Alabama could get a valuable offensive lineman back for Saturday’s rivalry game against Tennessee.
Nick Saban updated a few key injuries for the Crimson Tide in his Wednesday presser.
RELATED: Nick Saban gives injury update on key Alabama starters ahead of Tennessee
Terrence Ferguson, a redshirt sophomore, played three games as an offensive guard. He suffered an injury versus Mississippi and missed the last three games. Saban unveiled in the presser that Ferguson has been dealing with a high ankle sprain. The 6-foot-4, 322-pounder worked hard for an opportunity to be in the rotation up front. Ferguson, a former four-star from Georgia in the 2021 recruiting class, cleared the way for 203 rushing yards in Alabama’s 17-3 victory over South Florida. He guided Roydell Williams, a senior running back, to a career-high 129 rushing yards on 17 carries. Coach Saban looked at Ferguson as one of eight players who were ready to be impactful on the offensive line in the preseason. He said Ferguson is getting closer to 100 percent healthy.
“I think he is getting better each week,” Saban said about Ferguson. “Those high ankle sprains are not easy to get over. It takes a little while to develop the ability to push off and have explosive power, which is hard to play in the offensive line if you don’t have that. He’s worked his tail off to get where he is, and he’s really worked hard in practicing, going through a lot to get back to where he is, but I think he’s getting pretty close to being where we need him to be.”
Saban’s statement unveils that Ferguson will play if he feels good enough. He and Jaeden Roberts, another offensive lineman from the Crimson Tide’s 2021 signing class, might be the best two guys up front. Roberts, a native of Houston, Texas, has been a pleasant surprise for the team. He played very well against Texas A&M and followed with production versus Arkansas.
Alabama could use Ferguson to wear down Tennessee’s defensive front. He appears to be a game-time decision.
Click here to follow the Bama Elite Podcast
*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.
