Five Alabama players officially declare for NFL draft

Today is the final day for underclassmen to declare for the 2014 NFL draft. With the draft class being officially sealed for this year, a total of five Crimson Tide players who played a vital role on the 2013 squad, will attempt to take the next step and begin a career in professional football.

Giving formal announcements at a press conference held last week, safety HaHa Clinton-Dix, offensive lineman Cyrus Kouandjio, linebacker Adrian Hubbard, and defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan, each made public declarations for the NFL while giving thanks to those who had helped them along the way.

Sunday afternoon, in a more informal fashion, reports began to surface, and were later confirmed, that safety Vinnie Sunseri would also be throwing his name into the ring for the 2014 NFL draft. Sunseri, who suffered a season ending knee injury in mid October, had considered the idea of transferring to Florida State if he indeed decided to return to college for his senior season.

Alabama S Vinnie Sunseri, 20 tackles and 2 INT for TD in 7 gms, is recovering quickly from ACL and will enter the NFL Draft per sources
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) January 12, 2014

In respect to the conventional, "I'm returning for my senior season" category, that honor went to wide receiver DeAndrew White. While rumored that White would join Sunseri as the two "late declarations" to enter the draft, White instead tweeted that he would in fact be returning to Tuscaloosa for his senior season.

I'm not going to the nfl draft this yearI am staying for my senior year
— DeAndrew White (@Deuce_Dwhite) January 14, 2014

Since Nick Saban arrived at the University of Alabama in 2007, the declaration of five underclassmen to the next level is the highest of his Crimson Tide tenure.

2009
Glen Coffee
Andre Smith

2010
Kareem Jackson
Rolando McClain

2011
Marcell Dareus
Mark Ingram
Julio Jones

2012
Dont'a Hightower
Dre Kirkpatrick
Trent Richardson

2013
D.J. Fluker
Eddie Lacy
Dee Milliner

2014
HaHa Clinton-Dix
Adrian Hubbard
Cyrus Kouandjio
Jeoffrey Pagan
Vinnie Sunseri

Defensive line coach Bo Davis returns to Alabama

Alabama's vacancy for a new defensive line coach has been filled courtesy of a familiar name. Bo Davis, who coached the UA defensive line from 2007-2010 has been hired to replace the departed Chris Rumph who recently accepted a position on the Texas staff under new head coach Charlie Strong.

Bo Davis, DL coach who just took USC job, will instead join Alabama source confirmed
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) January 13, 2014

Davis, who left Alabama for Texas during the Mack Brown regime, recently found new employment at USC under new head coach Steve Sarkisian. However, as has been reported Monday afternoon, Davis will not take a position with the Trojans but rather return to Tuscaloosa to fill his prior role with the Crimson Tide.

In respect to the coaching search, the rumor mill spun a web of several names, most notably defensive specialist Ed Orgeron. While the Orgeron hire would have been a "blockbuster" move in the eyes of many Crimson Tide fans, the return of Bo Davis marks yet another solid hire for Nick Saban.

While trading Rumph for Davis can be considered an "apples to apples" situation, Saban will find stability with Davis once against coaching a very talented 'Bama defensive front.

Chris Rumph leaves Alabama, joins Strong at Texas

As the hire of Lane Kiffin still floats fresh in the Tuscaloosa air, Nick Saban will now prepare to fill another vacancy on his staff.

Defensive line coach Chris Rumph, who joined the Crimson Tide program in January of 2011, has accepted a position at the University of Texas under new head coach Charlie Strong.

Alabama defensive line coach Chris Rumph leaving for Texas (report) http://t.co/fwUrSpDtrM
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) January 12, 2014

While the rumor mill has already begun to turn, as it did soon after the departure of former offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, no official candidates to replace Rumph have been named at this very early stage in the process.

Declaring it to be quite obviously nothing more than pure speculation at this time, with several "defensive minds" currently on the UA staff, it is quite possible that Nick Saban chooses to hire from within the organization.

Saban taps Kiffin as Alabama's new OC/QB coach

Alabama's search for a new offensive coordinator came to an end Friday afternoon when former Tennessee and USC head coach Lane Kiffin accepted the position to join Nick Saban's staff.

Kiffin, as noted in the tweet below, will be in charge of the offense as well as coaching the UA quarterbacks. Upon making his return to the SEC, Kiffin's primary task in Tuscaloosa will be to maximize the Crimson Tide offense for 2014 and beyond.

Alabama football has hired Lane Kiffin to be its next offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. #RollTide
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) January 10, 2014

Despised by many college football fans around the nation, yet respected by many of his peers in the coaching circle, Kiffin will be greeted at Alabama by an abundance of talent, as well as several confident and determined quarterbacks who will be eager to fill the vacancy left by AJ McCarron.

Noted for his track record as a solid offensive coordinator, especially during the majority of his tenure at USC, Kiffin will become the fourth OC Nick Saban has hired since he arrived in Tuscaloosa in early 2007.

Lane Kiffin will be offensive coordinator at Alabama? Great recruiter with a lot of experience. More respected by fellow coaches than fans
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) January 10, 2014

Saban, in a statement released Friday afternoon, described the 38-year-old Kiffin as an "outstanding and creative offensive coach."

While financial figures have yet to be confirmed, Kiffin has agreed to a three-year contract.