Few Surprises on Spring Roster

There are not many surprises on the 2008 Alabama spring football roster. A few men who had been on previous rosters are gone, there are some minor position changes, and a handful of players lost a year of eligibility.

Last season Alabama Coach Nick Saban played a handful of men for only a few plays. Later in the season he noted that some players had been injured and unable to continue. Those players would earn a redshirt season, not losing the year of eligibility.

Some 2007 true freshmen did lose that year, including quarterback Nick Fanuzzi and defensive linemen Josh Chapman and Nick Gentry.

Fanuzzi went in for mop-up work in the season-opener against Western Carolina and did not complete a pass. Josh Chapman saw limited playing time in Alabama’s first three games. Nick Gentry played in one game.

All are listed as sophomores on the 2008 spring roster.

A handful of former walk-ons who had been expected to return are not listed on the roster. They include quarterbacks Patrick Bryant and Robert Ezell; wide receivers Darwin Salaam (who participated in the recent Pro Day exercise for scouts) and Kyle Pennington; defensive backs Courtney Moore and Trent Dean; tight ends Drew Cummings (also listed as a possible defensive end) and Daniel Wood; offensive lineman Layne Rinks; fullback-linebacker Drew Bullard; and long snapper Paul Silvey.

Most position changes have been announced. Tarence Farmer went from defensive back to wide receiver; Travis Sikes moved from wide receiver to safety; Javier Arenas went from safety to cornerback; Charles Hoke went from tight end to offensive tackle.

There are two true freshmen on the roster, wide receiver Chris Jackson and punter-placekicker Corey Smith.

2008 Alabama Spring Football Roster

No Name, Pos Cl Hgt Wgt Exp Hometown
3 Kareem Jackson, CB So 5-11 185 1L Macon, Ga.
4 Marquis Maze, WR Fr 5-9 167 RS Tarrant
5 Roy Upchurch, TB Jr 6-0 192 2L Tallahassee, Fla.
6 Demetrius Goode, TB Fr 5-10 197 RS LaGrange, Ga.
7 Will Oakley, WR Sr 6-1 196 2L Ponte Vedra Bch, Fla.
8 Chris Rogers, DB Jr 6-0 192 2L Lakeland, Fla.
9 Nikita Stover, WR Sr 6-0 207 2L Hartselle
10 Jimmy Johns, WLB Sr 6-2 233 3L Brookhaven, Miss.
11 Brandon Gibson, WR Fr 6-1 192 RS Mobile
12 Greg McElroy, QB So 6-3 218 Sq Southlake, Texas
13 Corey Reamer, SLB Jr 6-4 223 1L Hoover
14 John Parker Wilson, QB Sr 6-2 213 2L Hoover
15 Darius Hanks, WR Fr 6-0 190 RS Norcross, Ga.
16 Lionel Mitchell, CB Sr 6-2 182 2L Stone Mountain, Ga.
16 Thomas Darrah, QB Fr 6-5 190 RS Newnan, Ga.
18 Nick Fanuzzi, QB So 6-3 201 SQ San Antonio, Texas
19 Tarence Farmer, WR Fr 6-0 195 RS Houston, Texas
23 Tremayne Coger, CB So 5-11 190 1L Columbia, Tenn.
24 Marquis Johnson, CB Jr 5-11 186 1L Sarasota, Fla.
25 Rolando McClain, MLB So 6-4 255 1L Decatur
26 Ali Sharrief, S Jr 5-9 197 2L Stevenson
27 Justin Woodall, S Jr 6-2 224 2L Oxford, Miss.
28 Javier Arenas, CB Jr 5-9 193 2L Tampa, Fla.
29 Terry Grant, TB So 5-10 188 1L Lumberton, Miss.
30 Jonathan Lowe, TB Sr 5-7 184 1L Phenix City
32 Eryk Anders, LB Jr 6-2 225 1L San Antonio, Texas
33 Patrick Hanrahan, FB So 6-0 232 Sq Springville
33 Hampton Gray, DB So 6-1 188 Sq Northport
34 Jeramie Griffin, RB Fr 6-0 225 RS Batesville, Miss.
35 Charlie Kirschman, LB So 6-2 228 1L St. Augustine, Fla.
35 Joe Robinson, FB Jr 5-11 230 RS Birmingham
38 Glen Coffee, TB Jr 6-2 197 2L Ft. Walton Bch., Fla.
39 Tyrone King, S Jr 5-11 204 1L Birmingham
40 Baron Huber, FB Jr 6-3 242 2L Knoxville, Tenn.
41 Brandon Powell, OLB Jr 6-2 221 RS Grove Hill
42 Jennings Hester, LB Fr 6-2 224 RS Atlanta, Ga.
43 Sam Burnthall, S Jr 6-2 185 2L Decatur
44 Corey Smith, P-PK Fr 6-0 190 HS Bunker Hill, W.Va.
44 Jacob Vane, FB So 6-1 232 Sq Oak Ridge, Tenn.
45 Ch. Higgenbotham, MLB So 6-1 211 1L Birmingham
47 *Ezekial Knight, SLB Sr 6-4 235 3L Wedowee
48 Travis Sikes, S So 6-2 194 Sq Nashville, Tenn.
49 Rashad Johnson, S Sr 6-0 187 3L Sulligent
51 Michael DeJohn, LB Fr 6-0 220 RS Hoover
52 Alfred McCullough, DT Fr 6-2 317 RS Athens
54 Juan Garnier, OG Jr 6-4 315 Sq Everett, Mass.
55 Chavis Williams, DE/LB So 6-4 214 RS Dora
58 Nick Gentry, DL So 6-3 263 RS Prattville
59 Antoine Caldwell, C-OG Sr 6-3 292 3L Montgomery
59 Alex Benson, LB So 6-1 210 Sq Trussville
60 Scott Deaton, OT Jr 6-6 286 Sq Birmingham
66 Brian Motley, DL So 6-2 280 Sq Autaugaville
67 Brian Selman, SN Sr 6-0 218 1L Vestavia Hills
68 Taylor Pharr, OT So 6-6 281 1L Irondale
69 Patrick Crump, OL Fr 6-3 267 RS Hoover
70 Evan Cardwell, C Jr 6-2 278 2L Killen
71 Andre Smith, OT Jr 6-5 340 2L Birmingham
73 William Vlachos, OL Fr 6-1 295 RS Birmingham
74 David Ross, OG So 6-4 297 1L Homewood
76 Marlon Davis, OG Sr 6-4 290 3L Columbus, Ga.
77 Charles Hoke, OT Sr 6-7 253 2L Birmingham
78 Mike Johnson, OT Jr 6-6 298 2L Pensacola, Fla.
79 Drew Davis, OT Jr 6-8 276 Sq Evergreen
80 Mike McCoy, WR Jr 6-3 199 2L Rankin, Miss.
81 Andrew Friedman, PK Jr 6-1 210 Sq Fairhope
82 Earl Alexander, WR So 6-5 210 1L Phenix City
83 Travis McCall, TE Sr 6-2 261 3L Prattville
84 Colin Peek, TE Jr 6-6 250 Tr Jacksonville, Fla.
85 Preston Dial, TE So 6-3 223 1L Mobile
86 Chris Jackson, WR Fr 6-1 190 HS McDonough, Ga.
87 Chris Underwood, TE Fr 6-4 226 RS Birmingham
88 Nick Walker, TE Sr 6-5 255 3L Brundidge
90 Milton Talbert, DE So 6-3 252 1L Hattiesburg, Miss.
91 Alex Watkins, LB Fr 6-3 218 RS Brownsville, Tenn.
93 Bobby Greenwood, DE Sr 6-5 257 3L Prattville
95 Brandon Deaderick, DE Jr 6-4 286 2L Elizabethtown, Ky.
95 Colin Gallagher, PK Fr 6-0 189 RS Atlanta, Ga.
*96 Luther Davis, DE So 6-4 275 1L West Monroe, La.
97 P.J. Fitzgerald, P Jr 5-11 194 2L Coral Springs, Fla.
97 Lorenzo Washington, DT Jr 6-4 283 2L Logansville, Ga.
98 Brandon Fanney, DE Jr 6-4 241 1L Morristown, Tenn.
98 Heath Thomas, P Jr 6-3 213 Sq Montgomery
99 Josh Chapman, DT So 6-1 300 Sq Hoover
99 Leigh Tiffin, PK Jr 6-1 198 2L Muscle Shoals

*Ezekial Knight and Luther Davis not participating in spring.