B
Bama News
Guest
A few of the interesting things Alabama football players said Tuesday
Three Alabama football players stopped by the interview room Tuesday afternoon.
The regular preseason schedule is starting to set in for Alabama’s camp. That means the interview room is back in business with three players stopping by Tuesday to chat it up with the finest local media members around.
A few of the interesting things we learned:
-- Offensive guard Matt Womack now has a buzz haircut. “I don’t know, new year, new me,” Womack said with a smile. “Camp’s hot so I figured I might as well go for it. I used to have long hair and figured I might as well go for the short hair.”
-- Womack’s mom, however, doesn’t love the new haircut.
-- On the field, the former starting right tackle (in the 2017 season) is still getting some reps on the outside but is the first team guard with Jedrick Wills and Alex Leatherwood firmly in starting roles at tackle.
-- There’s new competition on the offensive line from Florida State graduate transfer Landon Dickerson. It sounds like the former Seminole is fitting in well in his new locker room. “I love Landon,” Womack said. “He’s a great guy. As soon as he came in he was acting like himself. I met him a few times before he came. He’s a great guy. He’s a great player. I watched him [Monday] with pads on. Great stuff. I’m excited to see what he’s going to do.”
-- This is somewhat of a rebound season for Womack after injuries and the emergence of Wills at right tackle meant watching most of 2018 from the sideline. The senior spoke about that journey. “I broke my foot and had surgery and then tried to come back and I re-broke it,” he said. “It was really frustrating for me, but I think it really helped me grow as a person and a football player. I got to see it from the other side, how things I are. I really tried to have a different role on the team. I could help lift them up if they were down, so I thought I could help the team that way.”
-- Outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings can be soft spoken in front of the cameras but a few topics got him going Tuesday. Getting Terrell Lewis and Chris Allen back from ACL injuries is on the list. "Man, you don't even know,” Jennings said. “I'm beyond excited. With those guys, they're two different types of players - well, we're all different types of players - and we just capitalize off each other. It's gonna be fun."
-- Jennings actually led the team last year with 11 pass deflections. Asked if he reminds the defensive backs of this, his answer was brief. “Always,” Jennings said.
-- New outside linebackers coach Sal Sunseri is a well-known personality with a high motor and intense practice expectations. Jennings called Sunseri “an OG.” Explaining that would only come off sounding as rigid and out of touch with the youth, so you can google that if there’s any confusion.
-- In terms of Sunseri’s style, Jennings seems to appreciate it. “He ain't the type of coach that's gonna sit there and pat you on the back all the time,” Jennings said. “He's gonna tell you when you mess up, he's gonna tell you when you're doing good and just keep it real with you at all times. For me as a player that's trying to get better each and every day, that's all you can ask for."
-- Freshman Kevin Harris is “fast, quick with a high motor,” Jennings said.
-- Defensive lineman Raekwon Davis was late and a little groggy making it up to the interview room. “Yeah,” he said. “I just woke up from a camp nap.” Days can be long so a quick rest came before the early-afternoon Q&A.
-- What has he learned so far in camp? “That it’s going to be hot, regardless,” he said. “It’s going to be hot so we just have to go out there and go to work.”
-- Davis also spoke about his role as a leader on this defense after playing behind some vocal veterans in his earlier years in Tuscaloosa. Asked about the young defensive linemen, he explained some of the adjustment they go through making the jump to college ball. “I think physically they’re prepared,” Davis said. “It’s just the little things, like when they get tired. But that’s my job, just to keep them going, just keep the energy going.”
-- Practice resumes Wednesday afternoon with Nick Saban stopping by for a news conference when they wrap up.
