SEC Monsters: Alabama's Linebackers
Trivia Question:
What weighs 3211 pounds, has a bad attitude, and always wears Crimson and White.
Hint: The answer isn't the live elephant they bring in at homecoming. It's the Alabama linebacker corps.
The Alabama Crimson Tide defense Absolutely demolished the Michigan State offense this January and with the exception of one part time starter all of them are back and get this, they are bigger and now healthy. The 2011 Crimson Tide may collectively field the biggest linebacker group I've ever seen
Courtney Upshaw Is a Sack Waiting to Happen.
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Was anyone else afraid for the Michigan State quarterbacks life? I was, seriously.
Courtney Upshaw badly injured his ankle thirty minutes into the 2010 season and didn't return to health until the bowl game.
At 6' 2" and 265 lbs Curtney Upshaw is the starting Jack linebacker. A hybrid between outside linebacker and defensive end the Jack can move around and create havoc on the line or in the backfield.
Courtney is fast and powerful and from the bowl game it's obvious, If you don't get him blocked, you might as well get back on the bus, the games over.
Upshaw came back for his senior season to show the world he is an NFL first round talent.
Dont`a Hightower Is Back and Healthy
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What you saw in 2010 was not the Don'ta Hightower we all knew and loved, or hated depending on who you are. As a true freshman Hightower had much of the same promise as former superstar Rolando McClain, that is until a block to the knee against Arkansas in 2009 ended his season.
Hightower returned for the following season but because of time spent rehabbing instead of running he had gotten bigger, and slower. The rust was evident as he struggled through much of the 2010 season. To make matters worse he was having to switch positions to McClains vacated Mike position.
Late in the season Don'ta began to get his second wind and finished up well. But still far from what we had hoped.
The important thing however was that he finished on his feet and not on a stretcher. He has gone through the offseason training concentrating on getting better, not just getting to the field. He is listed at roughly the same weight as last year 260 lbs. But looks leaner and by all accounts is back to his old self.
Bad news for quarterbacks and running backs in the SEC.
Pete Smith Is a Reserve... Yes, a Reserve.
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If I lined up across from this guy, I'd seriously question if I love football enough to die.
This monster is Alabama's third linebacker tipping the scales at 260 pounds or more. Pete is your basic demolition crew on feet at middle linebacker. Though he has yet to crack the playing rotation how would you like to meet this guy on a kickoff?
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Former Defensive Lineman Anthony Orr
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Apparently Nick Saban felt the linebackers needed more size, so he switched defensive lineman Anthony Orr to Jack.
Orr will have to learn the new position but Jack isn't too far off from defensive end. He should make big strides this spring. At 258 pounds he certainly has the size.
Adrian Hubbard: Redshirt Season Over, Time to Do Some Damage
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Adrian Hubbard is a jack linebacker with unlimited potential. Arriving at 6' 7" and 227 lbs he was too skinny for SEC play. That was then, now he is 255 lb monster.
I don't know how much playing time he will get this year but the upside for this guy is off the scale.
Hubbard gives Alabama five linebackers in excess of 250 pounds.
Nico Johnson Is Also Healthy
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This is Nico Johnson. He was a freshman phenom in 2009 who had a rough sophomore year.
For reasons known only to God and the coaching staff Nico followed up his excellent true freshman season with a poor showing in the spring and fall camps. The lost production dropped him down the depth chart and he had to claw his way back.
Adding to the problem was an arm injury that required him to wear a large arm brace.
Johnson managed to work his way back into a steady playing rotation and finally at years end with the arm brace now gone he returned to form. He was dominant in the bowl game.
Since last season Nico has gone from 238 to 245 lbs and is looking like a future star as he begins his junior season.
Chris Jordan, Another Healthy Beast
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Chris Jordan was another linebacker spent significant time in the training room last year.
Jordan arrived at Alabama as a 210 lb running back. Jordan enters his senior season healthy and at 6' 3" and 240 lbs is ready to do some damage. Jordan has been a hard hitter since arriving. This season he hopes to go out with a bang.
Providing experienced depth at middle linebacker Jordan also excels on special teams. Look for someone unconscious on kick returns this year.
Trey DePriest Looks Ready to Play Now
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Ohio prep recruit Trey DePriest spurned his home state Ohio State Buckeye's to sign with the Crimson Tide.
He finished high school early and reported in January. At weigh in time many of us were in for a surprise. DePriest mashed the scales at a ground shaking 242 lbs.
As you can see from the picture. The fourth quarter program has added muscle not fat to the true freshman. DePriest clearly doesn't plan on sitting the bench. He will compete at middle linebacker.
Remember Me? My Name Is Jerrel Harris
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Once upon a time there was a football recruit named Jerrell Harris. He was one of the most sought after recruits in the southeast. Alabama and rival Auburn pressed hard for his services and he chose the Crimson Tide over Auburn, causing much gnashing of teeth.
Since that time Harris hasn't really lived up to his billing. Also in that time Harris has gone from 220 lbs to a whopping 242 pounds.
He's still as fast as a deer. I don't know if this will finally be the year for Jerrell Harris but one thing is for sure, if it is, a lot of quarterbacks are going to be in trouble.
Jonathan Atchinson Is Ready to Make His Mark
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Long considered one of the better pure linebackers at Alabama Jonathan Atchinson hasn't wasted time in the weight room. He has added 25 pounds to his frame since arriving and now tips the scales at 240 lbs.
Atchinson will compete with Jarrell Harris for the starting Sam position.
Tana Patrick Switching to the Outside
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Tana Patrick started at middle linebacker and may be moving outside. 6' 3" and 236 lbs he isn't as big as some, but he is far from small. The knock on Patrick is that he hasn't gotten big enough to be a factor, but to add some perspective, Legendary linebacker Cornelius Bennett was roughly the same size as Patrick. It's the massive size of the rest of Alabama's linebacker corps that makes him look small.
Alex Watkins Hopes for a Big Senior Year
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Career backup Alex Watkins came on strong last year earning a roll as a rabbit rusher from the Jack position. At 234 lbs Watkins is tied with Mosley as the smallest linebacker at Alabama.
Watkins is very athletic and fast and found a home as a pass rush specialist but now has an uphill battle to overcome a knee injury suffered this past Wednesday. Watkins underwent surgery on the knee and is hoping to be full speed by the fall.
And Bringing Up the Rear, CJ Mosley
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At 234 lbs CJ Mosley is the "little guy".
All Mosley did last year was rack up 67 tackles and two interceptions.
Mosley reported at 212 and is now up to 234. One has to wonder wonder what he can do with all this extra muscle?
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
