Fanney is ‘anxious’ to grab starting spot

TUSCALOOSA | Watching the University of Alabama linebackers this spring has been almost like a game of musical chairs. With each round, the participants have been moving around, and where they might all eventually end up is still anyone’s guess.

That includes junior Brandon Fanney, who earlier this spring was a man between defensive end and linebacker, but might fittingly have a home again at “Jack” — the hybrid end/linebacker spot where he spent last year backing up Keith Saunders.

“I’ve been here three years, going on my fourth year, and I haven’t started yet,” Fanney said. “That’s what I came to do this year, and I’m going to do everything I can to do that. You can say I’m pretty anxious. I know what I have to do to start, or to play.”

Fanney, who has seven career tackles, was told after the Independence Bowl victory against Colorado to get ready for a move to defensive end and gain some weight on his 6-foot-4, 241-pound frame.

However, that was before the Crimson Tide lost two starting linebackers well before spring practices began. Junior Prince Hall was suspended indefinitely, and senior Ezekial Knight has yet to be medically cleared after having a problem related to his surgery last year to correct a heart murmur. Both could return in the fall, but then again maybe not.

Without them, the only certainty has been sophomore Rolando McClain in the middle — although coaches had hoped to move him to an outside spot.

Senior Jimmy Johns switched from running back to the inside/weakside spot, but this week coaches are trying him at the outside/strongside position, which is opposite Jack. Junior Cory Reamer and sophomore Chavis Williams have had looks in starting roles, and junior Baron Huber also recently moved from fullback.

“Just a lot of hitting,” Huber said. “Defense, the schemes change, but overall it’s the same, find the ball, attack the ball, and that’s the way it’s played.

“I think at fullback you have to have a defensive mentality with all the contact that there is. You have to be a little more aggressive at that spot than you are at other spots on the offense. Fullback and linebacker have a lot in common because we hit each other on every play.”

Huber, who originally came to Alabama as a middle linebacker but after a couple of days switched to defensive end and then later fullback, made his first sack during last Saturday’s scrimmage while playing Jack with the second unit. This week, he’s been backing up Reamer at weakside, or “Will” linebacker.

At minimum, Huber, listed at 6-foot-3, 242 pounds, could provide some extra size against teams that prefer to play a power game, like Tennessee.

“He’s a bright guy, he’s a very conscientious guy,” coach Nick Saban said last week.

Meanwhile, after getting up to 265 pounds, Fanney began the spring at end, as expected, but after a couple of days switched back to Jack, where he’s been running with the starters. Considering Saban wants someone who can hold his own against linemen and be able to effectively drop back into pass coverage, it’s not a roll where most players can succeed.

“He’s a different type of guy,” senior safety Rashad Johnson said. “Fanney, he’s a bigger guy and is used to having his hand on the ground. He played end in high school and he played end when he first got here, and now he’s having to stand up. So he’s a little uncomfortable at the position but he’s doing a great job and come along well.”

So far, the added weight doesn’t seem to be bothering Fanney, and should Hall and/or Knight return he might conceivably move again. Round-and-round the unit could continue to go, but Fanney’s still in the game and looking for that elusive starting spot.

“I doesn’t matter to me [where],” Fanney said. “All I want to do this year, is play, practice hard and do everything I can to get on the field.”

Tide-bits

Two more players were wore black, signaling no contact, during Wednesday’s practice, the 12th of 15 this spring.

Senior Charles Hoke and junior Colin Peek were both out with undisclosed injuries. Hoke was recently moved from tight end to offensive tackle, where he’s been backing up junior Andre Smith. In his absence, junior Scott Deaton resumed those duties.

Peek, a transfer from Georgia Tech, had five receptions for 63 yards in last Saturday’s scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Fox Sports Network was on-hand to film practice for an upcoming story. Already having made stops in Tuscaloosa were SI.com, ESPN and ESPN.com.

Players and coaches were not available to media Wednesday. The team will practice today, hold A-Day on Saturday (2 p.m.), and conclude the spring workouts with a final practice Monday.

Men in black report

The following players wore black jerseys, signaling no contract due to injury:

Redshirt freshman offensive lineman Patrick Crump (knee)

Junior running back Glen Coffee (shoulder)

Senior offensive lineman Charles Hoke (undisclosed)

Senior linebacker Ezekial Knight (not medically cleared, heart)

Senior cornerback Lionel Mitchell (back)

Sophomore lineman Brian Motley (finger)

Junior tight end Colin Peek (undisclosed)

Sophomore wide receiver Travis Sikes (broken elbow)

Redshirt freshman long-snapper Paul Silvey (knee)

Senior wide receiver Nikita Stover (hamstring)

Sophomore defensive end Milton Talbert (shoulder)

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews,com or at 205-722-0196.