As a product of the Southeastern Conference, Tee Martin knows what to expect.
The 37-year-old enters his fifth season at Southern California and first as offensive coordinator this fall. USC will have the task of trying to move the ball against an Alabama front seven that led the nation in sacks (52) last season.
Linebacker Tim Williams, who decided to forgo the 2016 NFL Draft and return for a senior year, has been targeted as the source behind Martin’s preparation according to Talal Elmarsy of Saturday Down South and Mark Heim of AL.com.
Williams was animal on the edge in 2015, accounting for 12.0 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. Much of his damage came in prime time match-ups, including Florida and Michigan State.
The 6-foot-4, 237-pound linebacker recorded three sacks, while limiting both offenses to a 50 percent completion mark (28 of 50). He made it rough for Alabama’s first-team offense on A-Day, generating two tackles for loss and two sacks.
Williams wants to break Derrick Thomas’ sack record.
He’s phenomenal,” Martin said per AL.com on Williams. “Obviously, you have to have a plan for him. In our league, there are guys like that, but not exactly like him. He’s pretty special. It’s a great opportunity for our guys in the first game.”
He is starting to settle in more as a coach, but Martin was one of the more decorative quarterbacks in Tennessee history.
He played under head coach Phillip Fulmer from 1996-99, with his best work coming during his junior year in 1998.
Martin tossed for 2,164 passing yards with 19 touchdowns to six interceptions. He guided the Volunteers to a 13-0 season, culminating in a SEC championship and a 23-16 win over Florida State in the 1999 Fiesta Bowl for a national title.
His career ended with 4,595 yards, 32 touchdowns and 16 picks. He was hired to USC in 2012 as a wide receivers coach.
Prior to the move, Martin spent time at Morehouse (2006), North Cobb High School (2007), North Atlanta High School (2008), New Mexico (2009) and Kentucky (2010-11).
He’s helped produce some talented receivers in Marqise Lee, Robert Woods, Nelson Agholor and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Martin molded Cody Kessler into a solid NFL Draft prospect.
Kessler recorded 7,362 passing yards with 68 touchdowns to 12 interceptions in two seasons under Martin as the Trojans’ pass game coordinator.
The Crimson Tide returns a defense, headlined by Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster, and of course Tim Williams next season.
It led the nation in rush defense (75.7 ypg), while being among the leaders in total defense (276.3 ypg) and scoring defense (15.1 ppg). USC is long gone from the offensive firepower it had in recent years, but Martin’s quick preparation gives fans something to look forward to when the Tide faces USC at AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016.
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.
