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Joey Teman was prepared.
The University of Alabama sophomore walked up to the Bill Battle Athletic Performance Center with a Crimson Tide beanie on and a helmet in his left hand.
Teman wants to play Alabama football. He’s a former slot receiver at Ridge Community High School in Davenport, Florida, one who declined offers from Yale and Princeton solely for a chance to walk on to the Crimson Tide.
“I chose Alabama because I felt like I had a shot,” Teman said.
A shot is all Teman, and many other Alabama students wanted. A shot is what many UA students took advantage of Tuesday night at the Hank Crisp Indoor Football Facility for Crimson Tide football walk-on tryouts.
With the House vs. NCAA settlement looming, one that would boost the maximum number of scholarships for a football program but could limit the chance for athletes to join programs without a scholarship, the era of the walk-on college athlete may be in jeopardy.
The big picture did not matter to the UA students on the indoor Tuesday night. They were focused on one thing.
“They are looking for 10 guys in the spring and the fall,” University of Alabama freshman Daley Baughn said.
Teman knew the odds. They weren’t “one-in-a-million,” but they were close.
“But you have to just show out,” Teman said. “It’s all it is. You have to show out.”
‘I really just want to go in there and be myself’
Andrew Turner is no stranger to Tuscaloosa football.
A year ago, he was a playmaking outside linebacker and defensive end for Northridge High School, one who still takes pride in a 12-tackle and 2.5-sack performance vs. Bessemer City.
A year later, Turner was a UA freshman who “lost a lot of weight,” but who brought his versatility, his humility and his football IQ to show off for members of the Crimson Tide football staff.
“I really just want to go in there and be…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/good-story-tell-alabama-football-033558132.html
Author : The Tuscaloosa News
Publish date : 2025-01-22 03:35:00
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