Alabama Crimson Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Junior running back Eddie Lacy has patiently waited his turn behind two Heisman trophy finalists, Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. In a reserve role, Lacy still managed to score 13 touchdowns during his first two seasons at the University of Alabama.

Now it’s his turn.

Ingram and Richardson have moved on to the NFL, and Lacy will get his chance to be the feature back for the Crimson Tide this year. It’s a fortuitous position to be in, but it’s a role that comes with high expectations.

“With these fans, it’s a great feeling and you just have to embrace it, but at the same time, you have to come in and take care of business,” Lacy said.

The 6-foot, 220-pound running back knows he can do the job, but because of his role on the team the last two years, spelling Ingram and Richardson, he also appreciates the depth behind him and knows how important their success is to the team.

“It’s great,” Lacy said. “It’s the same way it was with Trent when I gave him a rest. It’s all just clockwork. Everybody is doing what they came here to do.”

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From now until kickoff in Arlington, Texas, we'll be counting down the days before Alabama and Michigan get the season started. Today, we move to No. 23 and what it means to UA football. See all the previous editions here.

No. 23 Jabriel Washington didn't come to Tuscaloosa, Ala., with the hype of some of his fellow true freshmen in 2011, but that doesn't mean the Tennessee native isn't ready to make an impact in his second year at the Capstone.

Washington was listed as the No. 29 athlete in the ESPN rankings in 2011, and was slotted to play defensive back for the Crimson Tide. As a 5-foot-11, 165-pound freshman, he was one of the lightest players on the team. Only fellow defensive back Sam Kearns weighed less. Not coincidentally, Washington was redshirted and has put on some weight -- 17 pounds, according to the UA media guide.

Coach Nick Saban had this to say about Washington's place on the team at SEC media days in Hoover, Ala., last month:

"Jabriel has done a good job of developing, gotten bigger and stronger, had a really good spring," Saban said. "He's competing for a role at the cornerback position, maybe someone who can contribute at special teams and be a backup at corner."

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- When coaches and players talk about Kenny Bell, his speed is usually the first thing to come up. The University of Alabama receiver is known as a threat in the vertical passing game, but he'd like to be known for much more.

"[Speed] is just an aspect I have," Bell said after Wednesday morning's practice. "But I just don't want to be known as a speed guy. I want to be known as a receiver that's known all the way around."

The junior from Rayville, La., caught 17 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns last season. His 15 yards per catch average was the best of any receiver on the team with 15 or more receptions.

But is he the fastest on the team? Not even he can answer that question.

"We've got a lot of guys, I really couldn't even tell you," he said. "We always talk about racing each other, but we just haven't had the time yet. But we're going to wind up seeing in the near future."

Bell said he worked hard during the offseason and is anticipating a bigger role on offense in his fourth year at the Capstone. At the A-Day scrimmage in April, Bell led all receivers with five catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.

On Monday, Kevin Norwood said he and Bell have been looking forward to becoming leaders for years. With the top four pass-catchers from last season gone, they have the opportunity.

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Brandon Hill has confirmed to RecruitingNation that he will not be attending the University of Alabama this fall due to academic issues. The NCAA Clearinghouse did not clear Hill to play.

Hill told DawgNation's Kipp Adams that he will be attending Hargrave Military Academy and will play football while there.

Hill posted on his Facebook page that "This is just a minor set back for a major come back! You can't rush GREATNESS!!!"

The 6-foot-6, 355-pound offensive lineman is the only signee from this year's class to not enroll at Alabama. He was ranked as the No. 77 offensive tackle in the country.

TideNation reporter Greg Ostendorf catches up with Autauga, Ala. tight end O.J. Howard. Howard talks about his busy camp season, looking forward to the fall season, and who is still recruiting this Alabama commit hard.

The defensive line is what separates the SEC, and this next guy will be a force in the middle of that Alabama defensive line in 2012:

No. 18: Jesse Williams, NG, Alabama, Sr.

2011 summary: In his first season with the Crimson Tide after coming over from junior college, Williams started all 13 games at defensive end and finished with 24 total tackles, including four tackles for loss and three quarterback hurries.

Most recent ranking: Not ranked in the 2011 postseason countdown.

Making the case for Williams: He's known as "ThaMonstar" and for good reason. The 6-4, 320-pound Williams put up 600 pounds on the bench-press earlier this month and could have gone higher had the Alabama strength staff not stopped him right there. He's moving from end to nose guard in Alabama's 3-4 scheme and played some inside last season when the Tide went to a four-man front on passing downs. Alabama coach Nick Saban called Williams the most underrated player on Alabama's national championship defense last season, although those days are likely gone. That's because Williams is poised for a huge senior season, and everybody will know who he is by season's end. He may not put up eye-popping statistics playing the nose, but his relentless push up the middle will wreck more than a few opposing offensive game plans. Williams didn't start playing football until he was 15, so his best is yet to come.

The rundown

• No. 25: Matt Elam, S, Florida, Jr.
• No. 24: Da'Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee, Jr.
• No. 23: Sean Porter, LB, Texas A&M, Sr.
• No. 22: Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama, Jr.
• No. 21: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia, Jr.
• No. 20: Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M, Jr.
• No. 19: Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee, Jr.

To understand football's place in the South, you first have to see it from deep within the heart of Dixie. In ESPN The Magazine, southern author and Alabama journalism professor Rick Bragg explains why the SEC's fight for supremacy goes back to the Civil War.

From now until kickoff in Arlington, Texas, we'll be counting down the days before Alabama and Michigan get the season started. Today, we move to No. 24 and what it means to UA football. See all the previous editions here.

The University of Alabama defense was historically good. We've gone over that, but it goes beyond stopping the pass or stuffing the running game. When a play needed to be made, the Crimson Tide were there consistently. On third down -- crunch time -- the Alabama defense allowed the offense to convert and make a first down 24 percent of the time.

In another area wrought with pressure, the UA defense held its own and more. Inside the red zone, Alabama surrendered just six total touchdowns.

So where did the Crimson Tide rank in red-zone and third-down defense. Let's take a look:

Third-down defense
1. Alabama: 24.46 percent conversion
2. Florida: 27.27 percent conversion
3. Georgia: 28.93 percent conversion

Red zone defense
1. Alabama: 55 points, .59 scoring percentage
2. Houston: 213 points, .67 scoring percentage
3. Michigan: 169 points, .69 scoring percentage

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- It's no secret that the Crimson Tide will be younger this season. Losing more than 10 starters and even more role players to graduation will create that feeling.

Up and down the Alabama roster, the options are seemingly limitless, starting with special teams. UA coach Nick Saban told reporters Tuesday that he wants to see a handful of players take ownership on kickoff and punt return coverage, as well as field goals.

For a team of four- and five-star athletes unaccustomed to sprinting downfield on kickoffs, getting volunteers isn't always easy, but Saban has a strong sales pitch for them.

"There's not a player that's not a starter on an NFL team that doesn't have to be a good special-teams player to make the team," Saban said. "I try to tell every guy on our team, especially the young players, the star players come from high school and never had to play on special teams, that you guys need to learn how to play on special teams right now.

"Your ability to execute and do your job on special teams is just as important as it is to be a running back, a receiver, a defensive back, a linebacker or whatever position it might be."

Last season, freshmen Vinnie Sunseri and Trey DePriest starred on special teams. Now, both are vying for starting jobs and are looking for someone else to step up and fill their spots.

"There have been some guys that have showed that they really want to do that and that's important to them," Saban said. "That will be beneficial to us. Because the more you have to play starters on special teams, I think that affects you long-term in terms of the wear and tear that you have on guys and how they get worn down in games. We need more players to have a role. I think it's great for team chemistry that more players have a role as well."

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