Alabama's Dickson, Kamara suspended

photo Alabama Crimson Tide logo

Alabama football coach Nick Saban announced Thursday evening that junior linebacker Xzavier Dickson and freshman tailback Alvin Kamara have been suspended for the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma.

The brief statement released by the university did not include a reason for the suspensions, nor did it contain any quotes. Saban spoke with the media following Tuesday's practice, which was the first time the Crimson Tide had taken the field since their Nov. 30 loss at Auburn, and he is not scheduled to speak again to reporters until Sunday.

Dickson, a 6-foot-3, 265-pounder from Griffin, Ga., was a backup this season but played in all 12 games, totaling 13 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. He started six games last season, when Alabama won a second straight national championship, and tallied 33 tackles, five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

Kamara did not play this season and missed a week of practice leading up to last month's game with LSU for what Saban labeled "behavioral reasons." The 5-10, 195-pounder from Norcross, Ga., was the nation's No. 32 overall prospect last winter according to ESPN and No. 45 according to RIvals.com.

Last season, Crimson Tide linebackers Ryan Anderson and Dillon Lee were sent home from Miami for curfew violations.

Alabama held a two-hour practice in full pads Thursday on the Thomas-Drew practice fields. It was the Tide's fourth practice of the week, having worked out twice Wednesday, and the first outside as temperatures reached the upper 60s.

The Tide will hold four more practices before breaking for Christmas on Monday afternoon. They will reconvene in New Orleans next Friday.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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