By Brett Hudson
After categorizing the yearly occurence as a “chore”, Alabama football coach Nick Saban released the depth chart for the opening of the 2013 season. Here it is in its entirety with some notes posted at the bottom.
Quarterback
1. (Sr.) AJ McCarron
2. (Jr.) Blake Sims
Running Back
1. (Soph.) T.J. Yeldon
2. (Jr.) Jalston Fowler
*3. (Soph.) Dee Hart
*3. (Fr.) Derrick Henry
*3. (Fr.) Altee Tenpennuy
Wide Receiver: X
1. (Soph.) Amari Cooper
2. (Jr.) DeAndrew White
3. (Fr.) Raheem Falkins
Wide Receiver: H
1. (Jr.) Christion Jones
2. (Fr.) Chris Black
Wide Receiver: Z
*1. (Sr.) Kevin Norwood
*1. (Sr.) Kenny Bell
2. (Fr.) Robert Foster
Tight End
1. (Jr.) Brian Vogler
*2. (Fr.) O.J. Howard
*2. (Fr.) Brandon Greene
H-Back
1. (Jr.) Jalston Fowler
2. (Jr.) Harrison Jones
Left Tackle
1. (Jr.) Cyrus Kouandjio
2. (Sr.) Kellen Williams
3. (Fr.) Grant Hill
Left Guard
1. (Soph.) Arie Kouandjio
*2. (Sr.) Kellen Williams
*2. (Soph.) Isaac Luatua
Center
1. (Soph.) Ryan Kelly
2. (Jr.) Chad Lindsay
Right Guard
1. (Sr.) Anthony Steen
2. (Fr.) Alphonse Taylor
Right Tackle
1. (Jr.) Austin Shepherd
2. (Jr.) Leon Brown
Defensive End
1. (Sr.) Ed Stinson
*2. (Fr.) A’Shawn Robinson
*2. (Soph.) LaMichael Fanning
Noseguard
1. (Sr.) Brandon Ivory
*2. (Soph.) Darren Lake
*2. (Fr.) Korren Kirven
Defensive End
1. (Jr.) Jeoffrey Pagan
*2. (Fr.) Dalvin Tomlinson
*2. (Fr.) Jonathan Allen
Sam Linebacker
1. (Jr.) Adrian Hubbard
2. (Soph.) Dillon Lee
Mike Linebacker
1. (Jr.) Trey Depriest
2. (Fr.) Reuben Foster
Will Linebacker
1. (Sr.) C.J. Mosley
*2. (Sr.) Tana Patrick
*2. (Soph.) Reggie Ragland
Jack Linebacker
*1. (Jr.) Xzavier Dickson
*1. (Soph.) Denzel Devall
Cornerback
1. (Sr.) Deion Belue
2. (Soph.) Bradley Sylve
Cornerback
1. (Sr.) John Fulton
2. (Soph.) Cyrus Jones
3. (Fr.) Maurice Smith
Strong Safety
1. (Jr.) Vinnie Sunseri
*2. (Soph.) Landon Collins
*2. (Jr.) Jarrick Williams
Free Safety
1. (Jr.) HaHa Clinton-Dix
2. (Sr.) Nick Perry
Kicker
1. (Sr.) Cade Foster
2. (Fr.) Adam Griffith
Punter
1. (Sr.) Cody Mandell
2. (Fr.) Adam Griffith
Holder
1. (Sr.) AJ McCarron
2. (Sr.) Vinnie Sunseri
Long Snapper
1. (Fr.) Cole Mazza
Punt Return
1. (Jr.) Christion Jones
2. (Soph.) Dee Hart
Kick Return
1. (Jr.) Christion Jones
2. (Sr.) Kevin Norwood
3. (Soph.) Cyrus Jones
4. (Jr.) DeAndrew White
Notes
– The topic of the day….
Kenyan Drake is not listed at the running back position. From third-most carries on the team in 2012 to absent on a 3-deep in 2013.
— Brett Hudson (@Brett_Hudson) August 26, 2013
Why this happened, there’s no telling. There remains this eerie feeling that the entire story has yet to come out, as if there is more to this than on-field performance. However, speculation is dangerous and time will surely tell.
– Despite a lack of explosion for the most part (with one key exception in the Ole Miss game), Christion Jones remains the No. 1 kick returner. He seems to be the best option out of those that took on the duties last year, and an entire year’s worth of fielded punts and kicks could do wonders for him.
– Jalston Fowler is a dangerous man. He could be the most versatile player on the team in that he could start games at both running back and H-Back if the coaching staff wanted it to be that way. He will surely be featured as both in some drives throughout the season, if not alternating between the two on back-to-back plays.
– How Alabama uses its two guys at the Jack Linebacker position, Xzavier Dickson and Denzell Devall, will be very interesting. Dickson can wreak havoc on a quarterback’s pocket in the blink of en eye, and Devall came on towards the end of last season a a fully-rounded linebacker, showing flashes of brilliance in pass coverage. The ability to stuff the run in any direction and gap on a consistent basis could swing the playing time balance in favor of one or the other if they separate themselves in that regard.
