Additionally, how does Ryan Kelly compare to Jones? I know experience is a wide-divide between the two, but athletically and intellectually are they comparable?
From the USA Today article:
"He's an exceptional young player that catches on very fast with the scheme of things," Warmack said. "I don't really see him as a young player. I see him as a veteran.
"He's keen on carrying me and taking control in terms of making the right calls, knowing the scheme, what it takes to be a starter at center on the offensive line. He's doing a really good job."
Kelly was a three-star prospect out of West Chester, Ohio, but he was recruited like a four- or five-star. He was one of Alabama's first commitments for the 2011 class, as former linebackers coach
Sal Sunseri led the charge to bring Kelly to Alabama.
After redshirting the 2011 season, Kelly has been Jones' backup since the beginning of the year. He saw the field in nine of Alabama's 13 games, sitting out against Ole Miss, LSU, Texas A&M and Georgia.
Kelly, like the rest of his teammates, have heard that they're "one play away" all season. Only now does it carry a bit more significance.
"Coach
(Jeff) Stoutland always tells us that it can happen to anybody and everybody needs to be ready for it," Warmack said. "He's always been ready.
"This is his opportunity to contribute not only to the offensive line, but the team. He's doing an excellent job."
From what I read earlier (can't find the link to this particular article), he had academic honors this year.
FYI: Jones is 6'5, 311 pounds and Kelly is 6'5, 288 pounds.
From the Tide's website:
Ryan Kelly is one of the country's most versatile offensive line prospects with impressive strength and athleticism who can possibly play all five positions ... a consensus four-star prospect and a big pickup for the Crimson Tide out of the state of Ohio ... was selected as an Under Armour All-American, but unable to play in the game coming off of a knee injury ... ranked the nation's No. 2 center by Scout.com ... ESPNU lists Kelly as the No. 4 center in the country while Rivals.com has Kelly ranked sixth at center and the No. 15 overall prospect in the state of Ohio ... suffered a torn ACL in 2010, which forced him to miss time, but was still named third-team Division I All-Ohio ... was a first-team all-conference and all-city selection on the offensive line as a junior in 2009 ... SuperPrep ranked him as the No. 42 player in Ohio ... selected Alabama over offers from Arizona, Boston College, Florida, Florida State, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina State and Tennessee.
