5 Players to Watch in Fall Camp

Even though we’re actually getting close to the start of the 2014-15 College Football season, the first of the Playoff Era, it still feels like it’s far away. Luckily for Tide fans, we’re only a few short weeks away from the beginning of Fall Camp. It’s an exciting time of year. The freshmen have (mostly) all reported, starting lineups start to take shape, and the hype is at its peak. Today, we’re looking at five players to keep your eye on during camp.

1. Jacob Coker, QB

Ok, how could this list start with anyone OTHER than Coker. Actually, I should probably change his name. As recently announced, he will be wearing number 14, and he wants to be called “Jake” instead of “Jacob”. I’m fine with that. One less letter to type. If you don’t know the story of Jacob Coker by now, you’re not really an Alabama fan. Coker comes from Mobile, Alabama. He attended St. Pauls Episcopal…wait, haven’t I heard this somewhere before? Oh! That’s right! Maxwell Award winning Quarterback AJ McCarron, who just finished off three seasons as a starter with the Tide before being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, also comes from Mobile and attended SPE. Jake Coker was AJ’s heir apparent in high school, and once again he is set to take over for AJ. He’s got some big shoes to fill. AJ’s career at Alabama was perhaps the greatest of any Tide QB. He lost only 4 games in his career, and had 3 national championship rings during his 5 year tenure. Couple that with being the only QB not named Jameis Winston to make a significant All American list in 2013, and the fact that he was the Heisman runner-up, well needless to say the pressure is certainly on Jake Coker. The good news is that Jake has the talent to live up to the hype and overcome the pressure. The bad news? Well, he’s never started a game in his collegiate career.

While we have to be skeptical about what the hypothetical Coker Era will bring, Bama fans do have some things to be optimistic about. For starters, Coker is 6’5″ and weighs 230lbs. That’s a big QB, and he has the big arm to go with it. But don’t think he’s a statue, he’s a very good athlete, and can tuck and run if he needs to. He’s also not some Freshman that’s being handed the job. He’s a Redshirt Junior who has spent three years being coached by Jimbo Fisher, one of the better mentors a QB could ask for in the FBS. While Coker isn’t technically the starter yet, he’ll be given every chance to win the job, and throughout fall camp we’ll finally get to see him throw to Alabama talent…even if it’s just on air. I predict that Coker wins the job before camp is over, and we can all expect him taking the first non wildcat snap against West Virginia.

2. OJ Howard, TE

Highly touted out of high school, it didn’t take long for OJ Howard to find a role in the Alabama offense in 2013. Unfortunately, he didn’t produce to 5 star standards. When you’re the fifth option on a team playing in the SEC, that’ll happen. Catching 14 passes for 269 yards and 2 TDs, Howard flashed his talent. Perhaps no play was more impressive than the big one we all remember against LSU. Howard took a short slant to the house, running around and away from a talented LSU defense. With new Offensive Coordinator Lane Kiffin and the departure of Kevin Norwood, one can assume that the 6’6″ 240lb Tight End would flash bigger numbers in 2014 as the Tide looks to rebound from a disappointing two loss finish to what was once an undefeated, 11 win campaign. Jake Coker will need someone to rely on, and Amari Cooper will be getting doubled until someone else demands respect. Howard will have to be that guy for Coker. With his size and athleticism, few players can consistently guard him, and not many of them are playing College Football in 2014. Kiffin has always looked to get his TEs involved in the passing game, and Howard should be expecting a healthy dose of targets this upcoming season. When camp starts, we may get the opportunity to get a peak at a few new wrinkles Kiffin has added for Howard. Lining him up out side and trying to force a smaller corner to cover him isn’t out of the question. We’ll also be looking for improvement in Howard’s blocking game, as it was below average during his Freshman seasn.

3. Dominick Jackson, OL

I list Dom Jackson as an “OL” and not as an “OT” or “OG” because quite frankly, we have no clue where he’ll line up. At 6’7″ 320lbs, there has been talk about Jackson at every position other than Center. Coming out of Junior College, there is good reason for the hype. Jackson is a powerful and passionate force, something the Tide missed when DJ Fluker left for the NFL following a championship in 2012. Jackson’s best fit may be at Right Tackle, but he’ll certainly get a look at Right and Left Guard, spots currently occupied by Leon Brown and Arie Kouandjio, respectively. Fall Camp will be big for Jackson. He’ll be tried out at a number of positions, and learning the playbook and getting chemistry with his teammates won’t be easy. There have even been talks about Jackson potentially competing with five star Freshman Cameron Robinson at the Left Tackle position. Where ever Coach Saban and Coach Cristobal decide to play Jackson, expect him to bring a powerful presence.

4. Jon Allen, DE

Allen is another former five star recruit, and after playing in the two deep on the defensive line last year behind draftees Ed Stinson and Jeoffrey Pagan, it’s his time to step into a starting role. Battling an injury during the Spring, Allen was held off of the first team by JUCO transfer Jarran Reed. After an amazing performance in the A-Day game and the DUI arrest of Reed, Allen figures to be settling into a starting role. A player with elite talent, look for Allen to do everything he can to hold off Reed and incoming Freshman, Da’Shawn Hand (who was the top recruit in the nation, according to Rivals.com) during camp.

5. Reggie Ragland, ILB

It’s an interesting story. For a while, Ragland figured to be the next man up after Trey DePriest at Inside Linebacker. Then Reuben Foster came into the picture, and some of us changed our tune. But throughout Spring Practice, Ragland proved why he was also the top ILB in his class. He capped off a good spring with an even better A-Day game, and now is in firm control of the Will Linebacker position. At near 260 pounds, Ragland is a force similar to that of Dont’a Hightower when playing in the middle. He’s hard to block, and he’shard to shake. Don’t doubt his athleticism. While he isn’t going to wow anyone, he’s a better athlete than most at 6’2″ 257lbs. This will be one of the more interesting battles to watch during camp. Ragland will be working to keep Foster at bay, and if he’s successful, well he may prove there is a reason that he was named to the Butkus award watch list.