Kalvaraz Bessent gives verbal to Alabama

Camden County High School (Kingsland, GA) defensive back Kalvaraz Bessent has given his verbal commitment to the University of Alabama for 2014.

Bessent, who stands 6-foot-1 and tops the scale at 188-pounds, selected the Crimson Tide over the likes of Auburn, Florida, Florida State, and Georgia.

Considered a four-star prospect per Rivals.com, Bessent becomes the second verbal commitment for Alabama in respect to the 2014 signing class.

Although spring practice for the 2013 season is set to begin this Saturday, it is clear that Nick Saban and his coaching staff live in the present, while maintaining an “obligatory eye” on the future.

Additional reading

-Alabama picks up DB commit

-Kalvaraz Bessent commits to Alabama: Tide lands elite cornerback recruit

Crimson Notes 2/27/13

With the start of spring football practice in a little over two weeks, several news items have come across the wire in regards to player disciplinary actions, a potential transfer, and injury concerns.

-The four players arrested earlier this month have been dismissed from the football program and are no longer enrolled at the University of Alabama. In respect to the original documentation of the story, a "site policy" was issued in the latter portions of THIS article. While this event was certainly not unforeseen, contrary to the original policy, the news does offer finality in respect to the football aspect of this issue.

-*Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Danny Woodson, Jr. has been suspended from the program for violation of team rules. Due to the suspension, Woodson, Jr. is not participating in offseason workouts.

-*Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Marvin Shinn is not participating in the offseason workout program and all signs indicate that Shinn will transfer prior to the start of the 2013 season.

*Alabama WR Marvin Shinn likely transferring; Danny Woodson Jr. suspended for violation of team rules

-Per Nick Saban, defensive back John Fulton and wide receiver Kevin Norwood are recovering from toe injuries and will potentially miss the spring practice sessions. In respect to Fulton, the Crimson Tide senior is recovering from a surgical procedure.

Mike Groh to the NFL, Billy Napier to Alabama

Just days after Alabama replaced Jeff Stoutland with Mario Cristobal, the sought-after Crimson Tide coaching staff has once again undergone a transformation.

Alabama wide receivers coach Mike Groh, who was recently named the 2013 Recruiter of the Year by 247Sports.com and Rivals.com, has accepted a coaching position with the Chicago Bears of the NFL.

To counter the move by Groh, Alabama will reportedly hire Florida State tight ends coach/recruiting coordinator Billy Napier to fill the vacancy.

Prior to his arrival at Florida State, Napier served as the assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach under Jim McElwain at Colorado State.

In respect to Alabama, Napier will actually be making his return to the Crimson Tide fold. During the 2011 calendar year, Napier served as an offensive quality control assistant on the 'Bama staff under Jim McElwain.

Napier, 32, has been in the coaching profession since 2003 where he initially served as a graduate assistant at Clemson.

Mario Cristobal hired as new offensive line coach

He was a rival in the 1993 Sugar Bowl, but as of today Mario Cristobal is Alabama’s newest ally…as well as offensive line coach.

Regarded by many as one of the brightest young minds in the coaching profession, Cristobal will succeed the departed Jeff Stoutland not only as offensive line coach, but as one of Alabama’s leading recruiters.

Like Stoutland, Cristobal comes to Alabama from the University of Miami. Over the course of his coaching career, Cristobal has had various stints with the UM program, including earlier this year where he accepted the position of associate head coach/tight ends coach. Cristobal, a 1993 Miami graduate, will be leaving that position to accept his new role on the Alabama staff.

As for the aforementioned various stints with the 'Canes, Cristobal also held the title of tight ends coach in 2004-2005, and the title of offensive line coach in 2006.

In addition to his experience as a position(s) coach, Cristobal’s most notable coaching tenure came as head coach of the Florida International Panthers. From 2007-2012, Cristobal resurrected a dormant program by leading them to two bowl appearances, including a victory in the 2010 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

In respect to his college playing career, Cristobal was an offensive lineman for the Miami Hurricanes during their most recent “glory era.” Cristobal was a member of the 1989 and 1991 national championship teams while at Miami, and as noted above, was a vital member of the 1992 Miami squad that lost to Alabama in the famed Sugar Bowl. The contest, held on January 1, 1993, was essentially a "winner-take-all" national title game, some six years prior to the BCS format.

Steele and Stevenson join the Alabama staff

In addition to today’s hire of Mario Cristobal, Alabama did make two official hires last week in the persons of Kevin Steele and Kerry Stevenson.

Steele, the former defensive coordinator at both Alabama and Clemson, has been named the Director of Player Personnel for the Crimson Tide staff and will also serve as an active recruiter for head coach Nick Saban.

In respect to Stevenson, the former Vigor High School head football coach has been named the Director of Player Development, and, like Steele, will also serve as an active recruiter.

Personal site policy in regards to the recent arrests

As has been well documented by essentially every sports media outlet in the country, four Alabama football players were arrested last week and charged with serious offenses.

Given the severity of the crimes and the negative attention surrounding the situation, this will be the one and ONLY time this story will be mentioned on The Crimson Elephant.

Those who perpetrated these acts of violence (amongst other things) are not worthy of attention, and the victims deserve our prayers and support.

What took place last week on the University of Alabama campus is not representative of the Alabama football program, and will certainly not be “glorified” in the form of “name attention” on this site.

The issues at hand, as of now, are of a legal nature and involve suspended, not active, football players. Barring an unforeseen turn of events, this story will not be discussed or documented (further) via this media outlet.