Alabama “A-Day” set for Saturday afternoon

Following one month of practice, two scrimmages, some injuries, and several position shuffles, the Alabama Crimson Tide football team will conclude spring practice with the annual “A-Day” game.

Set to begin at 2 p.m. this Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and televised live via ESPN2, the spring game is indeed the culmination of practice until early August.

Excluding the “injury bug,” which was documented in a prior post, the spring session has been one of evaluation and experimentation. With a crop of early enrollees, coupled with players returning from injury, general “assessment” has certainly played a vital role since mid March.

In regards to the experimentation aspect, a few players are working in different areas of the same position, but the most notable moves have come in the Tide secondary where three offensive players have spent a large portion of the spring…covering wide receivers. Running back Dee Hart and wide receivers Christion Jones and Cyrus Jones have each received weeks of work at defensive back, and Christion Jones could potentially play “both ways” in not only the spring game, but perhaps, during the 2013 season.

While fans of the Crimson Tide will certainly be intrigued by new faces and possibilities, the real significance of the spring game is simply the free "appetizer" that serves as a friendly reminder that a new college football season is just months away.

Additional reading

-Who would win if Alabama CB Christion Jones covered WR Christion Jones?

-The 5 biggest questions of Alabama spring football, revisited

-Alabama A-Day: How and where to watch the 2013 spring game

Shaun Dion Hamilton gives verbal to Alabama

Carver High School (Montgomery, AL) linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton has given his verbal commitment to the University of Alabama for 2014.

Hamilton, a four-star prospect per Rivals.com, selected the Crimson Tide over the likes of Auburn and Tennessee.

Set to graduate in December, and enroll at Alabama in January of 2014, Hamilton stands just under 6-foot-1 and tops the scale at 241-pounds.

With today’s pledge, Shaun Dion Hamilton becomes the fourth verbal commitment for the Crimson Tide in respect to the 2014 signing class.

Tide RB Derrick Henry suffers fractured fibula

In an ideal setting, the month that is spring football practice would be engaging, cooperative, but most notably…quiet.

As the Alabama Crimson Tide enter the final week of the spring session, just days before the annual spring game, the “quiet vibe” has transformed into a small draft of wind.

Running back Derrick Henry, the highly touted freshman from Yulee, FL, suffered a fractured fibula during the course of Alabama’s second spring scrimmage, which was held April 13.

Courtesy of a phone interview with Henry’s former high school coach, al.com obtained the information regarding the injury.

While Henry is expected to be ready for the start of fall camp, he must first recover from surgery (insertion of a plate) that was required to stabilize the bone.

Prior to his injury, Henry had, by all accounts, a productive spring. Being an early enrollee, Henry was gaining vital knowledge in regards to adapting to not only the college life as a student, but to college football and learning the Alabama offensive system.

In the overall “big picture” of spring camp, Henry is the second Tide player to be injured during a scrimmage and then have a surgical procedure to repair the issue in question.

During Alabama’s initial scrimmage of the spring, linebacker Trey DePriest sustained a fractured foot which was opted to be surgically repaired in order to accelerate the recovery period.

Spring injury report (notable)

*List is reserved for injuries/surgeries…not minor ailments*

Inactive

-LB Trey DePriest (Foot-Injured During Spring)

-DB John Fulton (Toe-Missed Spring)

-RB Derrick Henry (Leg-Injured During Spring)

-WR Kevin Norwood (Toe-Missed Spring)

Black non-contact jersey (due to 2012 injuries/pre-spring surgery)

-RB Jalston Fowler (Knee)

-RB/DB Dee Hart (Knee)

-LB C.J. Mosley (Shoulder)

-WR DeAndrew White (Knee)

President Obama honors 'Bama title team

For the third time in four years, and for the second consecutive year, the Alabama Crimson Tide have visited the grandest house in the nation.

Earlier today, members of the 2012 Alabama football team, as well as distinguished state dignitaries, visited the White House to be formally congratulated and recognized by President Barack Obama for winning the BCS National Championship.

Today's gathering with the POTUS was originally scheduled for early March, but the trip was cancelled due to inclement weather in the Washington D.C. area.

As was the case last year, Alabama players used the power of social media to share the experience via Twitter, and other outlets, as the events took place.

As for the official ceremony, President Obama began his speech with a resounding "Roll Tide!" and then expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of Mal Moore. The POTUS then proceeded to "summarize" the 2012 Alabama football season as well as throw in several laughs concerning the program's "habit" of returning to the White House.

In terms of gifts, Barrett Jones, AJ McCarron, and Chance Warmack presented our nation's leader with a No. 15 (white) jersey, an Alabama helmet, as well as a commemorative football.

While meeting the POTUS is the highlight of any D.C. trip, Alabama also took a tour of the Smithsonian Institution.

For additional news/notes on Alabama's ceremonial trip, including player reaction(s), be sure to follow "@BamaFootballTCE" on Twitter.