Former Alabama defensive back Rashad Johnson has joined the staff as an athletics intern. Johnson retired from the NFL in January after an eight-year pro career. Johnson played at Alabama from 2005-08.
“Rashad is a guy that I’ve always had a tremendous amount of respect for,” coach Nick Saban said. “He was a great player here, a guy that was a walk-on that earned a scholarship and became a star player because he’s smart. Really understands the game. Had a great pro career. Certainly has the right stuff as a person, great character.”
Johnson is still expected to report from the sidelines on radio broadcasts of Alabama games this fall.
“He had talked to me earlier in the year about the possibility of being a coach or having a role in the program,” Saban said. “We had an opening right before the season started. He was already with the Giants as an intern just for camp. So he completed that until the 15th and then came and joined us. I just think he’s a really, really good young guy to be trying to develop as a coach. He has a lot of experience not only in our system but in other systems that he’s played in. That input can be of great benefit to us.”
Senior Bowl watch list
Six Alabama players were on the preseason watch list for the 2019 Senior Bowl. Players not on the list, which included more than 365 players, can still be invited to participate in the game. The Senior Bowl features 110 players each season.
Senior offensive lineman Lester Cotton Jr., a Central High product, made the list. So did fellow offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher. Tight end Hale Hentges and running back Damien Harris were the two other offensive players on the watch list.
Linebacker Christian Miller and defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs were Alabama’s two defensive players on the list.
