Leadership takes time. Unlike so much of Alabama’s highly regimented process, it develops organically, without plan or structure. There is no sure-fire formula to determine who will step up as a leader. It isn’t inherited by seniority or stars but rather earned by hours and days on the practice field.
As of a couple weeks ago, Alabama still has plenty of work to do.
“We’re not there yet,” Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt said during media day earlier this month. “When it comes to the leadership roles, I think that develops as you practice. That’s why you have fall camp. That’s why they all live in the dorm together, kind of build some camaraderie there. You put them in adverse situations and the guys who are the leaders, they kind of rise to the top there. We’ll figure it out over the next couple weeks.”
While leadership isn’t gained overnight, it can be lost that way. Alabama saw several of its leaders depart for the NFL Draft this offseason and will need players to grow into new roles on and off the field.
Here are five players the Crimson Tide will be counting on to step up this season:
Ronnie Harrison, junior, DB
Minkah Fitzpatrick practiced at the Star position Tuesday night as Alabama worked out of the nickel package during its 11th practice of preseason camp. With less than three weeks until the Crimson Tide’s opener against Florida State on Sept. 2, there is a real possibility the All-American safety takes on a new role in the defense this season.
If Fitzpatrick does move down to Star, his role as the play caller in the secondary will need to be replaced. Ronnie Harrison and Hootie Jones were the two safeties in the nickel package Tuesday night and are the most likely to take on the responsibility if a switch were to occur.
“I take responsibility regardless of whoever’s back there,” Harrison said during media day. “Even last year, I took responsibility to make sure I made my communication, made my calls, made sure that everyone was still on the same page.”
On top of added duties on the field, Harrison is someone who will also be relied on to provide leadership to a young group of defensive backs behind him. The 6-foot-3, 214-pound safety appears to have made strides in maturity after he had to be restrained during a sideline altercation with teammate Eddie Jackson in last season’s opener against Southern California.
This year the junior might need to be the one holding younger teammates back during heated moments.
“I think as a football player, the more time that you’re out there and you play, obviously you’re going to get wiser, you’ve got more experience to draw from,” Pruitt said. “He’s had two years that he’s played here. I think it’s kind of that progression you hoped as a freshman. Now he’s a junior, he’ll continue to improve and get better.”
Da'Ron Payne, junior, DT
Da’Ron Payne might be the only familiar face on Alabama’s defensive line to start the season, but the 6-foot-2, 308-pound defensive tackle believes he won’t be the only player opposing offenses get used to seeing in the backfield.
“We reload every year,” Payne said. “Coach (Nick) Saban keeps a good group of guys around us and all of them are ready to go, and all of them are working hard and dedicated to the game. It’s a next man up mentality.”
While that might be true, Payne's leadership will become more important this season due to the loss of starters Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson. The junior will have plenty of talent around him with five-stars Da’Shawn Hand and Isaiah Buggs as well as 6-foot-7, 306-pound Raekwon Davis all factoring into the defensive end position. Although, no one in the aforementioned trio has yet to start a game for Alabama, meaning Payne might be called on to keep the unit in check early on.
“It’s something new, because being from where I came from, I just like to sit back and listen and just learn,” Payne said this spring. “But now guys are coming to me asking me for advice and stuff. It’s something like a learning curve.”
Jonah Williams, sophomore, OT
A self-described film junkie, there’s no questioning Jonah Williams’ devotion to the sport. After starting all 15 games at right tackle as a freshman last year, the 6-foot-5, 301-pound offensive lineman dedicated himself to learning the left tackle position in order to take over for departing Cam Robinson.
So far the switch has gone to plan, as Williams and guard Ross Pierschbacher appear to form a steady force on the left side. However, Alabama might run into a little trouble on the right side of the line where the Tide will hope for an improved performance from right guard Lester Cotton while also breaking in a new starter at right tackle.
Redshirt sophomore Matt Womack has started at right tackle on the first unit during all 11 practices this preseason but could be pushed by five-star freshmen Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Wills at the position. Whoever wins the job will be making their first collegiate start in a couple of weeks. Who better to learn from than a someone who was in the same position last year?
“It’s a challenge, you know how tough it is to come in and compete at a level that we’re expected to on a daily basis,” Williams said. “I think that it all comes down to working hard. It sounds cliché but you come in, you learn your plays, you study them. You study extra film. You spend extra time in the weight room. You spend time with some of the older guys learning the techniques and how to handle different situations. I think they’ll all be fine. They have the athletic ability to do it and I’ve seen good things from them so far. They’ve all worked hard.”
Calvin Ridley, junior, WR
Picked as one of the three players to represent Alabama during SEC Media Days this summer, Calvin Ridley has less far to go than others on this list in terms of being a leader. Still, in an offense that lost three of its top four receiving threats from last season, the junior's experience will be relied on heavily.
Ridley returns as the Tide’s leading receiver after tallying a team-high 72 receptions for 769 yards and seven touchdowns. One of the most soft-spoken players on the team, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound receiver has generally let his actions do the talking for him. However, with plenty of new faces emerging, the junior vowed to speak up more this offseason in order to take on a bigger role in the locker room.
“I would say I'm now the leader of the wide receiver group,” Ridley said this spring. “I want to take that role on and not only to my group but my team, and be one of the captains on the team. That's what I feel like I need to do.”
JK Scott, senior, P
It might be a surprise to find a punter on this list, but with so much uncertainty in Alabama’s kicking game, JK Scott’s veteran presence might be needed more than ever. The senior returns as one of the top punters in the nation and will also handle kickoff duties. But could Alabama require Scott to do even more this season?
Alabama head coach Nick Saban said his team still needs work in the kicking game, stating there were a few missed field goals during the Tide’s first scrimmage over the weekend. Joseph Bulovas, the No. 1 kicker in the 2017 class, was brought in over the summer to help replace graduating Adam Griffith. Alabama also has former walk-on Andy Pappanastos on its roster. However, both have struggled this offseason, with Pappanastos missing two field goals inside of 40 yards during A-Day and Bulovas seemingly missing the mark on several occasions Saturday.
Due to the struggles, Scott might be called upon to handle some of the kicking duties. After all, the senior did make three of his four attempts during A-Day, including the game-winning kick from 30 yards out as time expired.
Whether he kicks or not, Scott is well accustomed to high-pressure situations after starting all four years of his college career. Perhaps he can pass down some of his wisdom and help calm the nerves for his specialist teammates.
Comment Inside The Talk Of Champions Message Board Here
More August Camp Coverage
Practice Reports
The Scoop
8/15 - Tuesday Scoop
8/14 - Monday Scoop
Team News
Minkah Fitzpatrick doesn't mind helping his 'younger brother' at Alabama
