Alabama Crimson Tide

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -– Team Nitro and Team Highlight took to the fields at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports on Monday for Day 1 of practice for Friday’s Under Armour All-America Game (5 p.m. ET, ESPN). Two powerhouse programs in the Southeastern Conference look to battle it out for one of the standout running backs, and one of the top uncommitted offensive linemen is out with an injury.

Tide and Dawgs at top for RB Kamara

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

The most experienced unit returning from the University of Alabama’s national championship squad a year ago is the offensive line. However, the unit is likely to lose at least three starters after this season. With the Tide signing just two offensive lineman in 2012, the opportunity is there for a player to come in and make an early impact in this year’s class. Alabama already has three commitments on the line: Bradley Bozeman, Andy Dodd and Grant Hill. All three possess the ability to play either right tackle or guard, but none of them are ideal for the left tackle spot. The staff is still looking for that prototype left tackle, and it could also add a center in this class. Expect the class to have at least five, if not six offensive linemen when it’s all said and done.

Bradley Bozeman - Roanoke, Ala.

Bozeman, a native of Alabama, has been all Crimson Tide since the recruiting process began. He became the first member of the Tide’s 2013 class when he committed last June, and he’s taken an active role in trying to bring in other recruits. At 6-foot-5, he has the size to play tackle, and UA head coach Nick Saban told Bozeman he’d like to start him at right tackle when he gets to Tuscaloosa. He’s lost close to 20 pounds since his junior season ended, and he’s a step quicker as a result of it. At the Atlanta NFTC in April, Bozeman only got beat once in the one-on-ones and proved to be one of the top offensive linemen at the camp.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider

Over the weekend, ESPNU 150 Watch List offensive lineman Tyrone Crowder competed in the Nike Football SPARQ Combine in Charlotte where he ran a 5.44 40-yard dash, jumped 25.6 inches in the vertical and threw the power ball 36 feet.

When it comes to recruiting, Crowder has 14 scholarship offers from some of the elite programs in the country including Alabama, Florida State, Georgia and Tennessee.

“Everything is kind of even,” Crowder said. “I’m going to take some visits to schools before I narrow it down.”

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider