Meet the 2013 Tide Players – Raheem Falkins, Harrison Jones, and Kevin Norwood
By Ron Clark
Jan 9, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Kevin Norwood (83) makes a catch over LSU Tigers cornerback Tyrann Mathieu (7) during the first half of the 2012 BCS National Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Raheem Falkins
Alabama went to New Orleans, Louisiana to get a big wide receiver for the 2013 class. Raheem Falkins left his home state to play football at Alabama. The 6-foot-4, 203-pound wide receiver played at G.W. Carver High School in New Orleans.
He enrolled in January to participate in spring practice, which appears to be paying off because he’s receiving praise from quarterback AJ McCarron this summer.
ESPNU, 247Sports, and Rivals gave Falkins a four-star rating. ESPNU and 247 ranked him the 41st-best wide receiver in the 2013 class, and Rivals said he was the 39th best.
As mentioned, Falkins went through spring practice. He made three catches for 43 yards in Alabama’s spring game. One catch went for 31 yards.
What should fans expect out of the freshman? Probably not too much. He should get some playing time in order to have experience down the road, but no one should expect him to have a season like Amari Cooper did last year.
Harrison Jones
Harrison Jones followed his older brother and father’s footsteps by deciding to play at Alabama. Older brother Barrett was an All-American offensive lineman, and father Rex played basketball in the early 1980’s for Alabama.
As a top 20 tight end in the nation, Harrison chose Alabama over various national schools to be his destination after graduating Evangelical Christian School in Germantown, Memphis.
Jones saw his first action in 2011 after accepting a redshirt his first year on campus. He played in eight games and made his first career reception against Vanderbilt.
He saw his role grow in 2012 as he played in 11 games. He did not make any catches but did return a kickoff for nine yards against Tennessee in Knoxville.
In his junior season, Jones (6-foot-4, 241 pounds) should be more of a weapon for the Alabama offense. He should make some plays in the receiving game as well as blocking. He progressed as the 2012 season went. If he continues that progression, he will do well in 2013.
Kevin Norwood
Kevin Norwood came to Alabama with some praise. Rivals ranked him the number 22 wide receiver in the nation. He didn’t make a big splash until Alabama played LSU in New Orleans for the BCS National Championship when he embarrassed Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu.
Norwood took a redshirt in 2009 to adjust to SEC football after playing at D’Iberville, Mississippi High School.
His first career catch went for a touchdown against Penn State in 2010. Unfortunately, Norwood flipped into the end zone, which Coach Nick Saban appeared to not like. He played in all 13 games in 2010 but only recorded three catches for 56 yards.
In his sophomore season, Norwood caught 11 passes. Ten of his receptions went for first downs. His four catches against LSU in the BCS National Championship game were vital to the Crimson Tide beating LSU. He finished the season with 190 yards on his 11 receptions.
Bama’s offense featured Norwood more in 2012 as he started 10 games and played in 13. He caught two touchdown passes in week two against Western Kentucky. He caught two more touchdown passes against archrival Auburn. When Amari Cooper went down against LSU, AJ McCarron turned to Norwood to make the clutch catches on the final drive. He finished the season with 29 receptions and 461 yards and four touchdowns.
Norwood did not play in Alabama’s A-Day game in April. Bama fans should expect the 6-foot-2, 195 pound Norwood to be a vital member of Alabama’s talent-filled wide receivers group in 2013. He should do well and be a mid-round draft selection.