Players Report 8/4 & Practice Starts on 8/5

Heisman Watch

1. Mark Ingram (Alabama): No way can you not mention the 2009 winner for the 2010 award. The only thing I question is how long it will take for Saban to start using Trent Richardson more often? That could hurt Ingram’s quest for a repeat.

2. Ryan Mallett (Arkansas): His 2009 numbers were Heisman–like and with the return of no less than four top-notch receivers to choose from, if the Hogs find a way to knock off the Tide, he will be the front runner for the Heisman.

3. Jake Locker (Washington): This kid is a right-handed version of Tim Tebow, only without the supporting cast.

4. Kellen Moore (Boise State): He completed 277 of 431 for 3,536 and 39 touchdowns in 2009. If the Broncos run table and finally gain the nation’s respect, Moore wins the Heisman.

5. Terrelle Pryor (Ohio State): If the Buckeyes go undefeated and Pryor can increase his accuracy through the air, he will be in the mix.

predictions early on for 2010 football season

'Bama 2010 Preview

Offense

Alabama offense will return eight of their 11 starters.

Mark Ingram is back after winning the Heisman Trophy last year, and expect him to have a huge season again this year. Don't forget Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy.

Greg McElroy & the O-Line.

Defense

Losses from last year are Terrence Cody, Rolando McClain, and Javier Arenas. Can the youngsters step in and help the defense not miss a beat?

Donta Hightower & Mark Barron

Defense is the million-dollar question for Alabama this year.

2010 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Preview

Alabama picked up commitment No. 16 - LB Trey DePriest

Alabama picked up commitment No. 16 today in the form of highly coveted linebacker Trey DePriest of Springfield, Ohio.

The 6-foot-2, 230 pound DePriest committed to Alabama over local favorite Ohio State moments ago at a restaurant near his home. Rivals has DePriest as a four-star prospect on its five-star scale and the nation's sixth-best linebacker.

Touted linebacker Trey DePriest chooses Alabama over Ohio State

Tide Players in the NFL

- Rolando McClain and the Oakland Raiders agreed to a 5 year deal worth $40 million that included $23 million guaranteed.

- Kareem Jackson and the Houston Texans agreed to a five-year contract.

- Javier Arenas signed a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

- Terrence Cody signed a contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

Mt. Cody Physically Unable to Play (PUP) at Ravens Camp

Baltimore Ravens second-round draft pick Terrence Cody failed his conditioning test Tuesday and was not permitted to participate in the team's first training camp practice.

Former Alabama star Terrence Cody fails conditioning test, held out of practice

Alabama is NOT being investigated by the NCAA (Dareus)

The University of Alabama is currently not being investigated by the NCAA. Dareus' alleged actions are being investigated by UA's compliance office, which is then reporting its findings to the SEC and NCAA. That's a big difference.

To say the NCAA is not involved would not be accurate, but to say it is running this investigation would not be either. The fact that UA is conducting its own investigation in conjunction with the NCAA (and not by way of NCAA inquiry at this time) is significant and could be viewed as a positive sign for Dareus.

Marcell Dareus investigation ...

Marcell Dareus violated NCAA Rules???

Alabama coach Nick Saban told ESPN.com that university compliance officials are trying to determine if defensive end Marcell Dareus violated NCAA rules by attending an agent's party in Florida.

NCAA investigators have reportedly interviewed North Carolina players and South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders regarding the same party in Miami's South Beach.

Alabama looking into possible NCAA violation

'Bama's All-SEC Coaches' Football Team Selections

The SEC released its annual All-SEC Coaches' Football team on today and the University of Alabama was well represented with a league-high six players voted to the first team.

- Mark Ingram
- Julio Jones
- Barrett Jones
- Marcell Dareus
- Don't'a Hightower
- Mark Barron

2nd Team All-SEC;

- Greg McElroy
- James Carpenter
- Trent Richardson

Alabama places six on SEC Coaches' first team

Commitment - Bama Picks up a 4-Star Center

Ryan Kelly, Scout.com four-star center from West Chester-Lakota West, Ohio, saw his offer list skyrocket when college coaches saw him in the spring. He traveled to several schools during the summer, but decided the SEC was the best fit. He gave a surprise commitment to the national champs.

Elite Ohio lineman selects Alabama

Finally some PreSeason News ... Let the Poll's begin ...

#1 Ohio State
#2 Alabama

Greg McElroy is back under center and will do enough not to lose games. Mark Ingram is back to try to win another Heisman and I actually like Trent Richardson even more than Ingram.
The wrinkle in this story is coming on Nov. 6. The Tide will fall at LSU.

#3 Texas
#4 Florida
#5 Boise State
#6 TCU
#7 Miami
#8 Nebraska
#9 Oregon
#10 Virginia Tech

College Football Preseason Top 25

SEC Best Returning Offensive Players

#1 Alabama - Mark Ingram

We've heard the talk about how Ingram might not be the Crimson Tide's best tailback. And while sophomore Trent Richardson might be faster and more explosive than Ingram, there is a reason he is the complementary back - because Ingram's low center of gravity and his tough running style are the perfect fit for Nick Saban's grind-it-out, control-the-clock approach.

One measure of a back is how he performs when everyone in the stadium knows he's getting the ball. Watch Ingram on Alabama's game-clinching drive against USC last October, and find someone more deserving as the SEC's best offensive player.

#2 - A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
#3 - Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas
#4 - Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky
#5 - Mike Pouncey, C, Florida

Rating SEC football's best returning offensive players

Julio Jones, Alabama, WR - Could Disappoint this Year?

Julio Jones was one of Nick Saban's first big-time recruits at Alabama. You-tube clips of his high school days and reports of his un-humanlike speed led to ridiculously high expectations for the kid.

He lived up to those expectations in his freshman year ('08). Last season he was the top receiver on the team, but only had 596 yards receiving and four TDs.

Part of that is because Alabama had the Heisman winner, Mark Ingram, at running back. And, of course, Ingram's backup, Trent Richardson, was one of the SEC's top freshmen.

Top 10 Most Hyped College Football Players Who Could Disappoint in 2010

Odds to Win the BCS

Alabama Crimson Tide: Odds to win the BCS 6-1

Alabama has what it takes to be the first BCS team to win back to back national championships. Nick Saban leads the Tide along with returning Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and nine other returning starters on offense. The schedule is brutal for Alabama as they play on the road against LSU, Arkansas, and play host to the Gators. In the ever changing landscape of college football it is too hard for any team to repeat, and this includes Alabama.

Ohio St. Buckeyes: Odds to win the BCS 6-1
Florida Gators: Odds to win the BCS 6-1
Oklahoma Sooners: Odds to win the BCS 6-1

Odds To Win the BCS Championship

Recruiting? No More Early Commitments??

The days of powerhouse football programs loading up with early commitments from high school juniors may soon come to an end.
Nick Saban couldn't be happier.


An NCAA proposal to prohibit scholarship offers until July 1 for rising seniors could curtail the practice of landing commitments so early.


Saban is on the record ap­proving the legislation, say­ing a later date would help college coaches better eval­uate talent.


NCAA proposal to Halt Early Football Commitments