The Alabama team opened its first practice of the spring. Wearing helmets, jerseys and shorts, the team worked inside the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility. Here is what I saw during the media viewing period.
Offensive line
Brent Key worked through a few different incarnations, but what looked like the first group consisted of Jonah Williams at left tackle, Josh Casher at left guard, Ross Pierschbacher at center, Lester Cotton at right guard and Jedrick Wills at right tackle. Alex Leatherwood was with the second group at left tackle.
Running backs
Under new running backs coach Joe Panunzio, the running backs went in the following order: Damien Harris, Najee Harris, Brian Robinson and Ronnie Clark. Josh Jacobs was not spotted on the practice field.
Inside linebackers
Mack Wilson led the group followed by Dylan Moses, Markail Benton, Joshua McMillon, VanDarius Cowan and Ben Davis.
**The outside linebackers and defensive linemen worked outside and were not seen during the media viewing period.
Secondary
The big surprise was that DeVonta Smith, the hero of the national championship game, was working with the cornerbacks under Nick Saban. Smith was in a white jersey (offense wears white and defense wears crimson), but he worked the entire media viewing period with the cornerbacks. Daniel Wright and Xavier McKinney were leading the safeties during the drill I watched. This doesn’t mean Deionte Thompson has lost his spot, it just means I didn’t see him in that drill.
Butch Jones stood watching the running backs during the media viewing period. He was wearing an Alabama coaching pullover. Alabama has not yet confirmed his hiring.
