JessN: 2009 PREVIEWS: Which freshmen will play?

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2009 PREVIEWS: Which freshmen will play?
Jess Nicholas
August 19, 2009

Here's a look at the incoming freshmen and transfer signees on the 2009 Alabama football team, and a quick assessment of which will and won't play this upcoming season:

Name	Pos	Ht	Wt	40time	NARCAS rating
Will definitely play
1. James Carpenter	OL	6-5	310	5.2	10
As a junior college signee, Carpenter wasn’t signed to redshirt. He subsequently won the starting left tackle job in the spring and is expected to either hold onto it or move to right guard or center if fellow signee D.J. Fluker proves to be the real deal. Carpenter is about as much of a lock as anyone on this list. Only a camp injury would seem to endanger his chances of playing.
Will almost certainly play
2. Nico Johnson	LB	6-3	235	4.7	10
With the transfer of Charlie Higgenbotham, the early graduation of Charlie Kirschman and the injury to Jennings Hester, Alabama needs a linebacker who can compete with sophomore Chris Jordan for the backup job to Dont a Hightower and Rolando McClain. Johnson has drawn raves from campus observers for arriving in top physical condition, and there’s no doubting his resume. Jordan was a surprise player from game one forward in 2008, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see Johnson get early minutes, either. He can play in or out but looks to be the heir apparent to McClain at middle linebacker.
3. Dre Kirkpatrick	CB	6-2	185	4.5	10
Alabama has depth issues at cornerback and safety, and Kirkpatrick is a prospect at both positions. Marquis Johnson is the only player Alabama coaches apparently trust to back up Javier Arenas and Kareem Jackson (Chris Rogers seems to be a special teams player only), and with the departure of Alonzo Lawrence, Alabama will need Kirkpatrick to step up. He’ll essentially be competing with converted receiver B.J. Scott for the position, but his ability to freestyle at safety makes him a good bet to get some snaps at the “star” safety position and dimeback.
Will probably play
4. Trent Richardson	RB	5-11	225	4.5	10
Most fans consider Richardson a much stronger lock than this, and potentially the starter at running back. His chances surely weren’t hurt when fellow signee Jermaine Preyear was dismissed and redshirt freshman Ivan Matchett’s career was prematurely ended by a medical condition. Still, Alabama has at least four quality backs on the roster that are veterans of this offense. Mark Ingram and Roy Upchurch figure to be competing for the starting job, while Terry Grant will play a supporting role and Jeramie Griffin figures in the mix as a situational back. If Ingram and Upchurch stay healthy, Richardson’s top-out point is probably third team this year – and he’s got to beat out fellow signee Eddie Lacy to do it. Richardson certainly passes the eye test, but Alabama has a reputation for redshirting top running backs (see: Alexander, Shaun), so while all signs point to him playing, it’s not a guarantee.
5. D.J. Fluker	OL	6-7	320	5	10
Again, Fluker is a player that has been penciled into a starting job by many fans without ever going through a week of camp. Fluker must go through James Carpenter at left tackle (Drew Davis’ job at right tackle is about as safe as they come), and it would be unwise to discount the value of the experience Carpenter got in spring practice. However, Fluker should get some playing time as the swing tackle. While Tyler Love was improved in the spring, he has been hurt and Fluker would give him a run for his money at 100 percent, anyway. And if it’s possible, Fluker may be under-measured at 6’7”, 320.
6. Kerry Murphy	DL	6-4	315	4.9	10
This was a mortal lock until last week, when Murphy’s brother was tragically murdered and the nosetackle prospect left the team temporarily to tend to his family. Murphy plays a position of depth – he’s behind Terrence Cody and Josh Chapman on the depth chart – but he’s also been out of high school two years and the clock is ticking. Murphy had a solid spring practice and should compete with Chapman for the starting job in 2010. Here’s hoping for the best for Murphy and his family.
7. Michael Bowman	WR	6-4	215	4.6	9.9
At least one of the freshmen receiver signees has to play, given that Chris Jackson transferred over the offseason and the Tide is short one player in the rotation (unless Brandon Gibson improves about 200 percent from his spring efforts). The two most likely names are Michael Bowman and Kenny Bell, and Bowman gets the slight nod due to his size and ability to play more than just the slot position, which currently has a couple of different options. Bowman could be the player Alabama has been looking for to step up opposite Julio Jones.
On the bubble
8. Kenny Bell	WR	6-1	170	4.4	9.9
If Bowman doesn’t play, Bell probably will. Bell has added value given his top-level speed, which could make him effective as a kick returner or special teams gunner. On the flip side, he plays a position (slot receiver) that already has a couple of players, Darius Hanks and Marquis Maze, who figure to see the field before he does (although Maze plays more flanker than slot). If there were a category between the bubble and the group of players listed above, Bell would be there.
9. Tana Patrick	LB	6-3	235	4.5	10
There’s little doubting Patrick’s talent; his problem is simply a numbers game. Essentially, he’s in a battle with Nico Johnson to see who will be the other reserve linebacker along with Chris Jordan.
10. Chance Warmack	OL	6-3	330	5.5	10
Warmack would be a near-certain redshirt had it not been for the fact that he entered school early and went through spring practice. As such, he got a jump start on the rest of the incoming linemen and was one of the players in competition with Brian Motley for the starting right guard position. Motley held him off, however, and if Fluker wins the left tackle job, it will likely push James Carpenter inside and probably knock Warmack out of playing time in the process.
11. A.J. McCarron	QB	6-4	185	4.9	10
It’s a good bet that not many Alabama fans are expecting A.J. McCarron to play, and if Greg McElroy stays healthy, he probably won’t. The fact is, however, that neither Star Jackson nor Thomas Darrah looked sharp in spring work, and if Alabama were to lose McElroy for a long period of time, expect the redshirt to come off McCarron. McCarron’s playing time mainly rests on what happens to others.
12. Chris Bonds	DE	6-4	270	4.7	9.9
The numbers may hold Bonds off the field, but that could be the only thing to do it. The biggest question with Bonds has always been his health. Had he been completely healthy as a senior, he would have been even more highly ranked than he was, and Alabama fans would be frothing at the mouth to watch his progress. If Bonds is healthy, what separates him from Ed Stinson and others is that he’s got the size necessary to play right now. There are plenty of talented players ahead of him, but keeping Bonds off the field may be a tall order.
13. Rod Woodson	SS	5-11	210	4.5	10
There’s no doubting Woodson’s talent, but there’s also no doubting the fact that Alabama is flush with strong safeties at the moment and really needs a free safety to step up. Woodson’s path to playing time will depend on a couple of things, the first being how well he takes to special teams work. The other is the development of Mark Barron. If Barron continues to get better, it’s hard to see a scenario that finds Woodson playing a bunch of snaps in the 2009 secondary.
Will probably redshirt
14. Ed Stinson	DE	6-4	230	4.7	9.9
Stinson has the speed Alabama needs off the corner, but not the size (yet). The saving grace for Stinson is that Alabama will try several players at rush end and Jack this fall in an effort to get a better pass rush. He’ll need to make an early impression.
15. William Ming	DE	6-5	260	4.7	9.9
Alabama recruited a lot of defensive linemen for 2009 and only so many can get on the field early on. Ming is a motor-intensive player and would make an excellent candidate for a redshirt to build bulk.
16. Kevin Norwood	WR	6-2	185	4.5	9.9
Norwood could probably go in the group above until his battle with Bowman, Bell and Kendall Kelly finally shakes out. Norwood lands here primarily because he’s been hit with the “athlete” tag and needs to concentrate on receiver instead of playing both receiver and safety. A possible special teams assignment could burn the redshirt, though.
17. Eddie Lacy	RB	6-0	210	4.4	9.8
Simply put, there just isn’t enough room, particularly if fellow signee Trent Richardson grabs playing time. There’s a chance one true freshman running back could displace Ingram and Upchurch, but the chance of two doing it is virtually nil and would depend on an injury to get there.
18. Brandon Moore	DL	6-5	315	5.2	9.8
Moore could feasibly get into the discussion for playing time if Kerry Murphy’s family situation takes awhile to resolve. If Murphy is available, however, Moore simply has too many people in front of him in 2009.
19. Darrington Sentimore	6-3	275	4.8		9.7
This is a tough one, and Sentimore could find playing time if he pushes Brandon Deaderick enough. The third-teamer at this slot in 2008, Milton Talbert, played a good bit, and Sentimore is thought to have a lot more upside than Talbert.
20. Jonathan Atchison	LB	6-3	210	4.6	9.7
Atchison could be a fixture on special teams if he catches enough eyes during fall camp. But with the Alabama coaches building such a stout depth chart, talented players like Atchison may not have an entry point into that chart at the moment.
21. Anthony Steen	OL	6-2	295	5.2	9.7
This one could get interesting. Steen drew raves from many in recruiting, who claimed the Mississippi prep star was underrated and would compete for early playing time. Practice observers have already mentioned his name as a player to watch. With the numbers ahead of him, the best bet is that Steen will redshirt, but look for him to compete for a starting job as early as 2010.
22. Kendall Kelly	WR	6-4	210	4.5	9.7
Kelly finds himself in the same boat as Norwood, competing for what amounts to one position against a couple of players who have an advantage in both speed and health. Kelly’s very arrival in fall camp was up in the air due to injuries suffered during his senior season in high school, and his very presence is a bonus. He certainly has the size and tools to play as a freshman, but he’ll need to make an early move.
23. Mike Morrow	FB	6-1	240	4.7	9.7
Again, this one could get interesting. It depends on how much Alabama wants to use a fullback, and how the coaches feel about continuing to use Baron Huber in that role. Morrow was one of the incoming players Tuscaloosa observers most consistently raved about concerning build and “look” late this summer and into the first few days of camp. If Morrow wins time at fullback in 2009, he’ll effectively alter the look of the entire Alabama offense, which recently has been geared towards the two-tight-end look.
Won’t play/will redshirt
24. Quinton Dial	DL	6-3	310	5.2	9.9
Dial did not qualify and will begin his career in junior college.
25. Petey Smith	LB	6-0	250	4.7	9.6
To give you an idea of just how much talent Alabama is bringing in these days, Smith is grayshirting.
26. Jermaine Preyear	RB	5-11	200	4.5	9.6
Preyear was a grayshirt coming into this year, and went through spring practice with the team. But he violated team rules and was removed from the roster, and will not be returning.
27. Kellen Williams	OL	6-4	295	5.3	9.5
Williams is injured now and will either grayshirt in 2009, or come in when the rosters expand later on in camp. If he does the latter, he will almost certainly redshirt.
28. Anthony Orr	DE	6-4	260	4.9	9.4
Orr will grayshirt and join the team in the spring.
29. Darius McKeller	OL	6-6	280	5.3	9.2
McKeller will grayshirt and join the team in the spring.