With Amari Cooper now in the NFL and Chris Black injured, it’s ArDarius Stewart’s time to shine.
Stewart drew praise from Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban following Wednesday’s two-hour practice in full pads, which capped the first week of preseason camp in Tuscaloosa.
A 6-foot-1, 204-pound redshirt sophomore from Fultondale, Ala., Stewart had 12 catches for 149 yards last season.
“ArDarius Stewart is doing a nice job,” Saban said in a news conference. “He has probably been our most consistent guy out there in terms of his ability to execute. He’s making plays every day, and I think his confidence is growing.
“He’s the next guy that we need to sort of be the man when it comes to playing receiver and playing with consistency.”
Stewart played in 13 of 14 games last season and made two starts. He collected eight combined catches for 114 yards in blowout victories over Florida Atlantic and Western Carolina.
Alabama lost its top three receivers from last season – Cooper, DeAndrew White and Christion Jones. Cooper set a Southeastern Conference record a year ago with 124 receptions for a school-record 1,727 yards.
Redshirt junior Chris Black is the Tide’s top returning receiver with 15 catches for 188 yards but has missed time with an ankle injury.
Shortly after complimenting Stewart, Saban tapped the brakes on praising five-star freshman receiver Calvin Ridley. Second-year offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin said on Sunday that Ridley has shown elite talent reminiscent of some Biletnikoff Award winners he has worked with in the past.
“I wouldn’t make an assessment like that for any freshman, and I don’t think it’s fair to any freshman,” Saban said. “The guy hasn’t even played yet. Hopefully we can help him develop confidence, knowledge and experience at his position so he can play and contribute this year, but I wouldn’t put that kind of expectation on any young player.”
Alabama will practice twice today and once Friday before scrimmaging for the first time Saturday.
Tide tidbits
Saban said two freshman defensive backs, safety Ronnie Harrison and cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick, are on track to contribute this season. Another freshman, defensive lineman Anfernee Jennings, is not practicing after undergoing a procedure to repair a slipped disc in his back. Saban said Reggie Ragland, Reuben Foster and Shawn Dion Hamilton are inside linebackers in the base package but could each play on the outside as well.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.