Catch up on Alabama football, basketball and more, news and tidbits. A weekly update that lists the lesser known events of the past week.
If you have been keeping up with this series of posts about Alabama football and basketball, you know its purpose has been to keep up with offseason odds and ends. It is meant to be a balance between fun stuff along with some lesser known information.
This week’s post will start and end with some fun stuff from a couple of short Twitter videos.
Quite possibly one of our favorite sounds. #TodayAtUA pic.twitter.com/0aiu9FhasB
— The University of Alabama (@UofAlabama) August 2, 2017
News from the NFL
With NFL training camps at full speed, 55 former Crimson Tide players are fighting to make teams. Carson Tinker will have to sit out the entire 2017 NFL season after a torn ACL this week. The four-year long snapper for the Jacksonville Jaguars sustained the injury in non-contact drills.
Washington Redskins rookie Ryan Anderson told reporters this week that Alabama football practices are tougher than the NFL. Anderson is not the first former Alabama football player to make that assessment. We doubt he will be the last either. You can read the full story at NBCSports.com.
Alabama Basketball
As most fans know the Alabama men’s basketball team is in Canada for three exhibition games. The first game is August 7 at 6:00 PM CST against McGill University. Live streams are available for two of the three games. Details are at this rolltide.com link.
Several Alabama head coaches and assistants received extended contracts and extensions this week. Avery Johnson had his contract extended through the 2023 season. Avery’s compensation package was increased to $2.9 million annually.
Alabama Football Recruiting
This could be the most interesting recruiting story of the year. Jarrett Bell of Norco, CA will announce his college choice Monday afternoon, August 7.
Bell may be unknown to most Alabama football fans. The 247Sports Composite has Jarrett rated a 2-Star and the No. 2,333 player in the nation. Bell has eight offers and the highest profile school other than Alabama is Arizona.
UPDATED on August 7 – Bell has been moved to a 3-Star in the 247Sports Composite and the No. 487 player in the nation, Rivals now lists Bell as a 4-Star recruit.
UPDATED again on August 7 – Jarrett Bell picked Alabama football Monday afternoon becoming the No. 10 commitment in the Tide’s 2018 recruiting class.
Why is the Tide sold on Bell? He camped in Tuscaloosa recently and insiders say he was impressive on the field and in the weight room. Recruiting star ratings mean nothing to Nick Saban and Bell earned an Alabama offer.
One reason for his low rating may be no game video of him playing offensive line. Bell has been a defensive lineman until this offseason.
Alabama Football Fall Camp
Three practices into fall camp, the defensive line is looking strong. More details about the 2017 defensive line can be read in Alabama football fall practice update. Based upon the A-Day game and the first three practices of fall, Raekwon Davis is positioned to become the other starting defensive end opposite Da’Shawn Hand.
Most experts expected JUCO Transfer Isaiah Buggs would win that spot. Buggs has looked great in practices since the winter sessions leading up to the College Football Playoff games. Whichever one wins the starting role, both Davis and Buggs will play a lot for the Alabama defense.
Here is a short clip of Buggs in action.
Former (MGCCC) JUCO Star DE @BigPooh_91 in his bag @AlabamaFTBL fall camp #JUCOPRODUCT pic.twitter.com/ZqJFxDlqbA
— JUCO Football Frenzy (@JUCOFFrenzy) August 6, 2017
We will close with another short and fun video. In a relaxed moment before Saturday’s practice, Nick chatted with reporters. He was asked what is the theme song for Alabama football.
What's the "theme song" of @AlabamaFTBL ? Hint: it's a Rolling Stones song. pic.twitter.com/UYiS3G8O3d
— TideSports.com (@TideSports) August 6, 2017
Nick is a longtime Rolling Stones fan. During the autograph portion of the fan-centered event, the background music was another of Nick’s favorite bands, The Eagles.
Next: 30 Great Tide Players who were 3-Star Recruits
Check in with us each Sunday. There is no shortage of interesting and important happenings every week. Dare we say, you “may not always get what you want” but we will try to provide some of what you “need.” If you are not a Stones fan, do not try to make any sense of the preceding sentence.