Early Impact Players Make a Difference for Alabama Crimson Tide

Football season is still many months away for the fans, but for many players the beginning of June is the start of the season.  

Around the SEC most true freshman report on June 1st for summer conditioning.  Most who do not make it into school by then have little chance of making a significant impact for their first season on campus.

Alabama has a deeply talented roster so earning playing time is a tall order.  Most true freshman are not going to pull that off, but their play on the field will certainly determine that as Nick Saban has never been shy about starting freshman.

With that in mind here are some current and former Alabama players who made an early impact for the Crimson Tide.

Defensive End Wallace Gilberry

The player that seemingly nobody wanted was picked up as an afterthought by the Alabama staff. 

It became clear in fall camp that either Gilberry was way better than expected or our tackles were in real trouble. 

As it turned out, both assumptions were correct. 

Gilberry is continuing to defy the odds as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs where he made 22 tackles last year.

Cornerback Simeon Casteel

Though he didn’t really improve that much over his career, Simeon played outstanding ball as a freshman. At the time I felt he would be one of the greats in Alabama history.  For whatever reason Simeon didn’t improve markedly during his career.

Linebacker Prince Hall

Hall made the SEC all freshman team in 2006 with 77 tackles from his starting middle linebacker spot. Hall’s starts were cut in half by 2007. Troubling suspensions followed, and finally he was off the team. Hall transferred to Central Washington and won the Northwest Athletic Conference newcomer of the year award with 86 tackles.

Wide Receiver Mike McCoy

McCoy surprised many by winning the starting receiver job in his second year on campus.  He showed much promise in scrimmages, but the production never translated to the field.  

McCoy stated all of 2007 and 2008, but found himself on the bench for most of his senior year. McCoy may be forever remembered for being bitten by Smokey, the UT Vols mascot during a game. Of course McCoy stepped on the dog first, w hich should be a familiar feeling for the Vols by now.

Offensive Tackle Andre Smith

"Andre the Giant" started his first game as a true freshman, and was voted to the freshman All-America team by the Football Writers Association. He started the next three years and won the Outland trophy in 2008.

Smith opted to leave for the NFL, and was a first round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals.  Though his college career had a fast start, it’s been the opposite for him since going to the NFL. 

He is currently battling for playing time at right tackle.

Running Back Terry Grant 

Grant led the tide in rushing his freshman season of 2007 with 891 yards, an Alabama record. Injuries plagued Grant afterwards until he finally stepping away from the game in 2009.

Defensive back Kareem Jackson

Jackson arrived on campus in 2007 and by the middle of his first season had snatched the starting corner spot and never relinquished it. After three great seasons Jackson left early for the NFL draft.  He was drafted in the first round by the Houston Texans and is competing for a starting spot there.

Defensive Lineman Luther Davis

Though the 2010 season will be his first to open as a starter, Davis has been a steady part of the defensive line rotation since arriving at the capstone from Louisiana.   

Davis was one of the first big defensive ends to sign onto the Nick Saban recruiting train.  Davis stated publicly that while others warmed the bench at other SEC schools, he would be playing early. 

Davis was correct and enters the 2010 season as one of the more experienced defensive linemen in the SEC.

Wide Receiver Julio Jones

Jones was the bluest of blue chip recruits so it was not a shock to see him quickly earn a starting spot in 2008.  

His freshman season was simply outstanding.

Jones worth to Alabama may remain hard to measure, as defensive backs double cover him on virtually every play.  Still, Jones has dropped a few passes he should have caught and many would like to see him produce a noticeable uptick in production in his third and possibly final year for the Crimson Tide.

Linebacker Rolando McClain

The term “early impact” should probably be forever called “doing a McClain."

Rolando staked a claim on a starting spot the minute he stepped on campus. 

By the end of that miserable 2007 season McClain was playing at a level that overshadowed most everyone on the field. His performance against Auburn that year was awe inspiring. The following two season,s McClain was possibly the best linebacker in college football. 

McClain left after three seasons and was drafted in the first round by the Oakland Raiders, where he is projected as their starting middle linebacker.

Linebacker Dan’ta Hightower

If anyone was close to Rolando McLain it was Hightower. 

He didn’t grasp the defense as completely and quickly as McClain the year before, but Hightower started his entire freshman season and was well on his way to an All-America sophomore season when his year ended with a blown knee on a cut block.   

The end of this story has yet to be written, as Tide fans wait to see if he can regain his form and remain healthy in 2010.

Tight End Brad Smelly

Smelly took off the redshirt in 2008 at mid season, and became a regular part of the third down offense. 

In his sophomore campaign talented senior transfer Colin Peek took most of his playing time. Year three will be an opportunity for Smelly to bounce back. 

Running Back Mark Ingram

Ingram earned second string running back duties as a true freshman and at times showed more ability than the starter. 

He was certainly more physical near the goal line and was given more carries as the season wore on.

Defensive Lineman Marcel Dareus

Dareus may have come out of nowhere for many when he dominated the National Title game against Texas, but for Tide faithful this was just the inevitable result of putting Darius on the field.  

Dareus became a regular part of the defensive line rotation in 2008, and had some highlight moments that foretold of better days ahead.

Running Back Trent Richardson

Fast forward one year after Ingram and in a year in which Mark Ingram wins the Heisman as a sophomore—Trent Richardson had fans thinking he could possibly be better. 

Richardson may have been the most physically prepared from strength and conditioning standpoint of any true freshman I have ever seen. 

His running style defies comparison as he combines the abilities of many different kinds of backs.   

All that seemed to stop him from being equal to Ingram in 2009 was his ability to see the hole, something that most backs improve dramatically on after a year in the system. 

Alabama fans are licking their chops to see what this running back duo from hell (or heaven) is going to do this fall.

As another group of true freshman hit campus for summer conditioning one has to wonder which if any will be early contributors.  

Looking back, early success doesn’t always lead to long term accomplishments.

Sometimes the talent on the team gets better, other times injuries cut short a promising career.  

Early playing time may sometimes cause a player to lose competitive fire relative to those who languished on the bench.   

The competitive tension is always present and is an integral part of the “process” at Alabama. 

That process is starting again in Tuscaloosa.