Lots of good happening with Alabama football early in fall camp
Earlier in the week, both Alabama football Coordinators alluded to the Crimson Tide being ahead, rather than behind after no spring practice. The summer ‘mini-camp’ prior to the current fall camp was a period when coaches could teach, review concepts and install new ones. Most of the talk about the summer activity focused on how skill players looked. By all reports, they looked good. Less obvious, more detailed work was also done.
Alabama Football Fall Camp
As always Alabama football rumors spread quickly. A couple of the most noticed rumors have been impending opt-outs by Partick Surtain II and Jaylen Waddle. This week, both players stated they never seriously considered not playing in the 2020 season. Claims persist that running back Keilan Robinson will either opt-out or transfer. There has been no official word on Robinson.
Bama Insider reported Waddles’s thoughts on his increased role for the 2020 season.
- “they’re (the coaches) looking for me to come to a bigger role, and I’m just excited”
- (On Mac Jones) “I think the chemistry is just continuing to get better over time… minicamp, and this camp we are having right now, we have been getting a lot of reps”
- “I think he’s (Mac) taken a more personal role. He’s more confident. He’s really leading the team, you know. He came in late last year, so it was more of a process of him getting better and confident with the offense. Now he’s looking really, really good.”
Last season with Waddle playing behind Jeudy, Ruggs and Smitty, Jaylen had limited opportunities to connect with Jones. From Bama Insider, in Mac’s four games,
"he targeted Waddle just 11 times. However, 10 of those went for receptions resulting in a combined 215 yards and four scores. Waddle’s 90.9 catch-to-target percentage from Jones was the highest the quarterback had with any receiver"
The most feel-good story of fall camp has been the emergence of Ben Davis. The former 5-Star recruit is leading the outside linebackers, along with Chris Allen. Davis should be credited for never complaining about his mostly special teams role. Coming to Tuscaloosa the son of Alabama football’s career leader in tackles – and not earning a starting role, must have been difficult for Ben.
Davis has immense talent behind him at outside linebacker. One is Will Anderson who is too good to keep off the field. Davis earning a starting nod, while also rotating with Anderson will make many Crimson Tide fans proud.
One not-football tidbit for Tide fans. The word from Alabama basketball is Herbert Jones is hitting jump shots. That was the only part of Herb’s game he lacked.