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Alabama Football: Nick Saban Signs Trio of Lineman From Junior College
By
Walter Kirkwood
(Alabama Featured Columnist) on December 17, 2010
Alabama had a disappointing season and there is no doubt much of the trouble was rooted on both sides of the line.
The offensive and defensive line both failed to perform to the level that anyone has been accustomed to on a Nick Saban-coached team. No doubt this will bring a reaction from the top and part of that reaction was seen in the early signing period for junior college players.
Alabama signed three players, and as you can guess, they are lineman.
Fans got a bit of a surprise late Thursday with the commitment and signing of Aaron Douglas, a 6'6", 280-pound offensive tackle from Maryville, Tennessee.
Douglas signed with Tennessee as a tight end but grew into a tackle. He started at right tackle for the Vols in 2009 and earned freshman All-American honors. All things were not well with Douglas, however, even during the season. By the spring, he transferred out.
Douglas will not have to sit a year because he played a year at junior college. Some expect him to step right in at left tackle for Alabama, but I'm not convinced that's the case. What it does, however, is add major competition for the spot from someone with starting experience in the SEC.
This signing is NO DOUBT a direct response to Alabama's pathetic showing on the offensive line last year. Douglas will have two years' remaining eligibility.
The defensive line was also pathetic and Alabama resigned Quinton Dial from Pinson, Alabama. Dial is a massive, 6'6", 315-pound tackle/end prospect who will have three years to play two. Dial ballooned up to 345 pounds in junior college but has worked hard to get back into shape and should be ready to compete for a spot this spring.
Finally, Jessie Williams, one of the highest-ranked junior college players in America, signed on the dotted line. Williams, who hails from Australia, is 6'4" and 330 pounds. From the pictures, it's all muscle. Williams has two years available.
The signings add major competition this spring and it will force the other linemen to step up or become familiar with the pine. Alabama's line play was an embarrassment last year. The skill position players managed to cover it a good bit, but it was the worst performance since Mike Shula stalked the sidelines.
Count me as surprised that we ever saw that on a Nick Saban coached team.
Don't expect it to continue.
By
Walter Kirkwood
(Alabama Featured Columnist) on December 17, 2010
Alabama had a disappointing season and there is no doubt much of the trouble was rooted on both sides of the line.
The offensive and defensive line both failed to perform to the level that anyone has been accustomed to on a Nick Saban-coached team. No doubt this will bring a reaction from the top and part of that reaction was seen in the early signing period for junior college players.
Alabama signed three players, and as you can guess, they are lineman.
Fans got a bit of a surprise late Thursday with the commitment and signing of Aaron Douglas, a 6'6", 280-pound offensive tackle from Maryville, Tennessee.
Douglas signed with Tennessee as a tight end but grew into a tackle. He started at right tackle for the Vols in 2009 and earned freshman All-American honors. All things were not well with Douglas, however, even during the season. By the spring, he transferred out.
Douglas will not have to sit a year because he played a year at junior college. Some expect him to step right in at left tackle for Alabama, but I'm not convinced that's the case. What it does, however, is add major competition for the spot from someone with starting experience in the SEC.
This signing is NO DOUBT a direct response to Alabama's pathetic showing on the offensive line last year. Douglas will have two years' remaining eligibility.
The defensive line was also pathetic and Alabama resigned Quinton Dial from Pinson, Alabama. Dial is a massive, 6'6", 315-pound tackle/end prospect who will have three years to play two. Dial ballooned up to 345 pounds in junior college but has worked hard to get back into shape and should be ready to compete for a spot this spring.
Finally, Jessie Williams, one of the highest-ranked junior college players in America, signed on the dotted line. Williams, who hails from Australia, is 6'4" and 330 pounds. From the pictures, it's all muscle. Williams has two years available.
The signings add major competition this spring and it will force the other linemen to step up or become familiar with the pine. Alabama's line play was an embarrassment last year. The skill position players managed to cover it a good bit, but it was the worst performance since Mike Shula stalked the sidelines.
Count me as surprised that we ever saw that on a Nick Saban coached team.
Don't expect it to continue.
