Much like Alabama’s 2015 recruiting class, the 2019 group signed a plethora of linemen to ensure the program remains strong in the trenches. Although six more linemen were signed in this year’s cycle, one player from the previous class is preparing to have a major impact.
Upon his arrival in the summer, Malachi Moore will join Paul Tyson and Pierce Quick as the third alumnus of Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.) High School to play for the Crimson Tide.
After playing in four games last year – including 10 snaps versus New Mexico State – Quick decided to redshirt the remainder of his freshman season. He enrolled at 287 pounds, but he firmly stands at 291 on a 6-foot-5 frame.
The two longest rushing touchdowns from a running back in the 2019 campaign came via Keilan Robinson. Quick was part of the second-team offensive line for his 74-yard run to the house versus the Aggies at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
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Before clearing the way for Kenyan Drake 2.0, Quick was a staple for the Huskies in helping Tyson and Armoni Goodwin have success.
In Goodwin’s first year at Hewitt-Trussville, the transfer from Florence (Ala.) High School posted 1,458 rushing yards with 15 scores on an average of 6.9 yards per carry in 2018. Quick locked up defenders on the outside as a tackle and mowed guys down on the interior as a guard, to create massive holes for the talented runner.
When it comes to Tyson, Quick kept his quarterback clean for two seasons.
With a beast on the line, Tyson was able to throw for 6,580 passing yards and 69 touchdowns.
He compiled a record of 19-5 as a starter and went on to garner a four-star rating from Touchdown Alabama Magazine. Whether it is current Alabama players or former coaches that have worked with him, everyone that knows Quick says he ‘will be a first-round pick.’
One coach that developed a close relationship with him was Rudy Griffin.
A former defensive lineman for the Tide, Griffin was both the D-Line coach and defensive coordinator in Quick’s time at Hewitt-Trussville.
He is now the head coach of Bessemer City High School; however, Griffin knows what Alabama will have once it unleashes Quick.
“He is very explosive,” Griffin said of Quick.
“He will play for three years and then he is going to the NFL Draft. He is the only high school offensive lineman I have seen that wanted to embarrass you on the field. He has a defensive mentality. If he wanted to block you all the way to the parking lot, he would do it. Not only was he like that in games, Pierce was the same way in every practice. It got to a point where we had to get him to calm down at times, but his intensity is a good thing.”
Griffin said Quick’s desire to be a bully on the field started as a freshman.
“One of our linemen got hurt, so Pierce jumped in playing 7A football in the ninth grade. He got some work in versus Hoover, but his first start came against Clay-Chalkville. The very next week, we took on James Clemons High School and he was matched up on LaBryan Ray.”
Regardless of Ray being a polished senior on defense, Griffin said it was a good back and forth battle between the two linemen. In studying tape on Quick, he establishes a strong anchoring position and has both powerful hands and quick feet as a tackle. When he’s at guard, Quick creates good leverage and is able to pull around and mow offensive linemen down.
According to a couple of former players, Quick is the nicest person on the team.
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However, he is a different story on the field.
This season, he will have a chance to be a contributor at either left or right guard.
Alabama’s sports performance team of Dr. Matt Rhea and David Ballou will make sure Quick is in top physical condition. Griffin said Quick’s main goal is taking the pride away from opponents when he’s on the field.
“If he stays healthy and keeps his nose clean, he’ll be a guaranteed first-rounder,” Griffin said. “You can bank on that. Pierce is going to make millions of dollars soon.”
Regardless of his size, Quick has big time athleticism. A video was posted on Twitter of him sticking a 51-inch box jump.
Alabama OL, Pierce Quick has bunnies! pic.twitter.com/2UJHOMotiX
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) April 1, 2020
With information like this, fans definitely want to see football this fall.
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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.
