Courtesy of TuscaloosaNews.com

Coffee gets the starting nod

By Christopher Walsh Sports Writer

Published: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Monday, August 25, 2008 at 11:06 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama junior Glen Coffee topped the depth chart at running back Monday, and hopes to go into the season as the Crimson Tide's every-down ballcarrier.

'It's going to be a whole different season,' Coffee said. 'I don't like talking about it, but you're going to see things, I plan to do things that I haven't done before on the college level.'

Behind Coffee was true freshman Mark Ingram and/or sophomore Terry Grant (both on the second unit for now), and junior Roy Upchurch. Grant was limited by a shin splint during fall camp.

'Mark Ingram has probably been the surprise of all the young players in terms of his maturity as a player,' Coach Nick Saban said. 'He's elusive. He has speed but he has power and tremendous toughness and he's a good receiver so he's a very, very good all-around guy,

'Glen Coffee is ‘Mr. Consistency' for us.'

Coffee was second in team rushing last season, with 545 yards on 129 carries, behind Grant (891 yards, 180 carries), but also missed four games due to the textbook disbursement scandal.

Nevertheless, all four players figure to get their share of handoffs.

'It not often you get to sub in and out and there's not a drop-off,' senior center Antoine Caldwell said. 'Glen's just is as good as Roy, Roy's just as good as Mark, Mark's as good as Terry. That's been a huge plus with this football team.'

Returning players accounted for 95.5 percent of Alabama's rushing yards last season, although Jonathan Lowe was not on the roster distributed to media Monday (note: it did not include all walk-on players).

Saban announced that sophomore quarterback Nick Fanuzzi will transfer.

'Nick is a fine young man, did an outstanding job here for us,' the coach said. 'We certainly hate to see him leave the program because every characteristic, every value that we try to instill in the program, he certainly represents. Great team player and did a really good job here, and we're sorry to see him go. But at the same time, we wish him well and we will help him every way that we can get some place where he feels he has a better opportunity to compete.'

Fanuzzi played one game (Western Carolina, 2007), but did not attempt a pass. His departure leaves true freshman Star Jackson and walk-on Thomas Darrah competing for the No. 3 job.

Although Alabama has three true freshmen offensive lineman on the depth chart, chances are if a tackle sustains an injury against Clemson that junior left guard Mike Johnson would shift over and Brian Motley enter the game.

'We're really impressed with the development of the young players but to throw them in the frying pan right now, we might be better served,' Saban said. 'Motley has made really good progress, especially since we've kind of been playing him at guard rather than center. So that's been helpful to him. David Ross has also done a good job at right guard.'

Barrett Jones is the backup left tackle ahead of Tyler Love, and John Michael Boswell is the second-team right tackle.

'BJ is a real good athlete, smaller guy, moves real well,' Caldwell said. 'Boswell is more your pound guy. Tyler Love is definitely probably the smartest out of the group.'

Tide-bits

Saban considers junior end Lorenzo Washington to essentially be a starter: 'I think it's more natural for him to play there, and I certainly think that with those three experienced guys at the defensive end potions improves our athleticism at that position. Lorenzo did a great job for us at nose and he's not a natural nose, that's not his natural position.'

As expected sophomore linebacker Charlie Higgenbotham (groin) returned to practice.

Junior Mike McCoy (6-2, 205 pounds) tops the depth chart at both the 'Z' wideout position and the slot in three-receiver formation. 'Usually it's a small guy who's really fast,' senior quarterback John Parker Wilson said. 'Mike has great athleticism, he can really makes the moves. I'm just so comfortable throwing him the ball.'

e_SClB

Senior receiver Will Oakley, who missed fall camp with a stress fracture, was not listed on the depth chart. However, sophomore Darius Hanks, who has spent the past few days wearing the number of a Clemson player, is third at slot.