briefly against Chattanooga last season but didn’t attempt a pass.
Walk-on Luke Del Rio, who was third on the depth chart last season, transferred to Oregon State and redshirt freshman Parker McLeod has been given permission to start looking around.
David Cornwell (6’5”, 241 pounds) enrolled early, but he will likely redshirt.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 11:08 pm to chattabama
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Alabama has another monster trio in the backfield, but unlike Mark Ingram Jr., Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy, everyone in this group employs a different style.
With 1,235 rushing yards on 207 carries last season, T.J. Yeldon became just the fifth running back in program history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, joining Johnny Musso (1970-71), Bobby Humphrey (1986-87), Shaun Alexander (1998-99), and Kenneth Darby (2004-05). He’s on target to become the Crimson Tide’s all-time leading rusher (3,565, Alexander, 1996-99).
Meanwhile, sophomore Derrick Henry moved up to second on the depth chart for the Sugar Bowl and responded with a 100-yard rushing performance along with turning a short catch into a 61-yard touchdown on his first career reception. Bryan Fischer from NFL.com recently tabbed him the scariest player in college football due to being so physically imposing.
Junior Kenyan Drake, who has the best burst of the three, was second in team rushing last season with 694 yards on 92 carries, while Henry was third with 35 carries for 382.
Joining them in the backfield last season was fullback Jalston Fowler, who will also line up as a running back and receiving tight end. Here’s the really bad news for opponents, they’re all receiving threats as well.
Dee Hart’s departure will help sophomore Altee Tenpenny and redshirt freshman Tyren Jones get on the field more, and talented freshman Bo Scarbrough (6’2”, 225) will start his career at running back. The three are sort of in the same mold as the primary ball-carriers, with Tenpenny a potential every-down running back like Yeldon, Jones somewhat similar to Drake, and Scarbrough more of a power back.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 11:09 pm to chattabama
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Some are already touting Amari Cooper as college football’s best wide receiver this year. Now he just has to prove it.
After having just 100 receiving yards through his first five games due to a variety of injuries last season, Cooper ended up leading the team for the second straight year, with 45 catches for 736 yards.
Cooper will need 1,188 yards to set the Crimson Tide career record (DJ Hall, 2,923, 2004-07), but just four touchdown receptions to become Alabama’s all-time leader (Dennis Homan, 18, 1965-67).
After mulling over an early departure for the NFL, DeAndrew White may be the most underrated player on the team. Although his 100-yard performance against Oklahoma was better than the seven previous games combined (93 on 10 receptions), he finished with 32 catches for 534 yards.
Christion Jones had 36 receptions for 349 yards, most of which came in the first half of the season, and he is a dangerous threat in the slot.
Sophomore Chris Black is expected to lead the second wave along with sophomore Raheem Falkins and redshirt freshman Robert Foster, who coaches came very close to playing last season.
Redshirt freshman ArDarius Stewart’s spring experiment at safety was a short one, while early enrollee Cameron Sims had a good indoctrination. They’ll be joined by incoming freshman Derek Kief over the summer, giving coaches a potential three-deep corps.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 11:10 pm to chattabama
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Two years ago Michael Williams was such a physical presence for the Crimson Tide that the Detroit Lions recently moved him to offensive tackle.
This year’s tight ends will have a much different identity, especially in the passing game.
While senior Brian Vogler is back after having eight catches for 71 yards and one touchdown in 2013, the player defenses struggle matching up against is sophomore O.J. Howard. He played in 13 games last season, with five starts, and made 14 receptions for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
Both are looking to get a little bigger and stronger, but last year left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio said about Howard as a freshman: “This guy is something special.”
While running back Jalston Fowler may take some snaps as a receiving tight end, coaches are hoping sophomore Kurt Freitag steps up in that role as well, with junior Malcolm Faciane an extra blocker in short-yardage situations.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 11:11 pm to chattabama
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Alabama fans are hoping last year was a bit of a transition year for the offensive line, which didn’t play poorly but wasn’t the same as the previous season when the unit featured three All-Americans.
The Crimson Tide also had a new offensive line coach, former FIU head coach Mario Cristobal but now all five starters from the 2012 national champions have moved on to the NFL.
With star recruit Cam Robinson enrolling early, he’s already been handed the starting left tackle job, while junior Ryan Kelly is back at the starting center. Alabama finished the spring with seniors in the other three spots—right tackle Austin Shepherd, right guard Leon Brown and left guard Arie Kouandjio—but the competition is expected to continue in the fall.
The player to watch may be junior college transfer Dominick Jackson (6’7”, 304 pounds), while sophomore Grant Hill played in five games and at one point was splitting reps with Shepherd last season.
Among the reserves, Isaac Luatua and Alphonse Taylor have moved up to the second unit and redshirt freshman Bradley Bozeman spent the spring learning center. Sophomore Brandon Greene is back at tackle after filling in at tight end last season, and redshirt freshman Brandon Hill is a long-term prospect.
Along with Robinson and Jackson, Alabama’s prize group of incoming linemen includes Ross Pierschbacher (6’4”, 290), JC Hassenauer (6’5”, 292), Joshua Casher (6’1”, 297) and Montel McBride (6’4”, 329), who will provide immediate depth.
Posted on 6/4/14 at 11:12 pm to chattabama
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Although Alabama is replacing both defensive ends, it might boast a line in which the smallest starter is 6’4” and 310 pounds.
That’s how senior nose tackle Brandon Ivory and junior college transfer Jarran Reed are both listed, while sophomore A’Shawn Robinson, who led the Crimson Tide in sacks last season, is 320.
Basically, you’re taking about three players who are all roughly the same size as Marcell Dareus when he played at Alabama (2008-10).
Returning line coach Bo Davis is looking for more out of the nose tackle position, especially in the pass rush. Ivory has made 13 career starts and was credited with 24 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, a hurry, and a pass broken up last season, while primary reserve Darren Lake missed the spring due to a torn pectoral muscle.
Reed made 66 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss as a defensive tackle and helped East Mississippi win the junior college national championship. Robinson had 38 tackles, including eight for a loss and a team-high 5.5 sacks as a rookie.
D.J. Pettway is back at the Capstone after a year as Reed’s junior college teammate, during which he had 18.5 tackles for loss and an impressive 11.5 sacks. Sophomore Dalvin Tomlinson is coming off his second knee injury in three years.
Jonathan Allen had 16 tackles, three for a loss and a half-sack, as a freshman, while Alabama’s line rotation could also include sophomores Dakota Ball, Korren Kirven, and Dee Liner.
The player to keep an eye on among the incoming players is defensive end Da'Shawn Hand, who will try and prove that’s he’s too good to keep on the sideline, while Josh Frazier, O.J. Smith and Johnny Dwight will add depth in the middle
Posted on 6/4/14 at 11:12 pm to chattabama
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Although Alabama has to move on without it’s second Butkus Award winner in five years, as C.J. Mosley is now with the Baltimore Ravens, it has a veteran presence in the middle to help ease the transition.
Trey DePriest has played in 40 games, with 26 starts, and last season he made 65 tackles, including 7.5 for a loss and two sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception. He’ll be the every-down player relaying the calls from the sideline and making adjustments before the snap.
Although Reggie Ragland was expected to get a look at strong side linebacker this spring, when sophomore tackling machine Reuben Foster continued to sustain injuries while making hits, the coaches kept the junior next to DePriest at weakside, or Will (which in Alabama’s defense is an interior linebacker).
If Foster can get straightened out he could be a real defensive force, while the coaches have some options at the outside spots.
Junior Denzel Devall had 30 tackles, including five for a loss and three sacks, as the hybrid linebacker/defensive end Jack spot last season, but he also took snaps at Sam this spring. Junior Dillon Lee can play there as well, or in the interior, but senior Xzavier Dickson was with the first unit during A-Day (the final scrimmage of spring).
Sophomore Tim Williams could be poised to make an impact as a pass-rusher, while sophomore Ryan Anderson and redshirt freshman Walker Jones provide depth and will likely land roles on special teams.
Among incoming freshmen there’s a lot hype surrounding Rashaan Evans and Christian Miller, while Ronnie Clark is another high-profile outside linebacker. Interior linebacker Shaun Hamilton enrolled early and had a good spring, while local product Keith Holcombe is a summer addition
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