A Sweltering Session on the Practice Field
The second day of fall camp arrived with the Tuscaloosa heat climbing into the high 80s, the heat index flirtation with the mid‑90s turning each rep into a test of endurance.
Coaches used the session to spotlight the defensive line, where a mix of veteran returnees and a fresh influx of talent competed for starting spots. Among them, USC transfer Devan Thompkins is slated to anchor the end position, while Oregon’s Terrance Green joins nine other newcomers on the line.
The drills emphasized burst and first‑step explosiveness out of the snap, a focus that mirrored last year’s curriculum and aimed to sharpen the unit’s initial reaction.
Virginia Tech transfer Caleb Woodson led linebacker work alongside Cayden Jones and quarterback Reese, while five‑star freshman Xavier Griffin drew one‑on‑one attention from outside linebackers coach Christian Robinson, underscoring the staff’s intent to develop the newcomer.
Carmelo O'Neal, a Mercer transfer, spent time with the defensive backs, even discarding his helmet for a brief drill, while Nick Sherman remained the sole non‑quarterback in a black non‑contact jersey. Meanwhile, Noah Rogers was absent after reporting injury, and Kevin Riley received the most quarterback reps alongside Austin Mack and Keelon Russell.
Players coped with the sweltering conditions by dousing sponges in water and wiping down after intense bursts, a routine also observed by Jeremiah Beaman and Thompkins. Notably, the session did not include five‑man offensive line drills, leaving the staff to evaluate other configurations.