Two-A-Day Practices Begin
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The University of Alabama football team held its first of two practices yesterday morning at 9:30 a.m. CT at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields, officially beginning two-a-days for fall practice. For the sixth practice of 28 the Tide worked outside in full pads in 80-plus degree temps and high humidity.
Injury-wise, cornerback Tony Brown did participate in drills although he wore a brace on his left shoulder. His injury was sustained in a collision with wide receiver Robert Foster (who is fine) on Sunday. Brown was able to use the arm a little better yesterday.
Another Tide cornerback, Marlon Humphrey, was again limited. Head coach Nick Saban says Humprey "will be out a few days" because of a pulled muscle.
One of Bama's wide receivers, Chris Black, is still battling an ankle injury and was once again limited in practice.
Finally, running back Bo Scarbrough is still recovering from a knee injury and was wearing a black, no-contact jersey. In fact, fortunately, Bo was the only injury wearing the black jersey.
The second practice of the day began just after 7:30 p.m. last evening. This practice was conducted in helmets and shoulder pads as NCAA rules don't allow full gear in both sessions during the two-a-days.
As far as the injured players, cornerback Marlon Humphrey seemed to be able to do a little more than in the morning session, and receiver Chris Black was able to catch a few passes.
Quarterbacks Jake Coker and Blake Barnett were getting the majority of the work and throwing some nice long balls.
It's back to a single practice today for the Tide, another two-a-day on Friday, and then the first intra-squad scrimmage of the fall is scheduled for the weekend.
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2016 University Of Alabama Football Commitments
This is the complete list of the 18 University of Alabama football commitments for 2016 class as of August 12, 2015. List drops from 19 to 18 because of the recent decommitment of CB Shyheim Carter.
- T.J. Simmons, WR (6' 2", 185 lbs), Clay-Chalkville High School, Pinson, Ala.*
- Deonte Brown, OL (6' 3", 330 lbs), Austin High, Decatur, Ala.*
- Riley Cole, LB (6' 3", 210lbs), Oneonta High Schol, Oneonta, Ala.*
- Quinnen Williams, DL (6' 4", 265 lbs), Wenonah High School, Birmingham, Ala.*
- Shawn Jennings S (6'2", 218 lbs.), Dadeville High School, Dadeville, Ala.*
- Chris Owens, OL (6' 3", 312 lbs), Lamar High, Arlington, Texas
- Raekwon Davis, DT (6' 7", 315 lbs), Meridian High, Meridian, Miss.
- Jonah Williams, OL (6' 5", 283 lbs), Folsom High, Folsom, Calif.
- Brendan Scales, TE (6' 4", 230 lbs), Lafayette, Ballwin, Mo.
- Joshua Perry, DB (6' 3", 190 lbs), Amite High, Amite, La.
- Kendell Jones, DT (6' 4", 360 lbs), Shoemaker High, Killeen, Texas
- Charles Baldwin, OL (6' 5", 305 lbs), ASA College, Brooklyn, N.Y.
- Jalen Hurts, QB (6' 2", 208lbs), Channelview High, Channelview, Texas
- Jaquan Yulee, LB (6' 0", 252 lbs), Indian River High, Chesapeake, Va.
- Eddy Pineiro, K (6' 1", 180 lbs), ASA College, Miami, Fla.
- Miller Forristall, TE (6' 5", 220lbs), Cartersville High School, Cartersville, Ga.
- Khalid Kareem, DE (6' 4", 260 lbs), Harrison High School, Farmington, Mich.
- B.J. Emmons, RB (5' 10", 232 lbs), Freedom High School, Morganton, N.C.
*In-state commitments
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ESPN Releases 1st Power Rankings For 2015
ESPN this week has released its first Power Rankings, with the Crimson Tide showing up at number five. Eight teams from the Southeastern Conference are in the Top 25. No teams from the ACC or Pac-12 made the top five.
Here is a look at the top 25 in ESPN's Power Rankings:
1. Ohio State
2. TCU
3. Auburn
4. Baylor
5. Alabama
6. Oregon
7. USC
8. Michigan State
9. Florida State
10. Georgia
11. UCLA
12. Notre Dame
13. Clemson
14. LSU
15. Ole Miss
16. Stanford
17. Arizona State
18. Arizona
19. Wisconsin
20. Georgia Tech
21. Oklahoma
22. Arkansas
23. Boise State
24. Tennessee
25. Texas A&M
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Bama's Korey Lovett Takes Singles Title
University of Alabama men's tennis player Korey Lovett took the singles title at the ITA Summer National Championships yesterday afternoon in Bloomington, Indiana. The win earns him a trip to the ITA All-American Championships at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma from October 8th to the 12th.
Highlighting Alabama’s eight participants, Lovett breezed through the opening rounds of the 128-man draw, picking up three consecutive straight-set victories to advance to the quarterfinals. There, Lovett battled it out with future teammate Grayson Goldin (FSU transfer) picking up a back-and-forth 6-4, 6-7, 1-0(14) victory to advance to the semifinals. Lovett picked up another hard-fought 5-7, 6-3, 1-0 (10) decision to advance to the finals, where he ultimately topped Valpo’s Jeffrey Schorsch by a final score of 7-5, 1-6, 1-0 (7) to claim the title.
The singles championship was nearly an all-Alabama final, as senior Becker O’Shaughnessey was edged in the semifinals in the third set tiebreaker, 3-6, 6-1, 1-0 (8). Incoming freshman Spencer Richey won three matches and fell just one victory short of reaching the quarterfinals.
Alabama had a pair of doubles teams reach the quarterfinals, as Lovett/O’Shaughnessey and Sam Edwards/Danny Kerznerman combined for three total victories for the Tide.
