Alabama Football: 3 Early Standouts from Spring Practice

Defending a national championship can be extremely difficult for any team, especially for a team that only returns 12 of the starters that helped win it.

That's the case for the Alabama Crimson Tide, as they're missing four key players on the offensive side of the ball and six on defense.

That's why spring practice is so important for teams like this, because it gives them a chance to discover players that are ready to step up. These can be starters that are trying to take that next step in their careers or lowly players, moving up the depth chart to provide stability at a certain position.

Here are three players that have really stood out in spring practice for the Crimson Tide.

OL D.J. Fluker

While Alabama may have lost several players from last year's squad, the offensive line remained intact for the most part.

One of the players that has stepped up the most this spring is right tackle D.J. Fluker, who looks to keep his starting job at the position.

“D.J. Fluker has had a phenomenally good spring,” head coach Nick Saban said, according to Scout.com. “He’s moving better, he’s more confident, he knows what he’s doing.”

Fluker is a player that many expect to be a high first-round pick in the NFL draft, but he feels the need to get even better at Alabama before leaving. He's watched his weight throughout the offseason and feels he's improved greatly over the last couple of months.

"I'm a whole lot better than I was last year, learning a lot more about defenses, learning a lot better when sets rotate, learning where blitzes come from," Fluker told al.com. "It's been a good spring so far."

S Robert Lester

Robert Lester may be entering his senior season, but with the hit that the Crimson Tide suffered last year in the secondary, somebody must step up and take charge.

Lester volunteered right away and is going to do whatever it takes to give the Crimson Tide a chance to repeat. He told The Dispatch:

"

(I'm ready to step up and be a leader) and there are other guys that can also step up and be leaders. It is all about what the team needs and if leadership is something that they need, I won't think twice about stepping into that position.

"

We may know what Lester is capable of already, but that's the definition of a standout, if you ask me. If Alabama can find a couple more guys like this, there is no question that the Tide will be in a great position to return to the national championship.

WR Kenny Bell

Wide receiver Kenny Bell has been pretty much an afterthought in his first two seasons, catching just 19 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns combined.

But now that Alabama took a hit at the wide receiver position, Bell could end up being one of the key playmakers this year for the Tide.

“Kenny Bell is having a really good spring,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said, according to the Dothan Eagle. "...He’s probably been the most consistent guy making plays.”

Bell is a bigger receiver at 6'1", 175 pounds and has terrific speed. He showed some of his big-play ability last season in the national championship victory over LSU with a 26-yard reception.

There are a few unproven guys at the skill positions heading into the spring game for Alabama, and it's nice to see somebody step up and separate himself from the pack.