Alabama’s football support staff has grown so large under coach Nick Saban that it also includes former players on the scout team.
To help the Crimson Tide prepare for last Saturday’s 10-0 triumph at LSU, John Parker Wilson emulated Tigers quarterback Danny Etling and Trent Richardson played the role of star tailback Leonard Fournette. Wilson guided Alabama to a No. 1 ranking in 2008 before a loss to Florida in the Southeastern Conference title game, while Richardson rushed for 1,679 yards for the 2011 national champions and finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
“I think all the players coming back and wanting to contribute to the program shows their gratitude and appreciation of what they were able to accomplish here,” Saban said after Wednesday’s practice in a news conference. “I just love it that they all want to come back.”
Wilson and Richardson weren’t the first former standouts to come back to offer assistance. Blake Sims, who quarterbacked Alabama to the 2014 SEC title and a berth in the inaugural four-team playoff, played the role of Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight before the Crimson Tide hosted the Aggies on Oct. 22.
Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin admitted on Wednesday’s SEC teleconference that he was impressed by Alabama’s unique practice method.