Can this year’s team just stay healthy?
A question that Alabama fans ask themselves each season, especially one in which the coaching staff is elite and the program is in revenge mode.
After addressing how pleased he is with the staff and the relationships the coaches are establishing with players, Nick Saban updated reporters on a trio of injuries the Crimson Tide has to start fall practice.
According to reports, Miller Forristall (foot) and LaBryan Ray (ankle) both sustained medical mishaps in the summer and underwent surgery.
Forristall, a junior, took a medical redshirt in 2017(knee) after playing just three games.
A former three-star from Cartersville, Ga., he had a strong freshman year in 2016 and returns as the school’s most experienced tight end.
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Ray, a junior, is anticipating a monster year.
The 6-foot-5, 292-pounder has waited his time and now it’s his turn to be a beast at defensive end under first-year coach, Brian Baker.
A former five-star in the 2017 class, Ray saw action in all 15 games last season – including one start. He totaled 39 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups and two quarterback pressures.
According to an interview that yours truly of Touchdown Alabama Magazine had with former Tide standout Rudy Griffin, Griffin said Ray has the “quick-twitched edge rushing ability of NFL star Terrell Suggs.”
Per Saban, both guys will be returning soon.
“Miller Forristall will likely be back in a few days. LaBryan Ray will likely be back in a week or so,” Saban said.
The lone concern that Saban has is for Nigel Knott.
A redshirt junior cornerback from Mississippi, he played in 10 games in 2018 but recorded just one tackle.
Knott enrolled as a four-star in the 2016 recruiting class and redshirted his initial freshman year, due to a serious knee injury he sustained as a senior in high school.
“Nigel Knott has some medical issues that we are trying to work through,” Saban said. “It’s really a little bit undetermined on when he’ll be able to get back on the field.”
Hopefully, it’s nothing too serious with Knott.
Stay tuned to tdalabamamag.com for all updates and analysis from Fan Day and on Alabama football in general.
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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.
