Looking Ahead to the Alabama Linebackers

It's funny how in an era of spread offense,  and sunny vacation recruiting hot spots like Florida and USC, an Old School program like Alabama beats them all—and they did it the Old Fashioned way.  They run the ball, they stop the run, and they play physical.

With that in mind, this is the first of a series of articles in which I will look ahead for Alabama by position.

Few positions have seen constant turnover since Nick Saban arrived like the Linebacking corps.  This year will be no different.  So far Nick Saban has fielded solid units but 2010 will be the first without Rolando McClain.

This article will proceed under the assumption that All American and Butkus Award winner Rolando McClain will be playing on Sundays.

Alabama's best returning linebacker is Dan'ta Hightower; unfortunately his return is far from certain.  Hightower's injury was quite severe.  The last player to require a complete knee reconstruction was Tim Castille.   Castille came back the following year,  but he was not the same player he was before the injury.

Hightower actually went through practices in non contact drills in Pasadena so that's certainly a good sign that his recovery is going well.

How healthy Hightower is by this fall will go a long way toward defining next years defense.  If he can play he will most probably man one of the middle spots.  Its also possible that if his knee is not fully healed by time fall begins that he will take a redshirt year and skip 2010 entirely.

Many felt Hightower might be a better linebacker than Rolando McClain.  One has to wonder how good Alabama's defense would have been this past year if he had not been hurt.

For the sake of this review I will assume the worst case because that's what the staff will be doing this spring.

One option in the middle is Nico Johnson.  Johnson was taking a redshirt until the Hightower injury.  The week after the injury Alabama tried using Corey Reamer exclusively but the run defense suffered.  Alabama needed someone who was a little more physical. 

That week Alabama held a competition between Nico and Jarrell Harris to see who it would be,  Nico won out.     He started the following week and in conjunction with Corey Reamer managed to cover the Hightower loss admirably.

Johnson like most freshman linebackers looked lost at times but I'm sure after spring that will be a thing of the past.  I expect Nico to be Alabama's next great middle linebacker.

Another option is Chris Jordan.  Jordan who will be a Junior arrived at Alabama as a running back and quickly switched to linebacker.   Most of his playing time has been on special teams.  He is particular adept at laying the wood.  He may still need to add bulk if he wants to be the full time starter.

Another possibility is redshirt freshman Tana Patrick.  Patrick has been the subject of Internet scuttlebutt as being one of those players the coaches have struggled to keep off the field.  We will know for sure this spring.

Then there is the curious case of Jarrell Harris.  Harris was a monster recruit out of Gadsden that many expected to start immediately.   He seemed on his way to playing time this fall only to have half his season cut away thanks to some compliance issues with the NCAA.  

Harris was one of several players that were allegedly targeted by an unscrupulous individual who has ties to an Auburn booster.  The booster claims it was an innocent mistake but its clear from statements made by Harris that it was anything but. 

Harris has played both inside and outside.  Most of his playing time has been on special teams to this point.  Its critical that he make strides this year toward playing time.

Harris has a rare athletic ability that I haven't seen at Alabama since Derrick Thomas.  If Nick Saban can turn him into a player,  His speed and athleticism will be a problem every offensive coordinator will have to account for. 

Moving to the outside Jarrell Harris will get a shot at the Sam position.  Competing against him will be some younger players as well as Chavis Williams and Alex Watkins, two veteran players who have not done much to this point.

The Jack position is a combination of outside linebacker and defensive end.   Your prototypical Jack is a fairly tall linebacker with some weight but Saban has shown he will go with who plays it best, not the guy who looks the part.   This position is critical to the pass rush.

This position will be Courtney Upshaw's to lose.  He is the only other linebacker with extensive experience aside from Nico Johnson.  

Upshaw had a phenomenal freshman year but after putting on an unusual amount of size and muscle in the offseason he appeared a step slow.   I would say he had a bit of a sophomore slump.

He did improve as the year went on and probably had more playing time in the national championship game than previously and his pressure and fumble recovery were instrumental in that victory.   

I expect Upshaw to bounce back for a great junior season.

After Upshaw the jack position is a guessing game.

Alabama recruited redshirt freshman Ed Stinson and sophomore Glenn Harbin for the position.  I've heard nothing about either.  We will have to wait until the spring to take a look. 

Alabama also has redshirt freshman Jonathan Atchinson.   He looked a little skinny  when we recruited him but he showed up this fall looking like a bull so I expect him to be in the thick of the competition at both inside and outside.

Alabama has only one high school linebacker committed at this time, CJ Mosley from Theadore, Alabama.  He's an outstanding recruit but will likely redshirt.  However he like everyone will get an equal chance to earn a spot.

Finally there is Pete Smith, a 6' 1” 245 lb tree stump of a player.  Smith's not that athletic or fast,  but lets be clear about him.  Smiths job is to destroy things, and he's gifted at it.  He was delivering widow maker hits in the high school all star game. 

His future is definitely a run stuffing middle linebacker.   He could even move to defensive line and become a pass rushing specialist.  Pete took a delayed enrollment so he will be here this spring.  He may or may not redshirt this year.