NEW ORLEANS — LSU and Alabama have not only been the two best teams in college football this season but the two deepest, and Crimson Tide linebacker Tana Patrick is part of the proof.
Patrick was Rivals.com’s No. 67 prospect nationally in the 2009 signing class out of North Jackson High School, but he has yet to make his imprint on the Tide. The 6-foot-3, 236-pound redshirt sophomore is not listed on Alabama’s two-deep chart for Monday night’s BCS championship game against the Tigers.
“It was hard at first, but I think this will all help me become a better player and a better person,” Patrick said. “I’ve been getting better each year, and I’m learning from some of the best guys who are in front of me. The waiting part has definitely been the toughest thing, because I wasn’t used to it at all.”
Patrick has worked at inside and outside linebacker during his three seasons and is currently working inside, which is where he played at North Jackson. He has appeared in 10 games this season, totaling seven tackles — four of those coming in the opening 48-7 rout of Kent State.
As a redshirt freshman, Patrick got in six games and made four tackles.