Associated Press

TUSCALOOSA — Can you be a rock star without cutting an album?

Can you be a superhero without having saved anyone?

Maybe Julio Jones can. As the first game of his college career draws near, Jones, the touted true freshman from Foley, is the person Tide fans ask about first.

“Yeah, it’s ‘How’s Julio doin’?’” senior quarterback John Parker Wilson said. “It was Coach Saban last year, now it’s Julio.”

It’s a credit to Jones’ talent that the 6-foot-4, 210-pound wide receiver already seems larger than life. He and linebacker Don’ta Hightower are scheduled to start as true freshmen, the first in Alabama’s top-ranked recruiting class to earn starting jobs.

But it’s a credit to his work ethic and personality that teammates don’t just respect him — they like him.

In fact, while upperclassmen could be excused if the Julio questions wear on them, they don’t seem to begrudge him any of his fame.

“From Day 1 he’s been willing to work,” Wilson said. “He hasn’t come in expecting anything just because of what he did in high school. He’s shown me and the rest of the guys that he’s gonna earn his position, earn his spot and he’s done that every day.”

All-SEC left tackle Andre Smith may have been the highest-profile Alabama signee prior to Jones. He has been impressed with the freshman’s poise.

“He’s a great athlete, a great guy both on and off the field. I really like hanging around him,” Smith said.

“A lot of guys told me a year ago that they thought I was going to be arrogant when I came in,” said Smith, who is very low-key and soft-spoken.

The junior had the same worries as his teammates about Jones’ attitude before he arrived on campus this summer.

“Everybody thought he was going to be (arrogant), but he’s a hard worker,” Smith said. “He’s not out boasting about what he can do. He lets his action speak louder than his words.”

His actions won him a starting job at wide receiver for today’s season opener against Clemson.

“First of all, Julio did an outstanding job coming in here in camp,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “He worked hard in the summer. He was in good shape. He’s been able to sustain his performance. He’s consistently made plays in practice as well as both scrimmages.”

Saban said there was good competition at wide receiver, but Jones and Mike McCoy were ahead of the pack.

“I think probably after the first scrimmage it was pretty evident that he was going to have some role as one of the three receivers that we use quite a bit,” Saban said. “And I think this last week he certainly solidified his position as a starter.”

Linebacker Rolando McClain sees similarities between both freshman starters, Jones and Hightower.

“The thing about them is they haven’t let the hype go to their head,” the sophomore said. “They’re just calm guys. They haven’t been cocky. They’ve come in here every day ready to work. They’re ready to practice. They’re good guys. Sometimes you might see a freshman have high expectations and not live up to them. But these two guys, they’re working every day so they can meet those expectations, if not exceed them.”

Unless he can leap tall buildings in a single bound, it would be tough for Jones to exceed expectations.

He arrived on campus as the poster boy for the Tide’s 2008 recruiting class — an instant celebrity.

“I haven’t seen the videos, but being such a big guy out of high school it kind of goes along with it,” Wilson said. “Like I said, I have been impressed by the way he has gone about his business and ... not let himself be the ‘big guy,’ so to speak.”

Wilson sounded relieved that Jones has that work ethic.

“As highly as he was ranked out of high school, and all the publicity he has gotten, he could have kind of very easily just thought he was going to walk into it,” the quarterback said. “But he has come in with a good attitude.”

Running back Glen Coffee said the freshman is an instant celebrity. He also said Jones can handle that spotlight.

“Yeah, it’s a big responsibility, but I think he is ready to take that on,” Coffee said. “Just seeing him around the locker room, seeing him on the practice field, I think he is ready.”

“That fame and stuff is good, but he is grounded and that is good. He is taking it in stride and his main focus is helping us win — so all that secondary stuff matters less to him.”

Senior center Antoine Caldwell called Jones “already one of the best receivers I’ve seen come in here.” He also said he’s one of the guys people ask him about.

“Julio, JP, Andre,” Caldwell mentioned. “I get a lot. We’re just looking forward to everyone coming together and playing hard.”

Mike McCoy, who will start at the other wide receiver position or in the slot when Alabama spreads the field, said he likes hanging out with Jones. He said he thinks Jones understands the celebrity-type atmosphere that surrounds him.

“He’s a humble guy,” McCoy said. “I think that’s something he’s learned to deal with.”

McCoy wasn’t surprised that the tall, speedy Jones has attracted this kind of preseason buzz.

“Not really, because when we came in, Andre was the big man on campus, too,” McCoy recalled. “So, I mean, it’s something that’s bound to happen. If you
want great players, you got to deal with great attention.”

McCoy said he hasn’t been surprised at anything he’s seen from Jones.

“I’ve seen him on film in high school,” he said. “He’s just a different breed. Some people just got it and some people don’t — and he’s the one who has it.”

McCoy did say Jones continues to work on his game and get even better.

“I think he’s getting more comfortable. He’s getting more relaxed, and I think he’s going to show up Saturday.”

Just look for the No. 8 under his cape.