It took a minute, but the moment has arrived for Ben Davis.
Upon the depth chart for Alabama football being handed out on Monday, the first thing that caught the attention of media pundits was his name making the two-deep rotation at linebacker for this season.
The former five-star out of the 2016 class was the nation’s top inside linebacker prospect on every site.
He was labeled a “can’t miss” product from Gordo (Ala.) High School and as the son of Wayne Davis, the Crimson Tide’s all-time leader in tackles (327), Tide fans expected greatest from Ben.
Whether the issue was learning the system properly or finding his love for football again for himself, Davis played in just three games in his first three years.
Despite the hype and expectations, fans and media personnel wrote him off – especially after seeing him get lapped by younger players coming in.
At 6-foot-4 and 243 pounds, Davis has always been a physical specimen — yet it appears as though the mental aspect has now clicked.
Sal Sunseri can be attributed to this cause.
RELATED: Landon Dickerson named starting RG; still in the mix at center for Alabama
His tough, no nonsense demeanor resonates with Davis and has pushed to him to reach his potential. For the first time, the redshirt junior is active in practice and looks like he can give Alabama quality reps in games.
He was listed as the primary backup to Terrell Lewis at jack linebacker and upon seeing it, many supporters of him were overjoyed at the latest news.
With the Crimson Tide facing Duke on Saturday, Davis will suit up for his fourth career game and this one will be a chance to recapture the essence of what he wanted to become.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber only content!*
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.
