Door to Texas now open for SEC schools 
August, 2, 2012
8/02/12
1:35
PM ET
By
Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com
The impact that Texas A&M's membership in the SEC has had on recruiting is noticeable. The Aggies currently have a whopping 27 commitments in their 2013 recruiting class even though fall practice hasn't even started for Texas high schools. Many of the Aggies’ commitments have said that the SEC membership is among the top reasons they chose Texas A&M.
Coach Kevin Sumlin has acknowledged that impact, noting that Texas A&M has "probably gotten a few more visits" and his coaches have had a few more "return phone calls" from recruits who might not otherwise have considered the Aggies if they weren't in what's widely considered to be the nation's premier football conference.
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Tide ranked No. 2 in preseason poll
August, 2, 2012
8/02/12
12:04
PM ET
By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
University of Alabama players reported for the start of preseason camp Thursday morning, and what greeted them that afternoon was the first major college football poll of the season. The Crimson Tide, fresh off beating LSU in New Orleans for the BCS National Championship, came in second in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll.
Alabama finished just four points behind the No. 1 team in the country, LSU. Seven SEC schools, including Georgia (6), South Carolina (9), Arkansas (10) Florida (23) and Auburn (25), made the top 25.
The Crimson Tide have a lot of work to do if they're to finish the season third or better. Coach Nick Saban must overhaul three-quarters of the defense, replacing five first- or second-round NFL draft picks: linebackers Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower, defensive backs Mark Barron and Dre Kirkpatrick, and running back and former Heisman Trophy finalist Trent Richardson.
Alabama finished just four points behind the No. 1 team in the country, LSU. Seven SEC schools, including Georgia (6), South Carolina (9), Arkansas (10) Florida (23) and Auburn (25), made the top 25.
The Crimson Tide have a lot of work to do if they're to finish the season third or better. Coach Nick Saban must overhaul three-quarters of the defense, replacing five first- or second-round NFL draft picks: linebackers Courtney Upshaw and Dont'a Hightower, defensive backs Mark Barron and Dre Kirkpatrick, and running back and former Heisman Trophy finalist Trent Richardson.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama renews its title defense Friday with the first practice of pre-season camp. The Crimson Tide will hit the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields for a double-dip, going at 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
While we wait for the team to strap it up and get going, here are five things to watch as we inch toward Sept. 1 and kickoff against the Michigan Wolverines.
1. Full recovery: Is the "spin move back," as Michael Williams put it at SEC media days? Coach Nick Saban and players insist Eddie Lacy is ready to run again after missing all of the spring recovering from offseason surgery. If he is back at 100 percent, the Alabama backfield could be lethal with the addition. How Arie Kouandjio comes back is important as well, adding depth to an offensive line that's potent up front but lacking players to fill out the rotation.
While we wait for the team to strap it up and get going, here are five things to watch as we inch toward Sept. 1 and kickoff against the Michigan Wolverines.
1. Full recovery: Is the "spin move back," as Michael Williams put it at SEC media days? Coach Nick Saban and players insist Eddie Lacy is ready to run again after missing all of the spring recovering from offseason surgery. If he is back at 100 percent, the Alabama backfield could be lethal with the addition. How Arie Kouandjio comes back is important as well, adding depth to an offensive line that's potent up front but lacking players to fill out the rotation.
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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. 30 and what it means to UA football. See all the previous editions here.
Listen to coach Nick Saban speak and you'll rarely hear mention of the number of sacks the Crimson Tide defense accumulated. Alabama finished the 2011-12 season with 30 sacks, good enough for fourth in the SEC and 29th overall. Those stats won't blow you away, but the tape certainly will.
That's because the defense isn't built around sacking the quarterback as much as disrupting him. That's how incompletions, interceptions and fumbles happen. That's how turnovers happen, and there's no better friend to a defense than taking the ball away.
Alabama finished the season with 40 quarterback hurries and 96 tackles for loss.
Listen to coach Nick Saban speak and you'll rarely hear mention of the number of sacks the Crimson Tide defense accumulated. Alabama finished the 2011-12 season with 30 sacks, good enough for fourth in the SEC and 29th overall. Those stats won't blow you away, but the tape certainly will.
That's because the defense isn't built around sacking the quarterback as much as disrupting him. That's how incompletions, interceptions and fumbles happen. That's how turnovers happen, and there's no better friend to a defense than taking the ball away.
Alabama finished the season with 40 quarterback hurries and 96 tackles for loss.
Tide, Tigers battle for in-state recruits
August, 1, 2012
8/01/12
2:16
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
Alabama-Auburn is one of the greatest rivalries in college football. It’s a rivalry that dates back centuries, but it has become magnified on a national scale over the last few years, and not just on the field, but on the recruiting trail as well.
Last year, ESPN 150 running back T.J. Yeldon committed to Auburn in June, but in a turn of events that nearly sent the state into pandemonium, he flipped his commitment to Alabama and ultimately signed with the Crimson Tide. Now, Yeldon is poised to make a significant impact as a freshman for UA.
Fast forward to this year’s class.
Last year, ESPN 150 running back T.J. Yeldon committed to Auburn in June, but in a turn of events that nearly sent the state into pandemonium, he flipped his commitment to Alabama and ultimately signed with the Crimson Tide. Now, Yeldon is poised to make a significant impact as a freshman for UA.
Fast forward to this year’s class.
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Ranking the top 10 defensive lines
August, 1, 2012
8/01/12
11:50
AM ET
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN Insider Travis Haney writes: They’ll be breaking in new talent at defensive tackle, but the LSU pass rush could be remarkably good in 2012. And yet, they’re still No. 2 behind Florida State, which has both experience and a major talent infusion from recent recruiting. Where do the Crimson Tide place in Haney's rankings of the top defensive lines in the country?
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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. 31 and what it means to UA football. See all the previous editions here.
Befpre the start of the 2011-12 season, Vinnie Sunseri was an unknown. The linebacker at Tuscaloosa's Northridge High wasn't exactly the recruit that came with high expectations. The four-star player had just five college offers (see: recruiting profile), and many wondered whether Alabama was one of them just because his father, Sal, was an assistant coach on staff.
Those people were wrong. Or at least they were proven to be wrong.
Sunseri passed up the opportunity to go to Pittsburgh and play with his brother, and became arguably the most successful true freshman to play at Alabama last season. Despite not starting a game, he finished ninth on the team with 31 total tackles. He had one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one fumble recovery and forced one fumble in 13 games. He and left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio were voted to the Freshman All-SEC team.
When his father left to become the defensive coordinator at Tennessee after the season ended, some wondered whether Vinnie would follow suit. He didn't, and now he's in a position to receive even more playing time under coach Nick Saban. Sunseri spent most of the spring playing safety, star and money on defense. He told reporters that he'd like to improve his pass coverage before the start of the season.
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Marvin Gentry/US PresswireVinnie Sunseri (3) excelled on A-Day and could have a big 2012.
Marvin Gentry/US PresswireVinnie Sunseri (3) excelled on A-Day and could have a big 2012.Those people were wrong. Or at least they were proven to be wrong.
Sunseri passed up the opportunity to go to Pittsburgh and play with his brother, and became arguably the most successful true freshman to play at Alabama last season. Despite not starting a game, he finished ninth on the team with 31 total tackles. He had one pass breakup, one quarterback hurry, one fumble recovery and forced one fumble in 13 games. He and left tackle Cyrus Kouandjio were voted to the Freshman All-SEC team.
When his father left to become the defensive coordinator at Tennessee after the season ended, some wondered whether Vinnie would follow suit. He didn't, and now he's in a position to receive even more playing time under coach Nick Saban. Sunseri spent most of the spring playing safety, star and money on defense. He told reporters that he'd like to improve his pass coverage before the start of the season.
Each week at TideNation we will speak with a writer who covers one of Alabama's 2012 opponents. Today we spoke with Joel Erickson, who covers Auburn for the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer.
Scarborough: A new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator, new starting running back and a quarterback competition. The offseason at Auburn has been more tumultuous than usual this year. How has all the turnover affected the program and what kind of changes can we expect under both coordinators?
Erickson: Auburn has had a quarterback battle every year that Gene Chizik has been the head coach, and the return of Onterio McCalebb means that the Tigers have some continuity at the running back position, if not a clear No. 1 option in the absence of Mike Dyer. What really could affect the program is the change in coordinators. Expect Brian VanGorder’s defense to attack more, especially on the defensive line. VanGorder asks his defensive linemen to focus on penetration, rather than reading and reacting like they did under Ted Roof. On the offensive side, the days of Auburn running the hurry-up, no-huddle offense are over. New coordinator Scot Loeffler has kept his cards close to the vest, but Loeffler will likely run some pro-style, some shotgun and some pistol, with an offense tailored to his playmaker’s strengths.
Scarborough: A new offensive coordinator, new defensive coordinator, new starting running back and a quarterback competition. The offseason at Auburn has been more tumultuous than usual this year. How has all the turnover affected the program and what kind of changes can we expect under both coordinators?
Erickson: Auburn has had a quarterback battle every year that Gene Chizik has been the head coach, and the return of Onterio McCalebb means that the Tigers have some continuity at the running back position, if not a clear No. 1 option in the absence of Mike Dyer. What really could affect the program is the change in coordinators. Expect Brian VanGorder’s defense to attack more, especially on the defensive line. VanGorder asks his defensive linemen to focus on penetration, rather than reading and reacting like they did under Ted Roof. On the offensive side, the days of Auburn running the hurry-up, no-huddle offense are over. New coordinator Scot Loeffler has kept his cards close to the vest, but Loeffler will likely run some pro-style, some shotgun and some pistol, with an offense tailored to his playmaker’s strengths.
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The rundown
2011 overall record: 8-5
2011 conference record: 4-4
Record against Alabama: 34-41-1
2011 overall record: 8-5
2011 conference record: 4-4
Record against Alabama: 34-41-1
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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. 32 and what it means to UA football. See all the previous editions here.
The Crimson Tide will enter the 2012 season with high expectations, both as a team and individually. Judging by the pre-season watch lists, there are high hopes for several Alabama players. Alabama players were represented on watch lists 32 times.
Here's the complete list:
Maxwell Award
QB AJ McCarron
RB Eddie Lacy
Bednarik Award
LB Nico Johnson
LB C.J. Mosley
S Robert Lester
NG Jesse Williams
Mackey Award
TE Michael Williams
Rimington Award
C Barrett Jones
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Butch Dill/Getty ImagesAJ McCarron is on the watch for the Maxwell Award.
Butch Dill/Getty ImagesAJ McCarron is on the watch for the Maxwell Award.Here's the complete list:
Maxwell Award
QB AJ McCarron
RB Eddie Lacy
Bednarik Award
LB Nico Johnson
LB C.J. Mosley
S Robert Lester
NG Jesse Williams
Mackey Award
TE Michael Williams
Rimington Award
C Barrett Jones
Basketball's top recruiting overachievers
July, 30, 2012
7/30/12
12:53
PM ET
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
ESPN Insider John Gasoway writes: Analyzing college hoops' most productive recruiters compared to their peers. Where does Alabama's staff rank? For a team that hasn't won an NCAA tournament game in the past five years, the Crimson Tide sure do recruit well. (Insider)
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Blazevich eats his way to multiple offers
July, 30, 2012
7/30/12
11:56
AM ET
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
Dave Hooker writes: North Carolina tight end Jeb Blazevich put on nearly 40 pounds by eating five meals a day. While some players eat themselves out of a sport, he ate his way into multiple offers, including Alabama.
Ranking college football's running games
July, 30, 2012
7/30/12
11:51
AM ET
By RecruitingNation staff | ESPN.com
K.C. Joyner writes: Behind Curtis McNeal, USC (quietly) has college football's top ground attack. The University of Alabama and Eddie Lacy are not far behind, though. Joyner points out that the ability to break tackles is part of why Lacy racked up a 10.4-yard total on plays with good blocking (a metric known as GBYPA).
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Bama commit Deon Johnson catching on
July, 30, 2012
7/30/12
11:24
AM ET
By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
HOOVER, Ala. -- Not many people knew Deon Johnson's name when he committed to the University of Alabama in mid-April. The slim wide receiver from Spanish Fort High School just outside of Mobile, Ala., didn't come with the acclaim of a Robert Foster, the No. 2 ranked wideout in the ESPN 150 who played on fields opposite Johnson last week at the National Select 7-on-7 Championships here in Hoover. The hoard of media around Johnson was nearly half of what the standout from Pennsylvania experienced.
Ask Johnson's coach, Mark Freeman, and it's understandable why the country may not know Deon Johnson's name yet. Or know that he likes to go by D.J., not Deon. For three years, D.J. was kept under wraps.
"He had to sit out the year before because he moved, his sophomore year," Freeman explained. "That year he didn't play. I'm not sure what he did in Mobile as a ninth grader, he didn't play much then. So he almost missed three years of football."
Ask Johnson's coach, Mark Freeman, and it's understandable why the country may not know Deon Johnson's name yet. Or know that he likes to go by D.J., not Deon. For three years, D.J. was kept under wraps.
"He had to sit out the year before because he moved, his sophomore year," Freeman explained. "That year he didn't play. I'm not sure what he did in Mobile as a ninth grader, he didn't play much then. So he almost missed three years of football."
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2014 DB Quin Blanding humble in spotlight
July, 30, 2012
7/30/12
10:01
AM ET
By
Derek Tyson | ESPN.com
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Defensive back Quin Blanding (Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside) was one of only two 2014 prospects to compete at the Champion Gridiron Kings this weekend at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports, but the talented safety more than held his own.
The 6-foot-2, 196-pound athlete said he just wanted to prove he belonged at such a prestigous event.
"I feel like I did great," Blanding said. "I'm just having fun and just contributing with my team and just helping them out. Being a big safety and an underclassman, I just want to show that I can play with them too."
The 6-foot-2, 196-pound athlete said he just wanted to prove he belonged at such a prestigous event.
"I feel like I did great," Blanding said. "I'm just having fun and just contributing with my team and just helping them out. Being a big safety and an underclassman, I just want to show that I can play with them too."
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ABOUT TIDE NATION
Greg Ostendorf
Greg Ostendorf joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering University of Alabama football and basketball recruiting at the Tuscaloosa News and Rivals.com. Ostendorf graduated from the University of Alabama and currently resides in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Email him at gsostendorf.espn@gmail.com.
Alex Scarborough
Alex Scarborough joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering University of Alabama athletics and high school football for The Tuscaloosa News. He currently resides in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Email him at alexscarborough.espn@gmail.com.