Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, center, stands with the team during practice Friday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama opened preseason camp with a quarterback competition, several suspended players and a focus on rebounding from a pair of season-ending defeats.
The Crimson Tide veterans hit the practice field Friday with starting noseguard Brandon Ivory, fellow defensive lineman Jarran Reed and linebacker Tim Williams suspended for violating team rules, but also with a prominent newcomer throwing passes.
Quarterback Jacob Coker made his practice debut after transferring from Florida State and arriving this summer. He and last year’s backup, Blake Sims, are vying to replace 2013 Heisman Trophy finalist AJ McCarron, but Tide coach Nick Saban said he’s in no rush to pick a starter for the Aug. 30 opener against West Virginia.
Saban, who worked the young players in a second session, said he’s looking primarily for decision-making, accuracy and leadership from the candidates.
“And it’s going to take some time and some repetition and giving some guys some opportunity to be able to sort that out,” he said. “We’re not going to be in any hurry to try to make a prediction about what’s going to happen at that position. We can’t.