Spring practice begins for the back-to-back champs

On a day where college basketball conference tournament action took center stage, the Alabama Crimson Tide football team was hard at work on the gridiron as the first practice of the spring session commenced.

Covered by a “Chamber of Commerce” weather day in Tuscaloosa, the first spring practice of the season was complete with new faces, new numbers, and position shuffles.

News of the day

As noted by Andrew Gribble of al.com, the following information, in part, was relayed across the wire as Crimson Tide practice took place this afternoon.

-WR Cyrus Jones, WR Christion Jones, and RB Dee Hart worked with the defensive backs. Nick Saban noted, in his post-practice press conference, that any position “flips” are simply experimental.

-LB Xzavier Dickson took reps with the defensive line.

-As expected, WR Kevin Norwood and DB John Fulton did not participate due to toe injuries/surgery. Both players are likely to miss the duration of spring camp, per Nick Saban.

-WR Marvin Shinn, who opted out of the offseason workout program and will most likely transfer, was predictably absent from the initial practice session.

-Today marked the Alabama coaching debut of secondary coach Greg Brown, offensive line coach Mario Cristobal, and wide receivers coach Billy Napier.

-The Crimson Tide will return to the practice field Monday for the second session of spring camp.

The numbers game

Early enrollees:

-RB Derrick Henry 3

-QB Luke Del Rio 14

-QB Parker McLeod 15

-QB Cooper Bateman 18

-WR Raheem Falkins 80

-TE O.J. Howard 88

-OT Leon Brown 72

-OT Brandon Hill 73

Returning players:

-NG Brandon Ivory 99 (62 last season)

-WR Cyrus Jones 5 (8 last season)

-DL Dalvin Tomlinson 54 (52 last season - redshirt)