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By Alex Byington Sports
TUSCALOOSA — Expected to be a strength last season, Alabama’s passing attack never quite blossomed under true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts.
As Hurts enters his sophomore season, those expectations will be revisited and possibly elevated, even with a change at offensive coordinator, where former NFL assistant Brian Daboll replaces Lane Kiffin. But the level of talent at receiver won’t change.
Although the Crimson Tide receiving corps is losing its most reliable target from a year ago in NFL-bound receiver ArDarius Stewart, and perhaps its most physically-gifted in O.J. Howard at tight end, the cupboard is hardly bare.
And with a handful of newcomers already on campus, added to rising junior Calvin Ridley and company, how the Alabama coaches choose to spread the reps during spring practice could give us some insight into what the its passing attack could look like.
Departures: TE O.J. Howard, TE Brandon Greene, WR ArDarius Stewart, WR Gehrig Dieter
Returners: TE Miller Forristall (6-5, 238, Soph.), WR Robert Foster (6-2, 196, R-Sr.), TE Hale Hentges (6-5, 251, Jr.), WR Derek Kief (6-4, 204, R-Jr.), WR Xavian Marks (5-8, 174, Jr.) WR Calvin Ridley (6-1, 190, Jr.), WR T.J. Simmons (6-2, 202, Soph.), WR Cam Sims (6-5, 205, Sr.), TE Irv Smith Jr. (6-4, 243, R-Fr.), TE Cam Stewart (6-8, 251, Soph.)
Newcomers: WR Jerry Jeudy (6-4, 184, Fr.), WR Tyrell Shavers (6-6, 209, Fr.), TE Major Tennison (6-5, 244, Fr.)
Surprise: WR Robert Foster, TE Cam Stewart
Projected depth chart
WR-X: Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy/Tyrell Shavers
WR-Z: Cam Sims/Trevon Diggs, Tyrell Shavers
WR-H: Robert Foster/Trevon Diggs, Derek Kief
TE: Hale Hentges, Cam Stewart
TE-H: Miller Forristall, Major Tennison
Outlook
Highlighting the returning group will rising junior Calvin Ridley, who could be entering his final season at Alabama as a likely early NFL Draft entrant next year, as well as seniors Robert Foster and Cam Sims, along with seasoned tight ends Miller Forristall and Hale Hentges.
But it is a trio of early enrollees that have many around the program excited. That trio includes five-star Miami-area product Jerry Jeudy — who often draws comparisons to Ridley and former Biletnikoff Award winner Amari Cooper — and 6-foot-6 Tyrell Shavers. Also getting a head start on his Tide career is four-star tight end Major Tennison, who will likely follow in the footsteps of Forristall and Hentges who each played a significant reserve role as true freshmen.
After seemingly disappearing last season, when he contributed only five receptions for 55 yards in just two games, Foster could surprise this spring as he — and Alabama’s coaches — work to figure out his place in the offence again.
Foster said he was open to the idea of transferring prior to the national championship in Tampa, but has yet to announce any such move, with the likely expectation he’ll see how things evolve this spring before making a final decision later this summer.
Another surprise could be 6-8 tight end and ex-baseball player Cam Stewart, a former San Diego Padres farmhand who walked on at Alabama last season. Given his natural size and clear athleticism, Stewart could be a candidate to fill the hole left by Howard’s departure.
Decatur Daily—Continue reading...
As Hurts enters his sophomore season, those expectations will be revisited and possibly elevated, even with a change at offensive coordinator, where former NFL assistant Brian Daboll replaces Lane Kiffin. But the level of talent at receiver won’t change.
Although the Crimson Tide receiving corps is losing its most reliable target from a year ago in NFL-bound receiver ArDarius Stewart, and perhaps its most physically-gifted in O.J. Howard at tight end, the cupboard is hardly bare.
And with a handful of newcomers already on campus, added to rising junior Calvin Ridley and company, how the Alabama coaches choose to spread the reps during spring practice could give us some insight into what the its passing attack could look like.
Departures: TE O.J. Howard, TE Brandon Greene, WR ArDarius Stewart, WR Gehrig Dieter
Returners: TE Miller Forristall (6-5, 238, Soph.), WR Robert Foster (6-2, 196, R-Sr.), TE Hale Hentges (6-5, 251, Jr.), WR Derek Kief (6-4, 204, R-Jr.), WR Xavian Marks (5-8, 174, Jr.) WR Calvin Ridley (6-1, 190, Jr.), WR T.J. Simmons (6-2, 202, Soph.), WR Cam Sims (6-5, 205, Sr.), TE Irv Smith Jr. (6-4, 243, R-Fr.), TE Cam Stewart (6-8, 251, Soph.)
Newcomers: WR Jerry Jeudy (6-4, 184, Fr.), WR Tyrell Shavers (6-6, 209, Fr.), TE Major Tennison (6-5, 244, Fr.)
Surprise: WR Robert Foster, TE Cam Stewart
Projected depth chart
WR-X: Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy/Tyrell Shavers
WR-Z: Cam Sims/Trevon Diggs, Tyrell Shavers
WR-H: Robert Foster/Trevon Diggs, Derek Kief
TE: Hale Hentges, Cam Stewart
TE-H: Miller Forristall, Major Tennison
Outlook
Highlighting the returning group will rising junior Calvin Ridley, who could be entering his final season at Alabama as a likely early NFL Draft entrant next year, as well as seniors Robert Foster and Cam Sims, along with seasoned tight ends Miller Forristall and Hale Hentges.
But it is a trio of early enrollees that have many around the program excited. That trio includes five-star Miami-area product Jerry Jeudy — who often draws comparisons to Ridley and former Biletnikoff Award winner Amari Cooper — and 6-foot-6 Tyrell Shavers. Also getting a head start on his Tide career is four-star tight end Major Tennison, who will likely follow in the footsteps of Forristall and Hentges who each played a significant reserve role as true freshmen.
After seemingly disappearing last season, when he contributed only five receptions for 55 yards in just two games, Foster could surprise this spring as he — and Alabama’s coaches — work to figure out his place in the offence again.
Foster said he was open to the idea of transferring prior to the national championship in Tampa, but has yet to announce any such move, with the likely expectation he’ll see how things evolve this spring before making a final decision later this summer.
Another surprise could be 6-8 tight end and ex-baseball player Cam Stewart, a former San Diego Padres farmhand who walked on at Alabama last season. Given his natural size and clear athleticism, Stewart could be a candidate to fill the hole left by Howard’s departure.
Decatur Daily—Continue reading...
