TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama defensive end Isaiah Buggs doesn’t have a favorite player. When the five-star defensive end hits the field, the only person he’s trying to play like is himself.
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To be fair, when you are 6-foot-5, 292 pounds with tree trunks for legs, it’s hard to find many people who measure up.
Just don’t confuse Buggs with being conceited or complacent. The humble defensive lineman is always eager to learn new ways to perfect his game.
“I’m not the type of player who looks up to any player,” Buggs said on National Signing Day in February. “I learn from each player and see things that I can do and I can use. Just evaluating, not particularly looking up to any one player because I look to myself to be the best player I can be. And I’m sure those guys look at themselves to be the best players they can be.”
After all, that’s why Buggs came to Alabama in the first place — to prove he’s the best.
“I know if I’m at Alabama I’m here for a reason,” Buggs said. “It’s either go hard or go home. It’s Nick Saban. He’s going to recruit the best to get the best.”
So far, the highly-touted defensive end has lived up to his end of the deal.
Since joining Alabama’s program from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in December, Buggs has shown why he was rated as the No. 1 JUCO player in this year’s class. The first of Alabama’s 16 early enrollees to arrive on campus, he helped the Crimson Tide prepare for its national championship matchup against Clemson. Now he appears hell-bent on making sure he’s on the field to lead Alabama back to that pinnacle himself.
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“He looks good,” Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams said last week. “He's doing a good job. You can tell he's a hard worker and he's learning the defense.”
Buggs understands that Alabama doesn’t typically bring in JUCO players to ride the bench. He’s also aware head coach Nick Saban isn’t one to just hand out playing time. Talking with Saban earlier this year, Buggs said the head coach warned him that neither his high rating nor his previous college experience would guarantee him a spot on the field.
Apparently, Buggs took that to heart.
The JUCO transfer is said to be one of the hardest workers by his teammates and has made a name for himself throughout the spring. While no stats were produced from either of the Tide’s two scrimmages, Buggs has reportedly stood out in both contests, drawing praise from Saban after last week’s performance.
“I think he's gotten better every practice,” Saban said. “I think discipline to play this kind of defense where everybody has a job to do and it's important for you to do your job and stay in your gap and play your gap, I think some of that stuff is a little new to him. But I think his effort has gotten better and better. He's getting in better condition and I think he's played better each day.”
If there’s one critique on Buggs so far, it’s his eagerness to want to make the big play on defense. Although, it’s hard to blame Buggs for getting a little anxious at times, especially early on in his Tide career. Alabama linebacker Keith Holcombe says just about everybody who comes through the program goes through the same thing at some point.
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“Yeah, coming off of high school going into college and being the stud or whatever you want to call yourself in high school, being the guy everybody looked to make that one play,” Holcombe said. “Yeah, you might have to reel yourself in every now and again. But once you understand your role and what you’re doing, how to play here together with everybody, that you and lean on each other, it goes a lot smoother.”
With the departure of last year’s starters Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson, Alabama has two open spots at defensive end heading into the season. One of those appears likely to be filled by senior Da’Shawn Hand. However, that still leaves one starting spot open for Buggs.
Competing with Raekwon Davis and Quinnen Williams for the starting role this spring, Buggs remains confident in his ability and is determined to earn early playing time at Alabama.
“As long as I keep my head up and do what I’m supposed to do on and off the field, it’ll happen,” Buggs said.
You can bet he won’t stop working until it does.
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