Kalen DeBoer is 2-0 in his first year as Alabama’s head coach, but now he takes the team on its first road test.
Alabama battles Wisconsin on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. CT at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.
The Crimson Tide has Monday off from practice following its 42-16 victory over South Florida, but DeBoer and both coordinators addressed the media with their thoughts on the matchup.
Coach DeBoer updated a trio of injuries, including two on veteran offensive linemen.
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Kadyn Proctor did not play the first two games because of a shoulder injury he sustained in pregame warmups before Alabama’s season opener versus Western Kentucky. Elijah Pritchett replaced Proctor at left tackle against the Hilltoppers, but he was hampered by an ankle injury last week in practice. The redshirt sophomore did not start against the Bulls, but he entered the contest in the fourth quarter and provided a spark. Alabama scored 28 points in the final period and Pritchett was the difference.
“Pritchett played in the game the last six plays as you saw,” DeBoer said. “He came out good with that. He practiced toward the end of the week, Wednesday and Thursday. He was a little more limited Wednesday, but as the week went on he practiced and I felt okay with him being out there. He did a nice job, and the big thing is he got through healthy. That was a big key.”
DeBoer said Proctor will continue to work on his motions and movements.
“He has come along really well, especially at the end of last week,” he said about Proctor. “He’s working extremely hard to get back out there.”
Alabama will continue to evaluate Proctor this week to see if he’s good to go against the Badgers. Cole Adams, a redshirt freshman, suffered an injury against South Florida at wide receiver. DeBoer said he sustained an upper extremity issue and the team will monitor him.
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“We will see how he goes through the week,” DeBoer said about Adams.
“He may be limited early, but we will see how it goes throughout the week.”
Hopefully, the Tide can have Proctor and Adams on the road versus Wisconsin.
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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.
