Notebook: UA stars impress at pro day
March, 7, 2012
3/07/12
4:40
PM ET
By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- You’ll have to excuse Dont’a Hightower if he doesn’t revel too much in his success at Alabama’s pro day on Wednesday. For the projected first-round selection, there’s still one more workout to go.
Hightower will participate in another pro day with teammates Trent Richardson, Mark Barron and Courtney Upshaw on March 29, tentatively scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. CT. He went through only a few of the drills on Wednesday, focusing on position workouts in front of the assembled crowd of NFL personnel. He turned in a 33-inch vertical jump and 9-foot, 9-inch broad jump.
Hightower said he has lost 10 pounds in an effort to trim down to the prototypical linebacker size. In Tuscaloosa, he said he wanted to show he could do more than put his hand on the ground and rush the quarterback.
Hightower will participate in another pro day with teammates Trent Richardson, Mark Barron and Courtney Upshaw on March 29, tentatively scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. CT. He went through only a few of the drills on Wednesday, focusing on position workouts in front of the assembled crowd of NFL personnel. He turned in a 33-inch vertical jump and 9-foot, 9-inch broad jump.
Hightower said he has lost 10 pounds in an effort to trim down to the prototypical linebacker size. In Tuscaloosa, he said he wanted to show he could do more than put his hand on the ground and rush the quarterback.
Former Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick talks to TideNation after working out at the Crimson Tide's pro day on Wednesday.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Former University of Alabama defensive back DeQuan Menzie may have slipped a round or two in April’s draft after a poor showing at the NFL combine last month when he ran a disappointing 4.74 in the 40-yard dash.
On Wednesday, he was back in the familiar confines of Tuscaloosa, Ala., looking to improve his draft stock at the Crimson Tide’s pro day. With former teammates, coaches and NFL personnel looking on, Menzie ran a 4.66, shaving close to a full second off his last clocked time.
“I think I did better,” Menzie said. “At the combine, I wasn’t relaxed. I was filled with so much pressure. Here, I just felt like I was at home, and I could just release all of the pressure and run my best 40.”
Although it may not have been what Menzie or the NFL scouts were looking for, his showing was still an improvement from how he ran a couple weeks ago.
On Wednesday, he was back in the familiar confines of Tuscaloosa, Ala., looking to improve his draft stock at the Crimson Tide’s pro day. With former teammates, coaches and NFL personnel looking on, Menzie ran a 4.66, shaving close to a full second off his last clocked time.
“I think I did better,” Menzie said. “At the combine, I wasn’t relaxed. I was filled with so much pressure. Here, I just felt like I was at home, and I could just release all of the pressure and run my best 40.”
Although it may not have been what Menzie or the NFL scouts were looking for, his showing was still an improvement from how he ran a couple weeks ago.
ESPN TideNation writers Alex Scarborough and Greg Ostendorf break down the University of Alabama's pro day on Wednesday.
TideNation's Alex Scarborough and Greg Ostendorf live blogged from Alabama's pro day on Wednesday.
1:53 p.m. - Looks like pro day is wrapping up. Stay tuned to TideNation for player reaction and analysis. And a quick reminder: RB Trent Richardson, SS Mark Barron and LB Courtney Upshaw will hold their pro day on March 29 in Tuscaloosa. ESPN3 will have a live broadcast (time to be determined).
1:31 p.m. - CB Dre Kirkpatrick on pro day meeting his expectations: "It was more up-tempo. I wanted to go out and handle any challenge that they throw your way."
1:24 p.m. - LB Dont'a Hightower's numbers from today: vertical jump (33 inches), broad jump (9 feet, 9 inches); 3-cone drill (4.71); shuttle (7.53).
1:17 p.m. - RB Eddie Lacy is here today and is in a protective boot. Lacy is expected to miss all of spring practice.
1:53 p.m. - Looks like pro day is wrapping up. Stay tuned to TideNation for player reaction and analysis. And a quick reminder: RB Trent Richardson, SS Mark Barron and LB Courtney Upshaw will hold their pro day on March 29 in Tuscaloosa. ESPN3 will have a live broadcast (time to be determined).
1:31 p.m. - CB Dre Kirkpatrick on pro day meeting his expectations: "It was more up-tempo. I wanted to go out and handle any challenge that they throw your way."
1:24 p.m. - LB Dont'a Hightower's numbers from today: vertical jump (33 inches), broad jump (9 feet, 9 inches); 3-cone drill (4.71); shuttle (7.53).
1:17 p.m. - RB Eddie Lacy is here today and is in a protective boot. Lacy is expected to miss all of spring practice.
Note: To watch Alabama's pro day live online (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m CT), click here.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- It's a day many former University of Alabama football players have had circled on their calendars for months: pro day.
Only a select few are first-round locks for the NFL draft, so for most college athletes, the chance to turn the heads of professional scouts occurs on campus in March. For these five former players, Alabama's pro day will be a proving ground that could land them on an NFL roster:
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- It's a day many former University of Alabama football players have had circled on their calendars for months: pro day.
Only a select few are first-round locks for the NFL draft, so for most college athletes, the chance to turn the heads of professional scouts occurs on campus in March. For these five former players, Alabama's pro day will be a proving ground that could land them on an NFL roster:
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MOBILE, Ala. -- Although he’s just a sophomore, Tre Williams gets a lot of the attention at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile, and for good reason. He already has four offers from high-profile schools, including the University of Alabama.
Soon, he won’t be the only 2014 prospect to be getting recognition from the school.
St. Paul’s offensive lineman Josh Casher has already been receiving plenty of interest from Alabama, Auburn and LSU, among others. He doesn’t have any offers yet, but it should only be a matter of time before he receives his first.
Soon, he won’t be the only 2014 prospect to be getting recognition from the school.
St. Paul’s offensive lineman Josh Casher has already been receiving plenty of interest from Alabama, Auburn and LSU, among others. He doesn’t have any offers yet, but it should only be a matter of time before he receives his first.
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Green, Releford named to All-SEC team
March, 6, 2012
3/06/12
3:03
PM ET
By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Two University of Alabama basketball players were honored with second team All-SEC selections on Tuesday. Senior forward JaMychal Green and sophomore point guard Trevor Releford were selected for their play.
Green leads the Tide with 13.8 points per game, in addition to hauling in 7.3 rebounds per game. Releford, who has started 27 of 30 games, averages 12 points and 2.8 assists per game. He leads the SEC in steals with 61.
No freshmen made the All-SEC freshmen team despite the contributions of Levi Randolph and Trevor Lacey, who each averaged more than 24 minutes per game.
Green leads the Tide with 13.8 points per game, in addition to hauling in 7.3 rebounds per game. Releford, who has started 27 of 30 games, averages 12 points and 2.8 assists per game. He leads the SEC in steals with 61.
No freshmen made the All-SEC freshmen team despite the contributions of Levi Randolph and Trevor Lacey, who each averaged more than 24 minutes per game.
Elite 2014 linebacker Tre Williams (Mobile, Ala./St. Paul’s) talked with TideNation about the Nike SPARQ combine in Mobile, his early offers and how he could see himself playing for Alabama’s defense one day.
It’s rare for a player from the state of Alabama to not want to attend either of the premier in-state programs, Alabama or Auburn, but that’s the case for Mobile running back Jordan Huff.
“Alabama’s really just overstocked right now, and Auburn’s just taking too long,” Huff said. “They called me last-minute on everything, so I thought I might as well go to schools that I’m interested in and who are also interested in me.”
Huff was enjoying a big junior year for St. Paul’s Episcopal School last fall before he tore his ACL in a regular season game against Gulf Shores. The injury has set back his recruitment as most schools want to see him healthy again before offering a scholarship.
“Alabama’s really just overstocked right now, and Auburn’s just taking too long,” Huff said. “They called me last-minute on everything, so I thought I might as well go to schools that I’m interested in and who are also interested in me.”
Huff was enjoying a big junior year for St. Paul’s Episcopal School last fall before he tore his ACL in a regular season game against Gulf Shores. The injury has set back his recruitment as most schools want to see him healthy again before offering a scholarship.
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2013 TE prospect O.J. Howard, an Alabama commit, talks about his performance at Mobile's NFSC.
The University of Alabama will begin postseason play on Thursday, facing South Carolina in the opening round of the SEC Tournament. On Monday's SEC teleconference, coaches from both schools talked about the challenges ahead.
Anthony Grant, Alabama
On facing South Carolina: "They pose us some problems with their variety of defenses they throw at you. They play really hard. They have the ability to make shots at multiple positions. They're a very athletic team. We understand we have a very challenging game ahead of us."
Anthony Grant, Alabama
On facing South Carolina: "They pose us some problems with their variety of defenses they throw at you. They play really hard. They have the ability to make shots at multiple positions. They're a very athletic team. We understand we have a very challenging game ahead of us."
DB Marvin stands out at SPARQ combine 
March, 5, 2012
3/05/12
10:15
AM ET
By
Greg Ostendorf | ESPN.com
MOBILE, Ala. -- Fort Walton Beach, Fla., defensive back John Marvin is hoping to see his recruitment take off soon, and he may have expedited the process on Sunday with an impressive performance at Mobile’s Nike Football SPARQ Combine.
Marvin ran a 4.66 40-yard dash, a 4.25 shuttle, threw the power ball 33 feet and posted a 36.3-inch vertical jump for a combined overall score of 96.72, the third-highest score at the event among the 2012 prospects.
“This is my first time doing this,” Marvin said. “I’ve heard that coaches look at SPARQ ratings, and on questionnaires, they ask about it, so now I’ll be able to tell them whenever they ask me what my SPARQ rating is. Hopefully, I’ll get some more offers and more interest from it.”
Marvin ran a 4.66 40-yard dash, a 4.25 shuttle, threw the power ball 33 feet and posted a 36.3-inch vertical jump for a combined overall score of 96.72, the third-highest score at the event among the 2012 prospects.
“This is my first time doing this,” Marvin said. “I’ve heard that coaches look at SPARQ ratings, and on questionnaires, they ask about it, so now I’ll be able to tell them whenever they ask me what my SPARQ rating is. Hopefully, I’ll get some more offers and more interest from it.”
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Tide make move in latest Bracketology
March, 5, 2012
3/05/12
9:25
AM ET
By
Alex Scarborough | ESPN.com
AP Photo/Michelle Lepianka CarterJoe Lunardi's latest Bracketology has Alabama as a No. 8 seed. Joe Lunardi's latest round of Bracketology puts the Tide in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 8 seed, up two from last week and facing Southern Miss in the first round of the Midwest Division in Omaha, Nebraska: Link
Citing its poor offense and stellar defense, Jay Bilas has Alabama down one spot in his top 50: Link (Insider)
ESPN's BPI (Basketball Power Index) ranks Alabama No. 5 overall: Link
The SEC Tournament field is set: Link
Jason King has Alabama going 0-fer in his All-SEC squad: Link
The University of Georgia is hoping to lock down a stellar defensive back class in the 2013 recruiting cycle, and with only four cornerbacks and four safeties set to return after this year, whomever the Bulldogs sign will have to be ready to play immediately. That is exactly what the coaches told Brendan Langley (Marietta, Ga./Kell) during his time Saturday in Athens for Very Important Dawg Day.
"This visit to Georgia was definitely a lot more compelling than before, and they brought me in close and spent a lot of time breaking things down," Langley said. "I could tell the difference visiting with an offer. Coach [Will] Friend had offensive linemen trying to contact him all day and he was with me the entire time, so that meant a lot."
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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.