Alabama Crimson Tide news and notes from Wednesday and Thursday, August 13th and 14th.
Mark Ingram stops by practice and brings the vibes
Earlier this week, Alabama legend - and 2009 Heisman Trophy winner - Mark Ingram swung by the Crimson Tide's practice to talk with the team. Any time Ingram is around, the vibes are high. After he spoke with the team, Ingram jumped on the New Wave podcast with Ryan Williams and Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.
Kalen DeBoer has given former players like Ingram unfiltered access to the program, encouraging the past greats to come back and spend as much time around the team as they want. Ingram is one of Alabama's greatest ambassadors as an unabashed alumnus, National Champion, Heisman winner, and the New Orleans Saints' all-time leading rusher.
Calvin Ridley brought the smoke in joint practice with former team
Calvin Ridley seemed to relish the opportunity to return to Atlanta as a member of the Tennessee Titans for a joint practice with the Falcons. He made a play earlier in the week, beating former teammate AJ Terrell in a one-on-one. He had no problem letting the home fans know about it.
Ridley is working off of back-to-back 1000-yard seasons as he resurrected a career that looked potentially over after he was suspended for the 2022 season. He's developed a quick rapport with No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, and the Titans' offense should take a leap forward this year.
Delusional AP voter ranks Alabama at No. 23
Alabama was already ranked too low in the AP poll at No. 8. Evidently, that wasn't low enough for former Florida Gator Kevin Carter, who now works for CBS Sports.
Carter, still reeling from the 1992 SEC Championship Game loss to the Crimson Tide during his sophomore season in Gainesville, launched a vendetta vote against Alabama and ranked DeBoer's team an absurdly low 23rd in his ballot.
It's fair to doubt if Alabama is still Alabama following a 9-4 year in 2024, but ranking them 23rd defies all logic.
Kaleb Edwards is generating buzz in fall camp
Freshman TE Kaleb Edwards is beginning to generate positive buzz in fall camp. Alabama needs a younger player or two to step up at the position, especially with nagging injuries preventing veterans Josh Cuevas and Danny Lewis Jr. from being full-go in camp thus far.
Edwards is a freak-athlete and has SEC-ready size at 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds. Reports indicate that he has been a standout during camp and could be in line for some early playing time in his first year on campus. That's doubly impressive considering Edwards was not an early enrollee and didn't make it to Tuscaloosa until May.
Tim Keenan sends a harsh warning ahead of second scrimmage
Alabama's second and final scrimmage of fall camp is this Saturday. It's a big opportunity for young players to make a move and earn some extra reps heading into the season opener against Florida State.
Senior DL Tim Keenan sent out a warning to his teammates this week, stating that this scrimmage would separate those who are ready for playing time, and those who are going to need to get comfortable working the scout team.
Deontae Lawson displays confidence in Ty Simpson
Deontae Lawson was asked after practice on Wednesday about Simpson being named the team's starting QB, and the fifth-year senior LB, and soon-to-be two-time permanent team captain, spoke glowingly of the redshirt junior.
Lawson has faith in Simpson to lead this team to where they want to go, and if Lawson is saying that publicly, it echoes the sentiment in the Alabama locker room. Simpson has clearly won over the team, a key point in securing the starting QB position.