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Chuck Morrell has not wasted much time since his Alabama football promotion.
After spending the 2024 season as an analyst and special assistant to the head coach, Morrell was named as the Crimson Tide’s linebackers coach Jan. 3, taking the responsibility from defensive coordinator Kane Wommack.
Since the promotion, Morrell has been on the recruiting trail, promoting a unit that as extremely productive in 2024 — a unit he worked with extensively — and extending offers to linebackers across the country that fit the Crimson Tide mold.
To recruits, Morrell’s pitch is simple.
“His words were, you know, ‘Alabama, we love you,'” 2026 Ohio linebacker Cincere Johnson said. “And ‘Alabama, we coming.'”
Johnson, the No. 104 player and No. 8 linebacker in the 2026 class per 247Sports’ composite rankings, fits the mold.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker already had Alabama’s attention during the middle of his junior season for his length, size and speed, one that led to 205 tackles, 41 tackles-for-loss and the 2024 OHSAA Division IV Defensive Player of the Year award at Glenville High School in Cleveland.
“My instincts are key on, you know, I can read a play before it happens,” Johnson said. “You know, send people backwards.”
Cincere Johnson was at Ohio Stadium to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Michigan Wolverines in an NCAA football game on Saturday Nov. 30, 2024.
While Morrell specializes coaching inside linebackers at Alabama, with Christian Robinson heading up the outside linebacker spot, Johnson said Morrell’s pitch was teaching him each linebacker spot and finding which position he fit best.
The pitch was similar for 2026 Maryland linebacker Nick Abrams with his 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame and his 8-foot, 3-inch wingspan, who could run a 4.57-second 40-yard dash.
Abrams said he doesn’t have one main skill, but skills…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/chuck-morrell-pitching-alabama-football-100716941.html
Author : The Tuscaloosa News
Publish date : 2025-01-09 10:07:00
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