All spring the hot topic has been the progression of Blake Sims at quarterback. He is now a serious contender to replace AJ McCarron even when Jacob Coker arrives on campus. Cooper Bateman and Alec Morris are two other quarterbacks that are not completely out of the race, but it is almost certain that next year's quarterback will be either Sims or Coker.
Beyond the quarterback situation, the A-Day game is a time to see how early enrollees have developed throughout spring practice. Last season, OJ Howard and Derrick Henry were two early enrollees that saw significant playing time. This year should provide a better opportunity for early enrollees to see the field despite there lack of college experience.
The 2014 Alabama early enrollees include:
DB- Tony Brown
QB- David Cornwell
LB- Shaun Dion Hamilton
DB- Laurence "Hootie" Jones
WR- Cameron Sims
OL- Cameron Robinson
DL- Jarran Reed (Junior College Transfer)
DL- DJ Pettway (Junior College Transfer)
All of the players have great talent and potential, but some are more likely to see playing time this season.
Cameron Robinson
Cameron Robinson headlined this year's recruiting class. The Monroe, Louisiana native chose Alabama over LSU and has not looked back. Robinson has always been the favorite to replace Cyrus Kouandjio. He has rotated with Brandon Greene at left tackle all spring, but Robinson will play with the first team offense tomorrow on the Crimson team. Allowing a true freshman to start at the most important position on the offensive line shows the confidence Nick Saban has in him. One could argue that Alabama lacks depth on the offensive line, but he has the size and talent to potentially be one of the best offensive linemen for Alabama this season despite his young age.
Cameron Sims
Cameron Sims progression has Alabama has come as a little bit of a surprise. No one doubted his skill sets, but wide receiver was considered a position that was taken care of even with Kevin Norwood and Kenny Bell's departure. Sims (also from Monroe, Louisiana) will play for the Crimson team tomorrow among the first team starters. The Crimson receiving core will include Amari Cooper, Chris Black, Cameron Sims, Christion Jones, and DeAndrew White. Cooper will still be top dog, but do not be surprised if he is a valuable asset just like Kevin Norwood.
Tony Brown
Tony Brown raised a few eyebrows following his arrest shortly after arriving at the University of Alabama. The case has remained unclear, but it appears that the arresting officers did not follow the correct protocol. Brown has pulled double duty being an member of both the football and track team, and recently injured his shoulder in a track related event. The injury is not serious and he has remained at practice. Brown has the opportunity to rotate into games and play in certain packages especially with the recent injury to Eddie Jackson. Saban and Kirby Smart use multiple defensive backs to keep fresh legs against no-huddle offenses. He will play with the second string defense on the Crimson team tomorrow, and it has not been announced if he will play in a non-contact jersey.
Laurence "Hootie" Jones
Laurence Jones, yet another Monroe, Louisiana native, has rotated at safety this spring with Landon Collins, Geno Smith, Nick Perry, and Jonathon Cook. Jones has the speed and mechanics to play either safety or cornerback which may allow him to see the field this season. Defensive back is one of the hardest positions to play at Alabama because Nick Saban usually unleashes his wrath on the secondary the most. True freshman have seen playing time in the past, but they do not usually start. Jones is a hard hitting athlete that could see his stock rise as the season moves forward and bodies begin to wear down. He will play with the second string defense on the Crimson team tomorrow.
DJ Pettway
DJ Pettway is at Alabama for the second time in his career after getting kicked off the team following an assault charge. Pettway transferred to East Mississippi Community College and was an unstoppable force on the defensive line. This was enough for Saban to give him a second chance. He has already quickly made a name for himself this spring, and his contributions should help bring depth to a defensive line that struggled to pressure quarterbacks last season. Pettway will play with the first string defense on the White team tomorrow.
Jarran Reed
Jarran Reed followed DJ Pettway from East Mississippi Community College. Reed was highly recruited by many colleges including Arkansas, Florida, and Ole Miss. Although Pettway is more known, Reed is equally as good if not better than Pettway. Reed can get in the back field quickly and can disrupt offensive lines. Reed will contribute to what could play out to be one of the best defensive lines in the SEC this season. Reed will play with the first string defense on the White team tomorrow.
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