Tide commit Stewart visits for practice 
March, 19, 2012
3/19/12
10:13
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
Monday marked the University of Alabama’s second practice this spring and first in over a week because of spring break. The Crimson Tide hosted a lone visitor for practice, ArDarius Stewart, who is on his own spring break this week.
“It was a really strong practice,” Stewart said. “I liked how they moved around on the field and how they moved around to their positions in the drills. I believe it’s a good fit for me because I like the way the coaching staff does things.”
Stewart committed to Alabama in January, but the 2013 athlete hasn’t decided what position he will play when he gets to Tuscaloosa. At Monday’s practice, Stewart kept an eye on the wide receivers, quarterbacks and defensive backs, the three spots he’s played at for Fultondale High School.
“It was a really strong practice,” Stewart said. “I liked how they moved around on the field and how they moved around to their positions in the drills. I believe it’s a good fit for me because I like the way the coaching staff does things.”
Stewart committed to Alabama in January, but the 2013 athlete hasn’t decided what position he will play when he gets to Tuscaloosa. At Monday’s practice, Stewart kept an eye on the wide receivers, quarterbacks and defensive backs, the three spots he’s played at for Fultondale High School.
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Marvin Gentry/US PresswireAlabama defensive lineman Damion Square (right) is expected to step up in 2012.TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Damion Square will be a familiar face for the Crimson Tide defensive line in 2012. So will Brandon Ivory and Jesse Williams, albeit possibly in a new form over center at nose guard.
In all, more than 10 defensive linemen will return from last year’s squad, but that doesn’t mean it won’t have a different feel from the national championship group that featured a pair of key seniors in Josh Chapman and Nick Gentry.
“We are very big but very athletic,” Square said of the defensive linemen. “Not saying that the guys before weren’t athletic but these guys -- pretty much all across the board they can play any position up front and get the job done.”
2013 DB Burns decommits from Alabama
March, 19, 2012
3/19/12
7:22
PM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
Miami (Northwestern) defensive back Artie Burns committed to the University of Alabama last December. At the time, he said he was only about 80 percent committed to the Crimson Tide, and on Monday, he told TideNation that he is no longer committed to UA.
“I’ve been thinking about it,” Burns said. “Me, my coach and my mom, we had talked about it. They thought I should take my time and look at other schools, see what schools have a better opportunity for me. If I decommitted, it’s going to help me look at other schools better.”
The Florida native had visited Florida State and Miami since giving his verbal pledge to Alabama, and he has both the Hurricanes and Seminoles in his new top five along with Louisville, LSU and USC.
“I’ve been thinking about it,” Burns said. “Me, my coach and my mom, we had talked about it. They thought I should take my time and look at other schools, see what schools have a better opportunity for me. If I decommitted, it’s going to help me look at other schools better.”
The Florida native had visited Florida State and Miami since giving his verbal pledge to Alabama, and he has both the Hurricanes and Seminoles in his new top five along with Louisville, LSU and USC.
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama returned to practice Monday after a week off for spring break.
While there was no Duron Carter sighting -- as his Twitter account teased at earlier in the day -- there were a few things of note.
Here are a handful of observations from Day 2 of UA's spring practice:
While there was no Duron Carter sighting -- as his Twitter account teased at earlier in the day -- there were a few things of note.
Here are a handful of observations from Day 2 of UA's spring practice:
- Blake Sims did not work out with the running backs today. The former high school quarterback turned running back worked in drills in last week's practice but wore a non-contact jersey today.
- Dillon Lee continues to get reps at inside linebacker. The true freshman was expected to play on the outside, as he did in high school, but has been moved inside at the start of spring practice. He'll have a chance to compete with the loss of Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw.
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BATON ROUGE -- Juniors were the main beneficiaries of this past weekend's NUC Five-Star Showcase in Zachary, La. The event was an invite-only affair for some of the region's top talent, including plenty of members of the class of 2013 hoping to make an impression ahead of their senior years.
However, some of the day's most impressive performers weren't even upper classmen yet, as several sophomores made quite an impact Saturday.
Among them was a New Orleans product in Archbishop Shaw quarterback Quentin Gibson. Gibson was one of the few quarterbacks at the camp from the class of 2014, but he shined right alongside his elder peers. The sophomore was named the event's quarterback MVP for his efforts in the position workouts, as well as one-on-one scrimmaging with wide receivers and defensive backs.
However, some of the day's most impressive performers weren't even upper classmen yet, as several sophomores made quite an impact Saturday.
Among them was a New Orleans product in Archbishop Shaw quarterback Quentin Gibson. Gibson was one of the few quarterbacks at the camp from the class of 2014, but he shined right alongside his elder peers. The sophomore was named the event's quarterback MVP for his efforts in the position workouts, as well as one-on-one scrimmaging with wide receivers and defensive backs.
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Top safety Cravens is high on Alabama
March, 19, 2012
3/19/12
9:49
AM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
ESPNU 150 Watch List safety Su’a Cravens has close to 40 scholarship offers, so it’s not that big of a deal when he picks up a new one. That wasn’t the case when the University of Alabama offered him a scholarship last month. The offer from the Crimson Tide caught his attention.
“I was real excited because I just received a scholarship from the best team in the nation,” Cravens said. “They’re the best team in the SEC, and the SEC is one of the toughest, maybe the toughest conference in college football.
“That’s really big for me. That tells me that they’re serious, and they play on a giant platform in college football. An NFL coach coaches up there, and they prepare people for the NFL. There’s nothing not to like about Alabama.”
“I was real excited because I just received a scholarship from the best team in the nation,” Cravens said. “They’re the best team in the SEC, and the SEC is one of the toughest, maybe the toughest conference in college football.
“That’s really big for me. That tells me that they’re serious, and they play on a giant platform in college football. An NFL coach coaches up there, and they prepare people for the NFL. There’s nothing not to like about Alabama.”
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Tide's interest in RB Kamara still strong
March, 17, 2012
3/17/12
6:58
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By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
Alvin Kamara has become known as the recruit who received 105 letters from the University of Alabama in one day.
When the story came out, focusing on the Tide’s recruitment of Kamara and the number of letters sent to his home, it turned the Atlanta running back into a celebrity for the week. His name was popping up everywhere.
Now, nearly a month later, the buzz still surrounds Kamara wherever he goes.
When the story came out, focusing on the Tide’s recruitment of Kamara and the number of letters sent to his home, it turned the Atlanta running back into a celebrity for the week. His name was popping up everywhere.
Now, nearly a month later, the buzz still surrounds Kamara wherever he goes.
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Geno Smith ready for college life at Bama
March, 16, 2012
3/16/12
3:40
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By
Edward Aschoff | ESPN.com
ATLANTA -- Geno Smith hasn't had much of a problem dealing with attention.
Whether it was being the nation's No. 2 cornerback in the 2012 class, according to ESPN recruiting services, consuming all the hype and excitement surrounding his Alabama commitment, or feeling the wrath of angry Twitter followers, the former Saint Pius X Catholic High (Atlanta) standout thinks he's handled things pretty well.
Of everything, the Twitter engagements were probably the thing that helped him the most when it came to dealing with pressure and negativity. What started out as fun when he was basically a free agent, turned into quite the ordeal at times when he committed to Alabama in August. He received his fair share of craziness through the Twittersphere.
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The hiring of Doug Nussmeier as the new offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama may not result in a direct philosophy change, but the last two recruiting classes show that the Crimson Tide may be looking to air it out more in the future.
Alabama has loaded up at wide receiver over the last two years, in part to the fact that the team lost three senior wide receivers, Brandon Gibson, Darius Hanks and Marquis Maze, from last year’s national championship team.
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The University of Alabama will make its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2006 when the Crimson Tide tips off against Creighton at 12:40 p.m. CT on Friday.
In 2006, Alabama won their first-round game over Marquette, but it’s going to take a strong defensive effort to slow down the Blue Jays and notch another victory. Here are three things that must happen in order for the Tide to get past the opening game:
Slow down McDermott
In 2006, Alabama won their first-round game over Marquette, but it’s going to take a strong defensive effort to slow down the Blue Jays and notch another victory. Here are three things that must happen in order for the Tide to get past the opening game:
Slow down McDermott
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Around the bases: Alabama 6, Samford 5
March, 14, 2012
3/14/12
10:51
PM ET
By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA. Ala. -- It certainly wasn’t the way anyone drew it up. Alabama was handed a win on a silver platter Wednesday night, scoring five runs in the bottom of the ninth against Samford for a comeback win, 6-5.
Alabama scored five runs on just two hits in the final frame -- one an infield single. Samford imploded, walking two batters, hitting another and committing a key error to lead to the game-tying and game-winning runs.
Alabama scored five runs on just two hits in the final frame -- one an infield single. Samford imploded, walking two batters, hitting another and committing a key error to lead to the game-tying and game-winning runs.
AP Photo/Charlie NeibergallCreighton coach Greg McDermott, right, and his son, Doug, will pose a challenge to Alabama in the second round of the NCAA tournament.TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Creighton may not jump off the NCAA tournament bracket, but the last name McDermott should. If not for the Bluejays' coach Greg McDermott, then because of his son, Doug.
The two have been a winning duo in the Missouri Valley Conference and finished 28-5 overall en route to a No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament. While Greg’s coaching record at Creighton -- 50-22 in two seasons -- speaks volumes, Doug’s game logs could fill a library.
The All-American is one of the best inside-out players in the country and averages 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. More than that, he shoots 61 percent and adds a couple of 3-pointers per game.
Recruiting continues to heat up for Raleigh, N.C., quarterback Connor Mitch.
Mitch, who has received offers from LSU, Tennessee and West Virginia in recent weeks, got a new offer from the University of Alabama on Tuesday. It was an offer that came directly from Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban.
“I was very excited to get an offer from a school like that. It’s just awesome,” Mitch said. “They put players in the NFL, and that’s what you look for. Coach Saban, you know he’s going to stay there. There’s no reason to leave that program to go somewhere else, so the coaching stability is good. They produce national championships, and it’s top-notch down there.”
Mitch, who has received offers from LSU, Tennessee and West Virginia in recent weeks, got a new offer from the University of Alabama on Tuesday. It was an offer that came directly from Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban.
“I was very excited to get an offer from a school like that. It’s just awesome,” Mitch said. “They put players in the NFL, and that’s what you look for. Coach Saban, you know he’s going to stay there. There’s no reason to leave that program to go somewhere else, so the coaching stability is good. They produce national championships, and it’s top-notch down there.”
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High school teammates looking at Tide
March, 13, 2012
3/13/12
10:30
AM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
MOBILE, Ala. -- The relationship began as a rivalry.
In middle school, Jason Smith and Carl Lee each played quarterback for opposing teams in different divisions. The two faced each other only when it was for the championship, and it looked destined to be that way through high school and beyond.
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Around the bases: UA 8, Southern Miss 3
March, 13, 2012
3/13/12
10:19
AM ET
By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Don’t jump to calling Alabama a sleeping giant, but on Tuesday night the Crimson Tide offense finally woke up. Nearing the eve of SEC play and facing a team that demolished them two weeks earlier, the Tide righted the ship with an offensive outburst.
Josh Rosecrans hit a pair of home runs and the Tide ran over Southern Miss, 8-3, at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The win improves UA’s record to 7-9 with one non-conference game remaining before traveling to Arkansas on Friday.
Coming into play against Southern Miss, Alabama has scored four or fewer runs nine times. When UA faced Southern Miss two weeks ago, the Tide mustered just two runs, losing 14-2.
With Rosecrans' effort and a solid outing from the bullpen, UA got its revenge.
Josh Rosecrans hit a pair of home runs and the Tide ran over Southern Miss, 8-3, at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The win improves UA’s record to 7-9 with one non-conference game remaining before traveling to Arkansas on Friday.
Coming into play against Southern Miss, Alabama has scored four or fewer runs nine times. When UA faced Southern Miss two weeks ago, the Tide mustered just two runs, losing 14-2.
With Rosecrans' effort and a solid outing from the bullpen, UA got its revenge.
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.