Alabama's Unknown Courtney Upshaw Will Be Unknown No More

Larry Burton (Panama City Beach, Fla.)

How much talent is on the shelf at Alabama? Courtney Upshaw was named the Alabama Class 5A Lineman of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and ASWA Class 5A All-State selection in 2007 and was the number four defensive end prospect in the nation, and he may finally get to start in this his third year at Alabama.

Question answered?

If the name doesn't ring a bell, it's because he's spent most of career on the special team where he led the team in special team tackles as a freshman. It allowed him to earn the respect of his teammates as a guy who gives his all and hits like a train.

Then last year he got to fill in some and certainly made the most of his opportunities. He may be best known for that fumble recovery against Texas that sealed the national championship game.

This year he is being counted on to wreak havoc in the backfield of opposing offenses, to get sacks and drop rushers behind the lines and there's no reason to think he can't or won't do just that.

Though many schools eyed Upshaw when he was a senior at Eufalla High School in Eufalla, Alabama, there was never a doubt where he would attend.

"I just like everything about Alabama." he would say when people would ask why he seemed so stuck on wearing Crimson.

And this was clearly one more big hot shot that had to play a different role other than starter, but it was a role that Upshaw accepted and made the most of.

"If they ask me to play special teams, I'll be the best the best special teams player out there. If they ask me to be a back up, I'll be the best back up on the team. If they ask me to be the water boy, there won't be anybody thirsty!" he told me once when I asked him about getting more playing time.

"Everybody has a role to play, and everybody wants to play, that's the way it's supposed to be, but still have a lot to learn and if I'm getting smarter and stronger, my day will come, but for now, I'm happy with the opportunities I'm getting and the contributions I can make." Upshaw said.

That was last year.

And with the departure of senior Eryk Anders, who was a surprise player that played much bigger than his size, Upshaw has not only the size, but the muscle and speed to exceed the performance of Anders.

If anyone thinks this defense will be worse than last year's championship team, they haven't been paying attention to the quality of the replacements that are replacing departed veterans.

Upshaw is certainly one replacement who at least on paper and appearance should be  better than the person he's replacing. At 6'2" and somewhere around 265 lbs, that's a lot of speedy muscle, much bigger than Anders and close enough in speed to boot.

Courtney likes to refer to himself as a train and the reality is not that far off. "If you want to play on the tracks you better be prepared to get hit by the train." he told me.

Alabama may have the best pass rush in the SEC this year and Upshaw may be one of the key reasons.

People in film rooms across the SEC already know who this man is, and soon he will be a household name to all Alabama fans. Upshaw will be unknown no more.