Blog: Latest Bama News 12/23/14
- Thread starter kyallie
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Alabama instant-impact commit: Calvin Ridley-sds
It’s not often true freshman see the field with the starting lineup in Tuscaloosa, but incoming five-star wideout Calvin Ridley has that ability.
It helps that Alabama’s losing the SEC’s most dynmaic offensive player, Amari Cooper, to the NFL Draft. The Heisman finalist who caught 115 pass for 1,656 yards and 14 touchdowns this season is a projected lottery pick who leaves a massive hole in Lane Kiffin’s balanced, up-tempo attack.
Most freshmen with the Crimson Tide redshirt and take a year or two to learn scheme and technique from veterans at their respective positions who are often all-conference candidates, but Ridley won’t get that luxury.
He’ll compete alongside sophomore ArDarius Stewart for snaps since Alabama loses 171 catches (out of the team’s 268 total) from just Cooper, DeAndrew White and Christion Jones.
Ridley, nicknamed Showtime, packs a play-making South Florida pedigree into a 6-foot, 170-pound frame and possesses above-average hands with top-end speed. He earned overall MVP honors at Nike’s ‘The Opening’ football camp over the summer, months after committing to Mario Cristobal and Billy Napier.
Paired with incoming five-star quarterback Blake Barnett, Alabama fans are looking at the future of the Crimson Tide offense.
Ridley, who visited Florida State over the weekend, played only three games this season due to age restrictions. He celebrated his 20th birthday on Saturday.
In November, Alabama reached out to Ridley’s brother, Cavin, and offered the 2016 four-star receiver a scholarship.
Train, Fitz and the Tantrums headline Sugar Bowl’s Fan Fest-sds
The Sugar Bowl announced its Fan Fest schedule of interactive events and musical performances taking place in New Orleans leading up to Alabama vs Ohio State on Jan. 1 (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
- Indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums will take the main stage on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 7:15 p.m. (all times ET).
- Three-time Grammy Award-winning group Train will headline the festivities on New Year’s Eve starting at 7:15 p.m.
- Alabama Pep Rally: Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 3:00 p.m.
- Ohio State Pep Rally: Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 4:00 p.m.
Additionally, members of the 2014 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team will be recognized on the Fan Fest stage on Dec. 31 and at halftime of playoff semifinal.
Alabama Football @AlabamaFTBL 52s53 seconds ago Blake Sims is featured on this week's cover of @SInow. Pick up your copy beginning tomorrow! #RollTide
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