One word has been prominent through spring practices for the University of Alabama football program.
Coaches want competition, players want competition, and Crimson Tide fans want competition. Alabama is getting back to positioning the best players on the field at each spot. The Tide is in a three-year national championship drought, but it looks to erase that memory in the upcoming fall. Both sides of the football have been going at each other in practice as Alabama wants college football to know it has a complete team. Kalen DeBoer, the Tide’s head coach, praised the defensive pass rush, running game of the offense, and the quarterbacks last week in the scrimmage, but a cornerback revealed the intense competition.
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Jahlil Hurley, a former five-star in the 2023 recruiting class, is a redshirt freshman.
He could have transferred in the 30-day window when Nick Saban announced his retirement in January; however, he chose to remain.
Hurley, a native of Florence, Ala., is battling for an opportunity to start in the fall.
He looks to fend off talented freshmen such as Zabien Brown, Jaylen Mbakwe, and Zavier Mincey to be a boundary defender. Hurley said the offense ‘cooked’ the defense in Monday’s practice, but Kane Wommack’s group bounced back Wednesday. He was one of a few defensive players that spoke to reporters after practice.
Alabama CB Jahlil Hurley said the defense got ‘cooked’ in Monday’s practice by offense, but bounced back today.
“It was not good for the offense today. The first 10 plays I don’t think they caught a pass or moved the ball.”
Competition has been strong.@TDAlabamaMag pic.twitter.com/Ywr3l01TeM
— Stephen M. Smith (@CoachingMSmith) April 3, 2024
“They cooked us Monday,” Hurley said about Alabama’s offense in practice. “I ain’t gonna lie, they cooked us Monday.”
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Hurley said the quarterbacks dotted perfect passes to wide receivers and receivers made plays on Monday. Alabama’s defense had something for them two days later.
Hurley said the offense did not have the same success Wednesday.
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“It was not very good for them today,” he said.
“The first 10 periods I don’t think they caught a pass or moved the ball, honestly. I’m giving that to our front because they are getting back there and the DBs are holding their positions. Receivers are not open so he has to hold the ball and take sacks.”
Hurley said the entire defensive front was disruptive Wednesday at practice.
“Our box is crazy,” he said.
Both sides of the ball want to be elite for Alabama, which is what fans crave.
Hopefully, iron will continue to sharpen iron as spring practice winds down.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
