| FTBL News and notes: UA linebacker Cory Reamer 'not the only one who's moving around'

Alabama shuffling players in practice to find the best linebacker rotation for Kentucky.

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Senior linebacker Cory Reamer is again the utility player in Alabama's defense.
Reamer said he practiced at three different positions today as the Crimson Tide searches for the right combination to replace 'Will' linebacker Dont'a Hightower, who was lost for the season Saturday to a knee injury.

"We're doing some different things, trying to figure out who fits best where,"
who was the Tide's starting 'Sam' linebacker before Hightower's injury.

Going off the media's viewing period, practice began with Reamer at the 'Will' position, Eryk Anders at 'Sam' and Courtney Upshaw at 'Jack,' which was the alignment Alabama used to finish Saturday's victory over Arkansas. Rolando McClain is a mainstay at the 'Mike' spot.
But Alabama coach Nick Saban cautioned Monday that such a lineup "will be a part of what we do," but not all of it when the Crimson Tide visits Kentucky at 11:21 a.m. Saturday.

According to Reamer, the shuffling today resembled preseason camp. Reamer said he alone played 'Will,' 'Sam' and the 'Money' dime-back spot.

"But I'm not the only one who's moving around,"
he said. "We had other guys playing different positions. We lost a good pass rusher as well, so we're trying to develop some of those guys."

The second linebacker group during the first portion of practice featured Andalusia true freshman Nico Johnson (Will), sophomore Chris Jordan (Mike), junior Chavis Williams (Sam) and converted junior defensive end Milton Talbert (Jack). (ep)

The Mike and Will positions are both inside, while Sam and Jack are outside.

"Mike and Will are identical positions, pretty much,"
Reamer said. "Responsibilities are the same, especially for run defense. The easiest thing would be to just add another inside linebacker over to the 'Will' position, but moving an outside linebacker is definitely more difficult."
<center>------------------------------------------</center> Senior defensive end Brandon Deaderick is the only scholarship player on Alabama's roster that hails from the state of Kentucky.

Deaderick is from Elizabethtown, which is roughly 85 miles from Lexington.

Asked the circumstances of Deaderick's recruitment, Wildcats coach Rich Brooks replied, "The circumstances? We lost him."

"He was here a lot,"
Brooks said, "had a sister living in Lexington, and he chose to go to Alabama. He's a good player. He's a very good player."
<center>------------------------------------------</center> UA sophomore tailback Jeramie Griffin, who tore a knee ligament during the preseason and will miss the 2009 season, was in uniform (and a black jersey) at practice today while riding a stationary bike on the side of the field.

Though he won't practice for a while, it was sign that Griffin's recovery from surgery is progressing well.
<center>------------------------------------------</center> UK's Brooks is practicing his first offense against his first defense more this week to try to rally a squad that lost 41-7 to Florida.

"We'll find out (if it went well) Saturday,"
Brooks said.
<center>------------------------------------------</center> Three Kentucky players were held out of practice today because of injuries, according to UK media relations. That included starting right tackle Justin Jeffries (Achilles strain), starting cornerback Paul Warford (quadriceps strain) and linebacker William Johnson (sprained knee).

In addition, UK said that star linebacker and leading tackler Micah Johnson could not finish practice because of a turf toe injury.
 
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