Alabama's Future Unsung Heros

I remember reports from fall camp about Roy Upchurch.  The year was 2005 and highly recruited freshman tailback Roy Upchurch was making some hay in goal line work in fall camp.  Shortly afterwards it was announced he needed some sort of surgery and would be out for the rest of the season with a redshirt.

Roy's promising freshman season was history before it got started. 

It would not be the last injury for Roy Upchurch and in his absence fellow classmate Glenn Coffee took the starting duty. 

Four years later Alabama was in the waning weeks of an undefeated season.    Roy's dreams of being a star running back at Alabama had disappeared in a succession of injuries that kept him from reaching his potential.  

Still, Upchurch had proved himself to be a valuable third down back with speed and  receiving ability as well as being the best blocker in the running back corps. 

It was Iron bowl week,  and though Roy had had some highlight plays the last two years his brightest moment still lay ahead.  

With Alabama trailing Auburn in the final minutes of the Iron Bowl Roy floated out of the backfield in the redzone and snagged a touch pass from Quarterback Greg McElroy.
 
In that one play Roy Upchurch cemented his place in Alabama history.  He scored the winning touchdown that saved the game,  the season, and as it turned out,  Alabama's 13th national championship.

If that were not enough the win gave Auburn fans yet another case of the “Moral Victories”,  something Alabama fans relish like nothing else.

Players may not realize this,  but from a fans perspective, Moments like that are what counts.  Roy's career though short on statistical success was every bit as significant as someone who started 40 games. 

For the fans a player lives in frozen moments where preparation met opportunity and a great play is made.  The details of games started and yards rushed, those things gather dust on a shelf somewhere.

Looking ahead to 2010, who might tomorrows unsung hero be?  I shall wager a guess.

Alfred McCullough and DJ Fluker.  I lump these guys together because I'm pretty sure one of them is going to start at right tackle, while the other will become the jumbo package tight end.  

McCullough served that roll last year. He may be leading now for the starting tackle job because he is more athletic and experienced.  Fluker however is bigger, more powerful and may have more upside.

One of these guys will come off the bench in short yardage and make someone on the other side very unhappy.     

Chris Jordan arrived at Alabama as a running back but quickly switched to linebacker.  He developed a reputation early on for being utterly lost,  but knocking someone on their butt anyway. 

After a redshirt season he emerged in 2009 as a valuable backup middle linebacker.   Jordan is once again battling for position but the competition at linebacker right now is as intense as any place in the country. 

With Jordan being a little lighter than some of the competition he may not get that starting spot just yet but when he gets in there I believe he will make a difference.   He could become a crucial cog in the kick coverage teams as well.

Wide Receiver Kevin Norwood arrived at Alabama with numerous upper classmen ahead of him on the roster.  He impressed in camp but like most freshman spent the year with the redshirts.  All of those upper class men return ahead of him but I believe Norwood will see the field this year.

His receiving prowess will likely get him snaps on offense but his real impact might be on special teams.

In high school Norwood played defensive back as well and was known for his strength in run support.  Look for him to make big plays in kick coverage.  Don't be surprised if he doesn't threaten Darius Hanks starting job as well. 

Defensive lineman Kerry Murphy is starting only his second year on campus but he's as old as many seniors.  Murphy was long considered an academic casualty after a stellar high school career at Hoover. 

While Murphy's lesser ranked Hoover teammate Josh Chapman went on to be a regular contributor to one of the nations best defenses he toiled away at his studies trying to get qualified. 

His long wait finally ended last spring.  Murphy arrived a little overweight but it was evident early on that this was a big man with some special abilities.

While I believe it is unlikely that Murphy will unseat his old teammate in his senior season as starter I believe the terror will only be beginning when Chapman walks off the field. 

For a man his size Murphy can move exceptionally well.  A game changing play may be  out there waiting for him to step into history. 

Senior Preston Dial plays tight end at Alabama.  For much of his career he was buried on the depth chart.  Last spring he began clawing his way onto the field with some exceptional catches.

In the 2009 season Dial became a regular contributor though his main forte was blocking. He enters his senior season without many highlight catches,  but I believe there is one to be had.  But until then he will be out there scrapping with defenders so Ingram or Richardson can provide more material for ESPN.

Safety Rod Woodson is fighting for a safety spot this spring.  Being only his second season his chances may grow dimmer if Junior Robby Green can get his eligibility back.

But Woodson is a talent in his own right,  his specialty to quote Mr T is “pain”.  This guy was deadly at the safety blitz in high school.  His work on special teams was part of what turned things around mid season for the coverage.  Starting or not this guy is going to do something spectacular.  Its just a matter of time.

You never know who will rise and fall in this game.  That's part of what makes it fun.