Update: Alabama ILB Dont'a Hightower to NFL

Submitted by Chi-Blue on

An earlier presser today only involed T. Richardson and Dre Kirkpatrick leaving early so this is a new development. The depth chart now reads Ohio native Trey DePreist as the new staring MLB come this Fall. IN my opinion this helps. . . alot. I know they dont rebuild down in Bama but they really lose some bigtime veteran playmakers. They as of today lose 7 starters on the defensive side of the ball, and 5 gone from the offensive side including their center and T. Rich of course.

http://alabama.rivals.com/cdepthtext.asp

 

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aaamichfan

January 12th, 2012 at 10:40 PM ^

Even with Hightower gone, our players have to work their asses off quite a bit between now and September 1st to win this game. Just booked the trip today with 6 other people.

Joined: 10/23/2009

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Indonacious

January 12th, 2012 at 10:47 PM ^

Bama reloads... their D will still be elite. They have talent stockpiled AND great coaching that doesn't tolerate inadequacy. Assuming otherwise is wishful thinking. They have Lacy and Hart at RB so they wont really feel the loss of t-rich as much as you would think.

Let's hope Hoke has the boys ready and that we progressed sufficiently in the offseason. IMO we have about a 10% chance given that it is basically an away game for us.

Joined: 01/03/2012

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Indonacious

January 12th, 2012 at 11:09 PM ^

We aren't without losses either...we lose hemmingway, Molk (multi-year starter), and our D-Line. I also qualified the "won't feel the loss" with an "as much as you would" think given the RBs that they do have and that have looked good in their limited action.

I'm not arguing that bama could not take a step back, given their losses, but that the step back will, likely, not be a astronomical proportions.

Joined: 01/03/2012

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colin

January 13th, 2012 at 3:14 AM ^

You remember Mark Ingram, right?  Not saying Lacy/Hart is absolutely the next big thing, but Bama reloads better than any team in the nation.  Until the SEC cuts down on oversigning, it's going to be hard to catch them in a down year.

Joined: 07/01/2008

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Term

January 12th, 2012 at 11:31 PM ^

While the Tide DEFINITELY reloads, i don't think it'll happen by the first week of the season.  Will they be an elite defense by bowl season? More than likely, but luckily it's week 1 and they'll have tons of inexperience.  Hopefully we can throw some new wrinkles so we look a little better than in the Sugar Bowl

Joined: 01/05/2012

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denardogasm

January 12th, 2012 at 11:28 PM ^

Is he quick enough to get out on Jake Ryan though? His hair will be down to his shoulders be then, which means his strength will improve exponentially.  All he needs is a glimpse of McCarron's shoelaces and he's got him.  In all seriousness though I think with another year under Mattison our LBs will be able to do a good job of shutting down their run game.  And their first year starters in the defensive backfield are gonna have a tough time if our tandem of Fitz and Denard can get to the second level.  Have they even seen a comparable pair in the SEC?  I don't follow those cheaters down there so I don't know.

Joined: 09/11/2011

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BRCE

January 12th, 2012 at 11:48 PM ^

Just on safety Robert Lester now. If he goes (I've seen some sites have him as a second round pick), that wipes out their entire starting secondary.

Joined: 12/30/2008

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ccdevi

January 13th, 2012 at 12:15 AM ^

Few notes. First, there have been reports that Lester is coming back. Second, the losses of Upshaw and Hightower are huge, those guys are studs, especially early in the year that's a big drop off. Third, Cj Mosley, who got hurt v LSU, is a stud waiting to happen, and was just as much a starter as T Harris. The Mosley injury looked very bad but there have been reports that's it's not that bad and he'll be back for next season and maybe even the spring. Fourth, the 3rd corner, Milliner, led the team in picks and tied Kirkpatrick for 2nd in pass breakups, presumably he steps in seamlessly to one of the corner spots. So there are some mitigating factors but Barron and the 2 lbs will be especially tough to replace that early. Rather than far and away the best d in the country you're looking at a very good D that's maybe only good early in the year.

Joined: 08/08/2010

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Indonacious

January 13th, 2012 at 2:26 AM ^

I can't start a new thread because I dont have enough points but this may be thread worthy. 247 sports came out with their final rankings. We have 10 prospects in the top 247 and 5 in the top 100.

 

Joined: 01/03/2012

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Victor Hale II

January 13th, 2012 at 5:43 AM ^

Alabama will still be good, as long as Saban is there and they can continue to sign a huge number of elite prospects.

 

That said, I can't wait for this game; I think it'll be an awesome scene.  I'm a huge fan of early season top-10 type matchups.  Let's have faith that the UM coaching staff will have the boys fully ready to make a national statement, even if we end up losing.

Joined: 12/28/2011

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stetgor

January 13th, 2012 at 7:25 AM ^

I agree with many posters here that Bama won't have a problem reloading, that just infers they'll still have talent.  HOWEVER, I'd much rather play against less-experienced talent than proven experienced talent.  If there is a right time to play Bama', it's week one.  I'm excited for that game (and will be there), it should be a good one!  I'm also VERY interested to see where our offense is, relative to what we say at the Sugar Bowl. 

Joined: 03/27/2011

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aiglick

January 13th, 2012 at 11:24 AM ^

If we win this game I propose we dub the game "Return of the Wolverine". I know Hoke has said we never left but this will mark the first time in a long time that we matched up with the best in the country. I could see some serious potential for that poster that made the Star Wars post.

Joined: 11/27/2010

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