ESPN &nsbp;

Editor's Note: ESPN.com's Mel Kiper Jr. is previewing the 2003 college football season by taking a team-by-team look at the six major conferences. Following is the SEC West.

Alabama
This is a difficult team to get a feel for because of the problems it has encountered. Mike Shula has taken over after Mike Price lasted not much longer than spring practice, and the situation has a grab-bag feel to it. Should this team be evaluated based on what they did with Price in the spring or by what Shula has done in the past?

Quarterback Brodie Croyle is an outstanding sophomore and everything revolves around him and running back Shaud Williams. Croyle completed only 48.8 percent of his passes last season but should dramatically improve that number, while Williams averaged 7.1 yards per carry and was the Crimson Tide's leading rusher with 921 yards after transferring from Texas Tech.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider