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Alabama running back Najee Harris sat down with a college football legend this week for one of the more candid conversations about his game. Appearing with Reggie Bush as part of FOX's college football coverage, the senior from the San Francisco Bay Area spoke freely about perceptions and some of his bigger plays. Harris was eager to talk about the way his 6-foot-2, 230-pound size is perceived. "Me being a big back, the assumption is OK, he's big so he's stiff, maybe," Harris said. "This is a typical stereotype. He's stiff. He can't make people miss that much. He's not fast enough so me using that, me training to work on all these things or me just hearing that, I train for all those things. So I am in the position in a route or one-on-one coverage...that's a perfect opportunity to show people, yes, I am a big back, but I can do everything that you in your days could do."

Bush, once a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion at USC, agreed with Harris before moving on to one of the Alabama back's signature play. The hurdling touchdown last season at South Carolina was one of the highlight moments of the full college football season a year ago. It came on fourth down and Tua Tagovailoa spotted Harris coming out of the backfield for a touchdown that included at least three broken tackles. "That team had a really good defense and there wasn't much happening in the run game so that's the perfect time to show I can be more of a threat," Harris said. "I was actually excited we went for it on fourth down because Saban was like, he was kinda iffy like 'I don't know if we should go for it.' So they showed me I had a burst route, so I'm like 'Whaaaat? This is the perfect thing." - Birmingham News

(DS#1 RB) Sr/2021

RB Najee Harris, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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09/22/20 - *Bryce Young, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-10, 204 (DS#2 QB) + More +

It was the foregone conclusion for the final weeks of camp, but Mac Jones is officially Alabama's starting quarterback with redshirt freshman Paul Tyson and true freshman Bryce Young listed as backups behind him. The buzz around Young as a potential immediate starter was put on hold after an offseason of remote meetings and no spring practice, one not conducive to a freshman quarterback getting up to speed quickly. - Montgomery Advertiser

(DS#2 QB) Jr/2023

QB *Bryce Young, Alabama
News Source: Montgomery Advertiser
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09/21/20 - *Jahmyr Gibbs, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-09, 199 (DS#2 RB) + More +

SEPT 21 ACC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Jahmyr Gibbs, Georgia Tech, Fr., RB, Dalton, Ga.,...Racked up 219 all-purpose yards in his collegiate debut, including 126 yards from scrimmage, and scored two touchdowns versus No. 14 UCF...Played a big part in all three of Georgia Tech's touchdowns...Returned the opening kickoff 75 yards to set up a three-play, 21-yard touchdown drive that gave Georgia Tech a 7-0 lead just 55 seconds into the game...Scored Tech's second and third touchdowns of the game on a 6-yard reception and an electrifying 33-yard run...Finished with 93 yards on two kickoff returns, 66 rushing yards on 15 carries and a team-high 60 receiving yards on four catches. - ACC Football

(DS#2 RB) Jr/2023

RB *Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
News Source: ACC Football
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09/18/20 - *Christian Barmore, rSo/2021, Alabama, 6-4, 310 (DS#1 DT) + More +

Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore is still working back from the minor knee injury that caused him to miss the team's scrimmage on Saturday. The team hopes to get the redshirt sophomore back to practice in some capacity early next week, but it's unclear at this point whether he'll be available for the Tide's season-opener against Missouri Sept. 26. "Christian Barmore is doing very, very well," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. "We're hopeful that by Monday of next week he'll be able to do some things in practice. You never know for sure exactly how a guy is gonna progress. But at least that's the prognosis for right now. It's probably too early to tell if he'll be ready to play in the first game or not. We'll just have to see how he progresses." Barmore, the team's top pass rusher along the defensive line, finished last season with 26 tackles, six tackles for a loss and two sacks. - Birmingham News

(DS#1 DT) rSo/2021

DT *Christian Barmore, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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09/18/20 - *Mac Jones, rJr/2021, Alabama, 6-3, 217 (DS#3 QB) + More +

Quarterback Mac Jones had a strong scrimmage Saturday and Saban gave an appraisal of where the fourth-year junior stands. "When Mac stays in himself and is concerned about doing what he's supposed to do and executes and does the things that he's coached to do, he's very, very effective," he said. "When he stays focused on the play, doesn't get upset about what happened on the play before, he's very, very effective. He has shown an ability to do that much better this year. I think it's a sign of maturity and understanding what he has to do to play winning football at his position." - Birmingham News

(DS#3 QB) rJr/2021

QB *Mac Jones, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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09/18/20 - Alex Leatherwood, Sr/2021, Alabama, 6-5, 312 (DS#5 OT) + More +

Alabama placed a league-leading 11 representatives on the 2020 Preseason Coaches All-Southeastern Conference Football Team, it was announced on Thursday. Georgia was second with 10 representatives, while Florida, LSU and Texas A&M each had eight. This marks the 18th consecutive year of the SEC Coaches Preseason All-SEC Team. Ten schools had at least one First-Team All-SEC representative, including a conference-best eight from Alabama. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players. The SEC is scheduled to begin the 2020 season on September 26. - SEC Football

(DS#5 OT) Sr/2021

OT Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
News Source: SEC Football
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09/18/20 - *Will Anderson Jr., Jr/2023, Alabama, 6-4, 253 (DS#1 DE) + More +

Among the standout players from Alabama's fall camp and scrimmages, which have been closed to reporters, has been freshman outside linebacker Will Anderson. Anderson, a five-star recruit from Georgia rated as the No. 17 prospect in the nation for the 2020 class by 247 Sports, earned praise from one of his teammates Thursday. "He's just a guy who came in and you could just tell he's got it," defensive tackle DJ Dale said. "His confidence. He's just so willing to learn. He listens. He's a great player. He's got it. He came in with it." Asked about Anderson on Thursday, fifth-year offensive lineman Landon Dickerson called the freshman a "terrific guy" and "great athlete." "He's done a lot of great things in person," Dickerson said. Alabama lost both of its starting outside linebackers from last season, Terrell Lewis and Anfernee Jennings, to the NFL. That opened a void that veteran players on the roster such as Ben Davis and Christopher Allen could fill, but Anderson has quickly risen to where he could earn significant playing time this season. Anderson had "multiple sacks" in the team's first scrimmage of fall camp, AL.com's Matt Zenitz reported, and he has been a "disruptive presence and consistent standout through fall camp." - Birmingham News

(DS#1 DE) Jr/2023

DE *Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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09/16/20 - *Jaylen Waddle, Jr/2021, Alabama, 5-10, 180 (DS#3 WR) + More +

Jaylen Waddle had to catch lightning in a bottle with every touch in 2019. He was a wide receiver behind two first-round draft picks and two Biletnikoff Award semifinalists, making receptions few and far between. He was by far the nation's best returner, but he only got 20 chances to return a punt and five to return a kick. All in all, Waddle averaged 20.8 yards per touch but only got the ball 4.07 times per game. In Waddle's case, playing more equates to playing differently. As Waddle is poised to step into a bigger role in Alabama's offense this fall, he had to take on some new responsibilities that come with a more all-encompassing role, a reality he has embraced. "I think he's excited about the challenge and the opportunity of being an every-down player in our offense and not just a specialty player," Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said.

As a wide receiver, Waddle being on the field more often means he's going to be targeted and running routes on fewer of his snaps, leaving him to block for the run. Waddle said he's been working on hand placement in blocking. There is also the prospect of playing multiple wide receiver positions, given being on the field for more than specialized snaps, and the potential need to do so should COVID-19 quarantines impact depth in the position group. Waddle said the way UA's offense is structured makes it easier for wide receivers to move among wide receiver positions. "I think we don't try to learn a certain position. We try to learn a concept, so you're not just out there - you don't really know where you're going to be based on the concepts," Waddle said. "You've got to learn every concept. We try to learn that way." - Montgomery Advertiser

(DS#3 WR) Jr/2021

WR *Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
News Source: Montgomery Advertiser
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09/16/20 - *Brian Branch, Jr/2023, Alabama, 6-0, 190 (DS#1 FS) + More +

There's a lot of competition in the secondary and a few rookies are competing for prime roles. Brian Branch is one with a shot at the fifth DB position known as the Star. "Brian Branch is definitely a baller," receiver Jaylen Waddle said Tuesday. "I really like the way he competes. He is real physical and he is going to be a future star, definitely a household name." Malachi Moore of Hewitt-Trussville is also in that mix. Junior cornerback Patrick Surtain spoke about Branch and Moore on Tuesday. "I see them improving in knowing the plays, knowing the adjustments, knowing concepts as well," said Surtain, the one full-time starter back in the secondary. "They have the talent to cover, and stuff, but I know developing, the playbook and understanding the game consistently, that's what they've improved upon."

Saban also spoke about Moore and Branch after a Sept. 8 practice. "Both guys have played multiple positions, Star, Money," he said. "I just think both guys have a chance to make a contribution. We lost four out of five starters in the secondary last year, so we don't have a lot of experience. And that's one of the positions that we're trying to create more depth at. Those guys seem to be the kind of guys that have enough maturity as freshmen to stay focused on the things that they need to do so they have a chance to go out there and play. We've had a few guys be able to do that around here as freshmen, and we're probably going to have somebody need to do that in the secondary." - Birmingham News

(DS#1 FS) Jr/2023

FS *Brian Branch, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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09/13/20 - *Christian Barmore, rSo/2021, Alabama, 6-4, 310 (DS#1 DT) + More +

The freshmen on last year's defensive line have shown some of the benefits of that experience in preseason practice. Saban said Justin Eboigbe has been the most consistent of the group and Christian Barmore, while out for a few days with a minor knee injury, has been one of the team's best pass rushers. But Eboigbe, Barmore and Byron Young have more growing to do. "We got to get these guys to be good all-around players," Saban said. "Some play the run, got to improve rushing the passer; we got some guys that rush the passer well and they've got to improve on playing the run. It's a group effort to get that group continuing to improve. For the most part, we have been a little more physical up front, and we get challenged every day because we got a pretty good offensive line." - Montgomery Advertiser

(DS#1 DT) rSo/2021

DT *Christian Barmore, Alabama
News Source: Montgomery Advertiser
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09/12/20 - LaBryan Ray, rSr/2022, Alabama, 6-4, 287 (DS#28 DT) + More +

If all goes according to plan, 2020 will be a needed fresh start for Alabama defensive lineman LaBryan Ray. The redshirt junior, who changed his number from No. 89 to No. 18 this past offseason, is finally feeling 100 percent after a lingering foot injury derailed his 2019 season. Following the latest wave of graduations and early departures to the NFL, Ray is one of just three Alabama defenders who has starting experience prior to last season. The others are linebacker Dylan Moses and cornerback Patrick Surtain. That puts the onus on a healthy Ray, who has started four games in three seasons, to anchor a Tide defensive line that is among the younger positional groups on the team.

"He's one of the leaders in the room," fellow fourth-year junior defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis said Thursday. "We need that in the room right now. Him coming back, he's gonna be a good help for us." Mathis noted that he and Ray are the "older cats" of a room that also includes some seasoned younger players in redshirt sophomore Christian Barmore as well as sophomores DJ Dale, Justin Eboigbe and Byron Young. "LaBryan played great last year for the three games he was able to play in," coach Nick Saban said Sept. 2. "He adds something to us that we don't have. He's athletic. He's got initial quickness. He's very positive in terms of pass rush and being able to play space plays because he can run and he is athletic. "And need more guys to be like that on our team on the defensive line. There's too much spread, too many loose plays in football right now that athletic guys that can run are really, really important to being a good defensive team. And I think that's the biggest thing that he adds, and we need more players to play like him." - Birmingham News

(DS#28 DT) rSr/2022

DT LaBryan Ray, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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09/05/20 - Chris Owens, rSr/2022, Alabama, 6-3, 300 (DS#13 C) + More +

Senior Chris Owens has been working at center after moving around to different offensive line positions in a mostly reserve role last fall. Owens explained the mental side of being the quarterback of the line at center. "You know, we've got to make the calls," Owens said. "First things first, the job description of the center is to snap the ball, so we can't do anything if we don't have the ball. Coach (Steve) Sarkisian always says we can't score if we don't have it, so that's the No. 1 priority. Just as far as making the calls, making sure we have everyone else on the same page along with getting yourself on the same page with everyone else. And then having to execute blocks and playing at a high level. It's a difficult job, but the coaches expect a lot out of whoever is playing at center. So it's a job that has to get done, and we can't make any excuses for not getting it done. It's a lot of responsibility, but it's one that I welcome."

Having Landon Dickerson back helps since he started at center most of the year in 2019. "He has so much insight, even going back to his days back at Florida State," Owens said, "so having him around and being able to bring along some of the young guys and not just us two, but everyone on the O-line. Starter or not, everyone is looking out for everyone. So we all want everyone to be successful." - Birmingham News

(DS#13 C) rSr/2022

C Chris Owens, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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09/05/20 - LaBryan Ray, rSr/2022, Alabama, 6-4, 287 (DS#28 DT) + More +

Saban is glad to have defensive lineman LaBryan Ray back after he missed most of last year due to an injury. "He adds something to us that we don't have," Saban said. "He's athletic. He's got initial quickness. He's very positive in terms of pass rush and being able to play space plays because he can run and he is athletic. And we need more guys to be like that on our team on the defensive line. There's too much spread, too many loose plays in football right now that athletic guys that can run are really, really important to being a good defensive team. And I think that's the biggest thing that he adds and we need more players to play like him." - Birmingham News

(DS#28 DT) rSr/2022

DT LaBryan Ray, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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09/05/20 - Carl Tucker, rSr/2021, Alabama, 6-2, 249 (DS#7 FB) + More +

Graduate transfer tight end Carl Tucker is doing a "really good job." "He's a very good blocker," Saban said. "He's got some explosive power. He plays with toughness. He's a good receiver. He's got good hands. He's a smart guy. I think his experience has helped him adapt very quickly to the offense and I certainly think he's going to contribute to our team in a very positive way this year." - Birmingham News

(DS#7 FB) rSr/2021

FB Carl Tucker, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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09/04/20 - DeVonta Smith, Sr/2021, Alabama, 6-0, 170 (DS#2 WR) + More +

2021 SENIOR BOWL WATCH LIST: DeVonta Smith, Alabama,...Smith recorded two of UA's three 200-plus yard receiving games in 2019...was the first Tide wideout to notch multiple 200-plus yard performances in a single season since Amari Cooper in 2014...ranked third in the SEC and was tied for fifth nationally in touchdown receptions with 14...his 14 receiving scores ties for second in Alabama single-season history...finished third in the league in receiving yards with 1,256 a total that was tied for eighth in Division I...the 1,256 yards are the third-most in a single season in program history. - Alabama Football

(DS#2 WR) Sr/2021

WR DeVonta Smith, Alabama
News Source: Alabama Football
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