One thing that I haven't seen mentioned is that our returning LB corps is just about as inexperienced as the true freshmen we have coming in.
Sr-Ezekial Knight-Zeke is a good-sized linebacker with athleticism and speed from the outside who converted from wide receiver and tight end to the defensive side of the ball the last two seasons. The sad thing about Zeke is that he has had a couple of health scares with the last one threatening the rest of his career at Bama. He played fearlessly in 41 games with the majority of those coming in his first few years on offense. Last season, he played a complete season and he started in 11 of those for a total of 14 career starts. He has been pretty productive as of late with 78 total tackles (41 solo and 37 assisted), 12 tackles for loss for 55 yards, 5 QB hurries, 3 sacks for 31 yards, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 3 pass break-ups, & 2 interceptions for 28 yards. Hopefully, this guy can play his senior year so he can provide some much needed leadership & experience in the LB corps. (Experience at the position-17 games)
Sr-Jimmy Johns-Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy!! Where do we start here? A fan favorite in one crowd, a critical fan's target in another. He has yet to find his niche with this team, but he is destined to be great in something. He has already showed that he is an impressive physical specimen who loves contact. At running back, he has played in 38 games in 3 seasons at the Capstone. His stats weren't terrible, but clearly his opportunities weren't there b/c he only had 564 rushing yards on 121 carries, 2 rushing TDs, & 4 catches for 57 yards. His play on special teams was admirable and left the thought of what could have been, if he played defense sooner. He currently has 17 total tackles (10 solo and 7 assisted) and 1 forced fumble, but I fully expect these numbers to increase depending on how often he sees the field in his senior year. (Experience at the position-2008 spring game)
Jr-Prince Hall-He has a history of personal concerns, which have kept him out of games, practices, and workouts. He only missed 2 games in 2 seasons. He has played in a total of 24 games and started in 14 of them all at Inside and Middle linebacker. He has tallied an impressive 135 total tackles (72 solo and 62 assisted), 11 tackles for loss for 32 yards, 5 QB hurries, 2.5 sacks for 15 yards, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 pass break-ups, & 1 interception for 10 yards. It would be a shame if Hall couldn't get his act together and return to the field, but that's why Saban recruits the way he does. He only wants the guys that will do what it takes to be a champion.
(Experience at the position-24 games)
Jr-Cory Reamer-He has a history of season-ending injuries where he missed all but 7 games in his first 2 seasons. He played in every game last year, but it was mostly on special teams. So that is only 20 games in which he has played both safety and linebacker in his career at Bama, but he never started. He has only tallied 6 total tackles (5 solo and 1 assisted) and 1 fumble recovery. Saban has seen some good in him at the LB position this past spring, so Reamer will have to continue to improve his size in the 4th quarter program in order to see the field on a consistent basis. (Experience at the position-not sure b/c he was primarily on special teams and he played some safety under Mike Shula. For the sake of arguing, I will say 13 games and 2008 spring game)
Jr-Eryk Anders-He's a back-up linebacker who has appeared mostly on special teams in his first 2 seasons. He's played in only 18 games with no starts, but he hasn't red-shirted, surprisingly. He has only tallied 8 total tackles (6 solo and 2 assisted). Anders hasn't seen the field much so his days could be numbered unless he makes some serious strides in the fall.
(Experience at the position-18 games with most on special teams and 2008 spring game)
Jr-Brandon Fanney-Brandon is a young defensive lineman who had seen time as a backup in his first two seasons, but could play a little Jack linebacker in the 3-4 that Coach Saban wants to implement. At DL, his stats were less than stellar with only 11 games played, no starts, 7 total tackles (2 solo and 5 assisted) and 2 QB hurries. He impressed the coaching staff in the spring, but this may be temporal relief until the true freshmen show what they can do in the fall. (Experience at the position-11 games mostly at DL and 2008 spring game)
Soph-Rolando McClain-He's an impressive physical specimen at the linebacker position, who saw time as a starter in his initial collegiate season. He played in all 13 games and started in 9 of them, even with numerous injuries. He has tallied several stats including 75 total tackles (38 solo and 37 assisted), 5 tackles for loss for 18 yards, 1 QB hurry, 1 sack for 9 yards, 4 pass break-ups, & 2 interceptions for 40 yards. He is one of the most productive young players Bama has had in a long time. Expect him to continue his greatness this season.(Experience at the position-13 games and 2008 spring game)
Soph-Chavis Williams-Chavis is an outside linebacker with size who also saw action on special teams as a true freshman. He has a good frame and speed from the outside in the Tide's 3-4 defensive scheme, where he served as the back-up to Zeke Knight at the "SAM" position. He played in 8 games with no starts while tallying only 2 tackles (1 solo and 1 assisted). He had an excellent spring and could be a valuable asset once he gains the weight and strength needed to man that strongside position. (Experience at the position-8 games and 2008 spring game)
Soph-Charlie Higgenbotham-He's a decent back-up linebacker who played on special teams in his redshirt freshman season last year. Charlie has only played in 10 games, but hasn't started in any. In his limited playing time, he has 12 total tackles (8 solo and 4 assisted). He has been one of the most improved players this past spring, so expect him to get significant playing time, even if he doesn't start. (Experience at the position-10 games and 2008 spring game)
Other notables are Jr-Baron Huber, who played mostly on special teams and full back for Coach Saban. Like Jimmy Johns, he's switching to defense to give linebacker a try. He had some pretty impressive stats defensive out of HS.
Alex Watkins, who arrived on campus last season, redshirted his freshmen year and is a fan favorite to greatly improve this group. He made a few strides in the offseason, but he's still behind many of the other linebackers previously mentioned. He lacks the weight and strength needed to dominate at the position, but the 4th quarter program could prove beneficial for him in the upcoming season.
The guys not mentioned each have an opportunity to at least make the scout team, but if they want to see the field at all in their career, they will have to step up dramatically or miss out on their opportunities.
So, let's see. Jr-Prince Hall is by far the most experienced linebacker we have relative to the number of games he has played at the position, but his return is a big question mark. The next player with the most experience is Jr-Eryk Anders, but he doesn't have a single start and most of his playing time has come on special teams. Next is Sr-Ezekial Knight whose health will be the deciding factor on whether he can finish his senior campaign. So that leaves us with Jr-Cory Reamer whose had previous concerns with the injury bug and the Freshman All-American a year ago, Soph-Rolando McClain, as the guys with the most game time experience. For this reason, I believe that true freshmen, like Jerrell Harris, Donta Hightower, & Courtney Upshaw, will have just as good a shot as anyone. The proof is in the pudding!!!
Sr-Ezekial Knight-Zeke is a good-sized linebacker with athleticism and speed from the outside who converted from wide receiver and tight end to the defensive side of the ball the last two seasons. The sad thing about Zeke is that he has had a couple of health scares with the last one threatening the rest of his career at Bama. He played fearlessly in 41 games with the majority of those coming in his first few years on offense. Last season, he played a complete season and he started in 11 of those for a total of 14 career starts. He has been pretty productive as of late with 78 total tackles (41 solo and 37 assisted), 12 tackles for loss for 55 yards, 5 QB hurries, 3 sacks for 31 yards, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 3 pass break-ups, & 2 interceptions for 28 yards. Hopefully, this guy can play his senior year so he can provide some much needed leadership & experience in the LB corps. (Experience at the position-17 games)
Sr-Jimmy Johns-Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy!! Where do we start here? A fan favorite in one crowd, a critical fan's target in another. He has yet to find his niche with this team, but he is destined to be great in something. He has already showed that he is an impressive physical specimen who loves contact. At running back, he has played in 38 games in 3 seasons at the Capstone. His stats weren't terrible, but clearly his opportunities weren't there b/c he only had 564 rushing yards on 121 carries, 2 rushing TDs, & 4 catches for 57 yards. His play on special teams was admirable and left the thought of what could have been, if he played defense sooner. He currently has 17 total tackles (10 solo and 7 assisted) and 1 forced fumble, but I fully expect these numbers to increase depending on how often he sees the field in his senior year. (Experience at the position-2008 spring game)
Jr-Prince Hall-He has a history of personal concerns, which have kept him out of games, practices, and workouts. He only missed 2 games in 2 seasons. He has played in a total of 24 games and started in 14 of them all at Inside and Middle linebacker. He has tallied an impressive 135 total tackles (72 solo and 62 assisted), 11 tackles for loss for 32 yards, 5 QB hurries, 2.5 sacks for 15 yards, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 pass break-ups, & 1 interception for 10 yards. It would be a shame if Hall couldn't get his act together and return to the field, but that's why Saban recruits the way he does. He only wants the guys that will do what it takes to be a champion.
(Experience at the position-24 games)
Jr-Cory Reamer-He has a history of season-ending injuries where he missed all but 7 games in his first 2 seasons. He played in every game last year, but it was mostly on special teams. So that is only 20 games in which he has played both safety and linebacker in his career at Bama, but he never started. He has only tallied 6 total tackles (5 solo and 1 assisted) and 1 fumble recovery. Saban has seen some good in him at the LB position this past spring, so Reamer will have to continue to improve his size in the 4th quarter program in order to see the field on a consistent basis. (Experience at the position-not sure b/c he was primarily on special teams and he played some safety under Mike Shula. For the sake of arguing, I will say 13 games and 2008 spring game)
Jr-Eryk Anders-He's a back-up linebacker who has appeared mostly on special teams in his first 2 seasons. He's played in only 18 games with no starts, but he hasn't red-shirted, surprisingly. He has only tallied 8 total tackles (6 solo and 2 assisted). Anders hasn't seen the field much so his days could be numbered unless he makes some serious strides in the fall.
(Experience at the position-18 games with most on special teams and 2008 spring game)
Jr-Brandon Fanney-Brandon is a young defensive lineman who had seen time as a backup in his first two seasons, but could play a little Jack linebacker in the 3-4 that Coach Saban wants to implement. At DL, his stats were less than stellar with only 11 games played, no starts, 7 total tackles (2 solo and 5 assisted) and 2 QB hurries. He impressed the coaching staff in the spring, but this may be temporal relief until the true freshmen show what they can do in the fall. (Experience at the position-11 games mostly at DL and 2008 spring game)
Soph-Rolando McClain-He's an impressive physical specimen at the linebacker position, who saw time as a starter in his initial collegiate season. He played in all 13 games and started in 9 of them, even with numerous injuries. He has tallied several stats including 75 total tackles (38 solo and 37 assisted), 5 tackles for loss for 18 yards, 1 QB hurry, 1 sack for 9 yards, 4 pass break-ups, & 2 interceptions for 40 yards. He is one of the most productive young players Bama has had in a long time. Expect him to continue his greatness this season.(Experience at the position-13 games and 2008 spring game)
Soph-Chavis Williams-Chavis is an outside linebacker with size who also saw action on special teams as a true freshman. He has a good frame and speed from the outside in the Tide's 3-4 defensive scheme, where he served as the back-up to Zeke Knight at the "SAM" position. He played in 8 games with no starts while tallying only 2 tackles (1 solo and 1 assisted). He had an excellent spring and could be a valuable asset once he gains the weight and strength needed to man that strongside position. (Experience at the position-8 games and 2008 spring game)
Soph-Charlie Higgenbotham-He's a decent back-up linebacker who played on special teams in his redshirt freshman season last year. Charlie has only played in 10 games, but hasn't started in any. In his limited playing time, he has 12 total tackles (8 solo and 4 assisted). He has been one of the most improved players this past spring, so expect him to get significant playing time, even if he doesn't start. (Experience at the position-10 games and 2008 spring game)
Other notables are Jr-Baron Huber, who played mostly on special teams and full back for Coach Saban. Like Jimmy Johns, he's switching to defense to give linebacker a try. He had some pretty impressive stats defensive out of HS.
Alex Watkins, who arrived on campus last season, redshirted his freshmen year and is a fan favorite to greatly improve this group. He made a few strides in the offseason, but he's still behind many of the other linebackers previously mentioned. He lacks the weight and strength needed to dominate at the position, but the 4th quarter program could prove beneficial for him in the upcoming season.
The guys not mentioned each have an opportunity to at least make the scout team, but if they want to see the field at all in their career, they will have to step up dramatically or miss out on their opportunities.
So, let's see. Jr-Prince Hall is by far the most experienced linebacker we have relative to the number of games he has played at the position, but his return is a big question mark. The next player with the most experience is Jr-Eryk Anders, but he doesn't have a single start and most of his playing time has come on special teams. Next is Sr-Ezekial Knight whose health will be the deciding factor on whether he can finish his senior campaign. So that leaves us with Jr-Cory Reamer whose had previous concerns with the injury bug and the Freshman All-American a year ago, Soph-Rolando McClain, as the guys with the most game time experience. For this reason, I believe that true freshmen, like Jerrell Harris, Donta Hightower, & Courtney Upshaw, will have just as good a shot as anyone. The proof is in the pudding!!!