Alabama Spring Preview: Receivers

Installment five of my spring preview brings us to pass catchers.

Losses:

WR Julio Jones left early for the NFL

WR Earl Alexander graduated

TE Preston Dial graduated

Additions:

None

Alabama's receiving corps has performed well for the last two seasons but this spring must rebound after losing the best receiver Alabama has fielded in recent memory.  Only two remaining receivers measure over 6'2" so finding a physical receiver may be difficult.  

The size issue is important not only to match up with physical defensive backs who want to jam them at the line but also blocking.  Julio Jones was a devastating down field blocker and his leadership in that area will be missed.

Alabama will field twelve wide receivers on scholarship this fall and with nine upper classmen defensive backs including six seniors its very possible the staff may look at some of the younger players on defense this spring.

First and foremost Alabama must find a way to replace the production of Julio Jones.  Alabama doesn't have a single player that can do it,  it will have to be a team effort.    

Only two highly experienced receivers return and neither are big enough to take on the physical duties Julio performed.  

Senior Brandon Gibson, who is 6'2" and just shy of 200 pounds, was a highly rated 4-star prospect out of Mobile.  He has performed well in conditioning drills but has played sparingly in games.  When given an opportunities in spring he has shown up, but rarely in the fall.   Gibson has a golden opportunity to finally make his mark.  He's strong enough to partially take on the roll of physical receiver. 

Senior Darius Hanks will begin his fifth season for the Tide.  He applied for and got a fifth season last year after receiving a red-shirt for a previous season in which he barely played.  He has been a solid receiver for two seasons and will likely get more balls thrown at him than any other this fall.  Hanks has excellent speed and is not afraid to go across the middle.

Senior Marquis Maze like hanks will begin his third season as a starter.  Maze is speedy receiver who can do damage with the ball in his hands.  Maze considered coming out early this winter but thankfully for Alabama decided to stay in school for his final season.

It's a safe bet the three seniors mentioned will see plenty of playing time but after that is where the battle this spring gets interesting.

Only two other receivers saw any playing time last year,  Kevin Norwood and Kenny Bell.  

Sophomore Kevin Norwood started 2010 with a bang snagging a pass over the middle and hitting the burners to dust the secondary for a touchdown.  Unfortunately he somersaulted into the end zone. New rules in the future could get a touchdown called back for such a display.  I'm sure it was just an emotional reaction but Norwood did not see the field again for some time.  I'm not sure if the two events were connected but it's certainly consistent with Nick Saban's leadership style.   

Later in the season he returned for more playing time and generally looked like a young man on the rise.  Still his three catch season was short of what could have been. Norwood has some size, at 6'2" he will get a strong look this spring as a physical option at receiver.  Norwood probably has the most to gain by an outstanding spring.

Sophomore Kenny Bell is a small, fast receiver who played sparingly but looked good in his brief time.  He needs to continue to add a little size to be ready for more snaps.

Of the red-shirted receivers the one that keeps resulting in the most Internet message board fodder is Deandrew White.  White is the highest rated of the receivers signed in 2010.  From Galena Park Texas his main weapon is speed and plenty of it.

He looks to be an even faster version of Darius Hanks so a strong spring from him could put him firmly in line to replace the three year starter when he is gone.

Not far behind him is Memphis product Keiwone Malone.  Malone is most famous for committing to Alabama and Nick Saban the day after former Alabama assistant  Lance Thompson stated to the press that he was going to build a recruiting fence around Memphis for then Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin.

I don't know if the timing of that announcement was a purposeful slap on the face to the brash Tennessee Coach and his staff, but if it was, it was well deserved.  If not,  It's classic Nick Saban to not concern himself with what other coaches do, only what he and his staff are doing.

How ever it went down Malone is a talented receiver who will get his first significant chance at playing time this spring.

Finally Ronald Carswell from Macon Georgia will finally get on the field.  He signed in 2010 but took a grey-shirt to arrive this winter.  Carswell was not as highly ranked as the other receivers but every time I hear something about him its good.  This spring will be our first time to see him for ourselves.

Moving over to tight ends for the second season in a row Alabama lost its leading receiver at the position.

Alabama's tight ends are split into two groups,  a larger more conventional player called a Y-Back who specializes in blocking off the line and the smaller H-Back which takes on a combination of fullback duties as well as running patterns. 

Alabama's top retuning player at the Y-Back position is Michael Williams.  Williams is a physical beast at 6'6" and 270 he can line up and block most anyone.  He hasn't been thrown too often but generally caught most of what came his way.   Barring injury no one will challenge him for the starting spot.

The only other player with the physical size to play the position is freshman Brian Vogler.  Vogler was highly recruited and towers at 6'7".  His current weight is unknown, last listed at 248 he has had a red-shirt season and fourth quarter program since then so It's a good bet he is bigger now.  If he can have a solid spring he will be in line to take Williams place when he leaves.

At H-Back Senior Brad Smelly has been a solid receiver since his true freshman season.  Smelly could help himself if he could add some muscle to his frame this winter to help him become a more effective blocker.  

After Smelly are a bunch of guys who are going to be fighting to replace the senior when he's gone.

The most versatile is Michael Bowman.  Bowman was a 6'4" 225 receiver that kept growing and was moved to H-Back.  Bowman could stay here or even move back to receiver depending on how his workouts go this winter.

Bowman played at receiver as a true freshman in 2009 and to my knowledge never saw the field in 2010 Some are saying he may have taken a red-shirt in 2010 to learn the H-Back roll.  I don't now if that is the case but if so he would be a sophomore, otherwise he will be a junior.

Senior Chris Underwood has been around a long time and got his first notable playing time last season.  He has generally looked good when given a chance but is probably not a threat to start.  Sometimes seniors in his position will move on.  I don't know if this is something he will consider.  

This spring will be our first look at Harrison Jones.  Harrison, the little brother of guard Barrett Jones is 6'4" 225 pounds and will have his first chance to shine in front of the fans.  His older brother came out of nowhere to start in 2009 so don't count out Harrison yet.

More than just replacing receivers Alabama will have a new man under center this fall.  How that man targets receivers and how strong his arm is relative to Greg McElroy will have a substantial effect on who comes out on top this spring.