He might have been nervous at his first-ever Southeastern Conference media days; however, Anfernee Jennings handled the moment well in Atlanta on last week.
After sustaining a knee injury versus Clemson that forced him out of the national title game, the redshirt junior said he’s back at 100 percent.
While returning to business with defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi is grueling, rising junior linebacker Terrell Lewis is someone of whom Jennings has a lot of respect for in the locker room and on the field. Upon Lewis suffering an elbow issue against Florida State to start the 2017 season, Jennings took it upon himself to not only check on his brother daily, but to also make sure he picks up the slack with strong effort.
Probably the most powerful moment, not dealing with “2nd and 26,” was when outside linebacker Jamey Mosely rolled Jennings onto the field in a wheelchair after Alabama secured a national championship win over Georgia.
When Lewis recorded a crucial sack of Bulldogs’ quarterback Jake Fromm, he remembered the promise that he and Jennings made to each other.
At the moment the two locked eyes, the Washington, D.C. native embraced his teammate, dropped a few tears and enjoyed a special moment. In bringing Lewis to the conversation, Jennings described him as a “great leader, great role model and great person overall.”
“We all have a great relationship with each other,” Jennings said on Alabama’s outside linebackers. “Jamey and Terrell, one of my closest friends on the team, they wanted me out there more than having themselves out there. After all the work we put in during the season, they wanted me to be a part of the celebration and decided to roll me out on the field.”
Three days after having surgery to repair an anterior cruciate ligament on Lewis’ right knee, a video of him lifting his leg with no assistance popped on social media. Although no timetable has been placed for his return, Jennings knows his teammate his cut from a different cloth.
“You never with him because with our training staff and his work ethic and mindset, you never know what the season holds for him still,” Jennings said of Lewis.
Alabama reports for fall camp next week.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
