Defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand returns as one of multiple players in position for a great season in 2016.
The rising junior started Wednesday’s player interviews with some light-hearted commentary about his engineering class, before getting into the purpose of his conversation.
Hand (6-foot-4, 278 pounds) is coming off a strong sophomore year, in which he totaled 16 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two quarterback hurries in 15 games.
Five of 16 stops came in postseason action against Michigan State and Clemson. He added some extra weight in the offseason, but Hand’s primary focus is to continue improving his technique.
“I’m just trying to get better day by day,” Hand said. “My size has never bothered me. All I do is run, lift weights, continue working and my body just goes along.”
The departures of A’Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed, D.J. Pettway and Darren Lake to the National Football League will create much pressure on returning defensive end Jonathan Allen.
Despite the exits, Hand said the defensive line functions like a brotherhood.
“It’s been great. Everyone is helping each other out,” he said.
The underlining message behind Nick Saban’s rule book, “The Process,” is to take everything one step at a time.
One is not to focus on the past or venture too far into the future. He wants his players to do their individual jobs, trust their teammates and in return, good things will come.
Hand is one of those guys that has started to buy in.
Regardless of playing a huge role in a national championship game, he anticipates greatness on the horizon for the upcoming fall.
Gaining momentum for the fall starts with productivity in spring practice. With Allen recovering from shoulder surgery, Hand has stepped up as one of the leaders in position drills.
Alabama will have its first scrimmage Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, a perfect opportunity for Hand to attack the quarterback and lower the boom on running back Bo Scarbrough.
“There is nothing different about a scrimmage,” Hand said. “A scrimmage is live football and it’s the last game we’re going to have until A-Day. It’s been two to three months since we last played, so I believe everyone is excited to put the pads on and go hit somebody.”
When asked about which quarterback gives him the hardest time at practice, Hand laughed and responded with “they are all good athletes.”
“They are all fast and they all can throw,” he said.
After being under Kirby Smart for two seasons, one of the challenges that Hand faces is working with former Georgia defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. The change from Smart to Pruitt is not much, seeing that the latter served in multiple offices under Saban at Alabama from 2007-12.
“They are both great coaches,” Hand said. “With Coach Pruitt stepping in, of course he’s the new guy but he’s not really new because he’s been here before. So a lot of people know him. When were recruits in high school, he was here. So there isn’t really much of a difference.”
Two of the three people that have influenced Hand—A’Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed—are headed to NFL Draft, while the third one continues to grow as a defensive line coach and recruiter.
Bo Davis earned SEC’s National Recruiter of the Year for his efforts in Alabama’s 2016 recruiting class.
He was behind getting Ben Davis, Jalen Hurts, Nigel Knott, Raekwon Davis and Scott Lashely to sign with the Tide.
Knott, Davis and Lashley are all Mississippi natives.
“Technique was what I learned from Robinson and Reed,” Hand said. “When I got out of high school, it’s just one little step and the whole play goes right by you. The biggest thing was keeping my feet set and striking out first. It’s hips and hands and your feet will follow.”
In getting to Davis, Hand said he demands the best out of his players.
“I talk to Coach Bo Davis most of the time,” he said. “Coach Bo is amazing. I love that man.”
A coincidence should not be taken into context if one confuses Hand for Scarbrough.
The lone exception is that one plays on defense, while the other poses as a wrecking ball on offense.
Both players have tremendous size and ability to impose their will, aside from playing different roles. With both guys wearing the same number (No. 9), Hand did reveal to the media on a situation that happened during the week of the title game where he got confused for Scarbrough.
“We were in Arizona at media days and I was at a radio thing,” Hand said. “One of the guys said ‘alright one of the guys is going to be toting the ball next year No. 9 Bo’… And then the other guy starts looking at him and I’m like whoa. So he says ‘So Bo Scarbrough how does it feel to be behind Derrick Henry and the other guy said well I don’t know about that but he might be hitting Henry in practice’. It was a little mix up, but we both have helmets on and we’re both big.”
The Mal Moore facility immediately sputtered into laughter once a comparison between Hand and former heavyweight champion boxer Mike Tyson was made.
“Oh no. Oh man. C’mon man. Don’t do me like that,” Hand said jokingly. “I’ve actually gotten compared to him and he was a great. He was very aggressive.”
Laughter is a good thing, but Hand will be all business next season.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
