Email
PW
sign up!

You Are Here

GET BAMA GEAR!
+ TF Logo Store
+ S.N.A.S.S. GEAR
+ TideFanStore.com

SPORTS BOARDS
+ Football
+ Basketball
+ Recruiting
+ Women's Sports
+ Baseball
+ Pro Sports
+ HighSchoolSports

OTHER BOARDS
+ Non-Sports
+ The BookEnds
+ Game Videos
+ Ticket Swap
+ Site Troubleshoot
+ MDB Alumni
+ PrayerRequests
+ Job Network
+ Free Signup

OTHER FEATURES
+ Alabama Weekly
+ Affiliates
+ Fan Interaction
+ Fan Poll
+ Features
+ Foundations
+ Links
+ Online Store
+ Recruiting
+ Sports Headlines
+ UA Sports Info

ABOUT TIDEFANS

ADVERTISE HERE!

2004 RECRUITING WRAPUP:
BAMA FILLS MOST NEEDS
LINEBACKERS
by Jess Nicholas
February 9, 2004

Six months ago, when Alabama coaches were about to embark on their first recruiting season as a group, few Alabama fans believed the Tide’s final haul would resemble anything other than what its last two seasons had looked like – a lot of solid players surrounded by a host of lesser-known prospects who would need substantial coaching to reach their college potential.

Instead, Mike Shula delivered a class that ranks solidly within the nation’s top 15 recruiting classes, and fills most of the needs from which probation-riddled Alabama suffers. Grouping the signees by their positions, we take a look at how the Tide fared in the 2003-04 recruiting game.

Get Your Bama Gear Here!

Save This	Email This
	Discuss This
Aim This Story

LINEBACKERS

Linebackers:
Curtis Dawson
Marcel Stamps

Overall talent level: B
Success in filling needs: B

Linebacker was not a pressing need for Alabama this year, although much of that assumption depends on how well Demarcus Waldrop and Earnest Nance develop over the coming year.

As it is, Alabama elected to sign only one true linebacker, Curtis Dawson, who could be ticketed for defensive end or tackle duty somewhere down the road. Dawson has a stocky build – 6’1”, 255 – and probably doesn’t have the mobility or raw speed to play the outside. But as a run stuffer, Dawson is a weapon. He is also qualified.

Marcel Stamps may actually get his first look at wide receiver. But it is his defensive work in high school that really drew the oohs and ahhs from recruiting observers. Whereas Ezekiel Knight has an offensive mindset, Stamps has a defensive mindset. Stamps is a probable grayshirt candidate, and Alabama will have to be careful not to lose him the second time around as they did defensive end Chris Browder, who signed with Auburn on Feb. 4.

The overall impression here is that Alabama got a pair of good players, which is enough to fill their limited needs this year.

MORE RECRUITING ANALYSIS (CLICK LINKS)