Alabama17Tide
Member
Scout-team players take pride in their roles
Tommy Deas | TideSports.com
Erin Nelson | The Tuscaloosa News
ATLANTA – You won't see Donnie Lee Jr. or Derrick Garnett on the Georgia Dome turf playing for the University of Alabama on Saturday in the Peach Bowl semifinal of the College Football Playoff.
They'll be there, however, just on the sideline.
They earned their Crimson Tide jerseys on the practice field. They are non-scholarship, scout-team players: Lee a wide receiver from Tuscaloosa County High School, Garnett a linebacker and defensive end from Holy Spirit Catholic School.
Neither has played a snap in a game, but they contribute.
"It might not be a major role, but the minor roles do such a great job preparing us for the major roles," defensive line coach Karl Dunbar said. "I think those guys do a great job – they run around, they let us beat up on them and they prepare us for the team that we're going to play on Saturday.
"The (scout-team) guy will probably never play here, but he's part of what we do and he works hard for us. That's the good thing."
Lee is a 6-foot, 195-pound speedster who started his collegiate athletic career at Florida on a track and field scholarship and made Freshman All-SEC.
"It was a lot of fun," he said, "but my heart wasn't really in track anymore and I just wanted to explore different things."
Lee knew Alabama defensive back Marlon Humphrey from the track circuit. Humphrey encouraged Lee to give it a try.
"I decided to do it," Lee said. "I transferred, just ready to come back home and live out a childhood dream."
Lee has gained about 25 pounds since his track and field days, but he had to do more than get bigger.
"It was obviously a learning barrier," he said. "Track is not the same as football. (Football is) more methodical, a lot more systematic. A lot more preparation goes into it than just go out and run."
Even though his play has been limited to the scout team, where he runs routes against the starters and key backups, imitating the opposing team's offense, Lee takes pride in being part of Alabama football.
"Coming from County High, it's a really big thing for us," he said. "We all grew up watching Alabama football. To be a part of that tradition, that goes on forever and it's something that can never be taken away from you.
"Just showing kids from where I come from in Northport that we can go play with the big dogs right across the bridge, it's really humbling. I'm extremely excited about being able to do my role on scout team and give these guys a good look."
Lee is listed as a junior on the UA roster, but he expects to graduate before next season. He could transfer as a graduate student and play his final season of eligibility immediately. He is considering a move to UAB to finish out his career.
"Depending on what the coaching staff here says after the season's over and what the coaching staff there says, I'll just weigh my options," Lee said.
Barnett is a senior. When Alabama's season ends, so does his career.
"This is it right here," he said.
Barnett is 6-1, 240 pounds. He regularly battles men who are several inches taller and often more than 60 pounds heavier in practice situations.
And those guys don't take it easy on him. That's not how it works.
"I'm not as big as they are," he said, "but you go hard. Trying to make these guys better every week and do my part."
Barnett regularly goes up against another Tuscaloosa product, offensive lineman Lester Cotton.
"He's a real good person, a real good player," Cotton said. "He's competitive. He brings it, he puts a lot of effort into what he does. He never shows weakness or shows he's tired.
"He went up against a lot of talented people and he did good against them. If he had to play, he could play."
Like any player, Barnett would love to play. He accepts that it's not going to happen.
"If you don't then you're going to be miserable," he said. "You've just got to embrace whatever you do and try to have fun with it. I try every day to come out and bring a little juice to practice, get everybody going."
Barnett is enjoying the ride. Every bump and bruise from practice has been worth it.
"It's been amazing, just to have this opportunity again to win another semifinal game and have an another opportunity to make another run at a championship," he said. "Growing up as a fan, I mean, this is the dream. From Tuscaloosa, watched all the championship teams before when I was in school – 2009, '11 and '12 – and to finally be a part of it is nothing short of a blessing."
TideSports.com - Scout-team players take pride in their roles
Tommy Deas | TideSports.com
Erin Nelson | The Tuscaloosa News
ATLANTA – You won't see Donnie Lee Jr. or Derrick Garnett on the Georgia Dome turf playing for the University of Alabama on Saturday in the Peach Bowl semifinal of the College Football Playoff.
They'll be there, however, just on the sideline.
They earned their Crimson Tide jerseys on the practice field. They are non-scholarship, scout-team players: Lee a wide receiver from Tuscaloosa County High School, Garnett a linebacker and defensive end from Holy Spirit Catholic School.
Neither has played a snap in a game, but they contribute.
"It might not be a major role, but the minor roles do such a great job preparing us for the major roles," defensive line coach Karl Dunbar said. "I think those guys do a great job – they run around, they let us beat up on them and they prepare us for the team that we're going to play on Saturday.
"The (scout-team) guy will probably never play here, but he's part of what we do and he works hard for us. That's the good thing."
Lee is a 6-foot, 195-pound speedster who started his collegiate athletic career at Florida on a track and field scholarship and made Freshman All-SEC.
"It was a lot of fun," he said, "but my heart wasn't really in track anymore and I just wanted to explore different things."
Lee knew Alabama defensive back Marlon Humphrey from the track circuit. Humphrey encouraged Lee to give it a try.
"I decided to do it," Lee said. "I transferred, just ready to come back home and live out a childhood dream."
Lee has gained about 25 pounds since his track and field days, but he had to do more than get bigger.
"It was obviously a learning barrier," he said. "Track is not the same as football. (Football is) more methodical, a lot more systematic. A lot more preparation goes into it than just go out and run."
Even though his play has been limited to the scout team, where he runs routes against the starters and key backups, imitating the opposing team's offense, Lee takes pride in being part of Alabama football.
"Coming from County High, it's a really big thing for us," he said. "We all grew up watching Alabama football. To be a part of that tradition, that goes on forever and it's something that can never be taken away from you.
"Just showing kids from where I come from in Northport that we can go play with the big dogs right across the bridge, it's really humbling. I'm extremely excited about being able to do my role on scout team and give these guys a good look."
Lee is listed as a junior on the UA roster, but he expects to graduate before next season. He could transfer as a graduate student and play his final season of eligibility immediately. He is considering a move to UAB to finish out his career.
"Depending on what the coaching staff here says after the season's over and what the coaching staff there says, I'll just weigh my options," Lee said.
Barnett is a senior. When Alabama's season ends, so does his career.
"This is it right here," he said.
Barnett is 6-1, 240 pounds. He regularly battles men who are several inches taller and often more than 60 pounds heavier in practice situations.
And those guys don't take it easy on him. That's not how it works.
"I'm not as big as they are," he said, "but you go hard. Trying to make these guys better every week and do my part."
Barnett regularly goes up against another Tuscaloosa product, offensive lineman Lester Cotton.
"He's a real good person, a real good player," Cotton said. "He's competitive. He brings it, he puts a lot of effort into what he does. He never shows weakness or shows he's tired.
"He went up against a lot of talented people and he did good against them. If he had to play, he could play."
Like any player, Barnett would love to play. He accepts that it's not going to happen.
"If you don't then you're going to be miserable," he said. "You've just got to embrace whatever you do and try to have fun with it. I try every day to come out and bring a little juice to practice, get everybody going."
Barnett is enjoying the ride. Every bump and bruise from practice has been worth it.
"It's been amazing, just to have this opportunity again to win another semifinal game and have an another opportunity to make another run at a championship," he said. "Growing up as a fan, I mean, this is the dream. From Tuscaloosa, watched all the championship teams before when I was in school – 2009, '11 and '12 – and to finally be a part of it is nothing short of a blessing."
TideSports.com - Scout-team players take pride in their roles
