Saban 'proud’ how players persevered during camp

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama football team and head coach Nick Saban completed the final practice of fall camp Tuesday afternoon at the Thomas-Drew practice facility. The practice was the 20th session over a 16-day period, which saw record heat scorch Tuscaloosa.

“I’m very pleased and proud of the players and the way they persevered a very difficult situation," Saban said. “I hope these lessons of overcoming adversity is something they will certainly use in the coming challenges that we have."

The start of classes today signals the end of camp as the players start to take on their normal class load. Saban said the team’s meeting time would be a little more limited now.

He said they will focus on fundamentals and unique looks from different future opponents over the next two or three days.

“This week we’ll clean up on some things that we haven’t seen from each other, and some different things we’ll see from various opponents, which we’ll start to do tomorrow," he said.

He said the team will prepare for Western Carolina only one day more than a regular game week.

Lowe may be re-instated

Shifty wide receiver Jonathan Lowe did not participate in fall camp because of academic troubles, but Saban said the diminutive speedster might be back with the team on Wednesday.

“Jonathan Lowe, I think we did get today, right before I went on the field, his academic appeal, relative to how he did in summer school and what we had to get through the NCAA," Saban said. “Don’t hold me to this, but I’m pretty sure he will [report to the team.]"

Saban said there would be some shakeups in the roster, but no more than 130 players would report.

“We’ll probably have 128 or 129 players out there tomorrow," he said. “I might be off by one. We’re not going to have more than 130. Some of the players that were here in the spring will not be here. Some of the players, maybe 10 or 12 of them, are new walk-on freshmen."

The players who were not in fall camp will have to go through a five-day acclimation period.

The tight ends have been an enigmatic piece of the Crimson Tide’s offense the past few seasons, but Saban said he likes to utilize the position and considered Nick Walker and Travis McCall as starters.

“Nick Walker has improved tremendously," Saban said. “He’s in great shape. He lost some weight. He’s moving better on the field. He can play multiple roles. Travis McCall is an outstanding blocker. He can also play multiple roles. We’re a better football team when both of those guys are out on the field.

“I’m always a guy that likes tight ends. We play a lot of tight ends. Both of these guys are starters in our minds. I think they can do outstanding things for us this year."

Injury report

Freshman defensive tackle Brian Motley did not participate in practice Tuesday, but Saban said he could be back in action as early as today.

“Motley was out and running today," Saban said. “He actually ran yesterday. He may be back in practice as soon as tomorrow with a cast on his hand."

Motley underwent surgery on his hand last week.

Senior kicker Jamie Christensen (quad) and junior offensive tackle Cody Davis (shoulder) did not practice and are listed as day-to-day