Fanuzzi will transfer; Tide releases depth chart
August 25, 2008
Alabama has a depth chart, and quarterback Nick Fanuzzi isn’t on it.
Tide head coach Nick Saban said Fanuzzi, a 6-3, 207-pound redshirt freshman from San Antonio, has left the team and will look for some playing time.
Saban said Fanuzzi is a great kid, hard worker and did everything coaches asked. Still, Fanuzzi, who was running the Clemson offense for the scout team at practice last week, wasn’t going to get on the field. Senior John Parker Wilson is the starter, backed up by Greg McElroy. Star Jackson and Thomas Darrah are still competing for the No. 3 slot. Saban said he wishes Fanuzzi well and offered to help him find a better situation.
Saban’s depth chart answers some questions in the defensive front seven. Defensive ends will be Bobby Greenwood, Lorenzo Washington and Brandon Deaderick. Saban said he considers all three starters. Terrence Cody and Josh Chapman are at nose tackle. Rolando McClain is the mike linebaacker, backed up by Charlie Higgenbotham and the suspended Prince Hall. Also inside, at the will position, is true freshman Don’ta Hightower, then Chris Jordan and Jennings Hester. At the jack linebacker is Brandon Fanny, then Eryk Anders and freshman Courtney Upshaw. At the sam linebacker is Cory Reamer, then freshman Jerrell Harris or Chavis Williams.
The secondary has Javier Arenas and Kareem Jackson at the corners, Justin Woodall at strong safety, and Rashad Johnson at free safety.
Freshman sensation Julio Jones will start at wide receiver, and also return kickoffs, Saban said. Mike McCoy will start on the other side.
Behind Wilson will be Glen Coffee, who is one of four in a running back rotation—with freshman Mark Ingram, Terry Grant and Roy Upchurch.
Travis McCall is listed first among five tight ends, along with Nick Walker, Chris Underwood, Preston Dial or Brad Smelley.
Up front, Andre Smith is at left tackle, Mike Johnson at guard, Antoine Caldwell at center, Marlon Davis at right guard and Drew Davis at right tackle. Backups, from left tackle to right, are Barrett Jones or Tyler Love, Brian Motley at left guard, Evan Cardwell or William Vlachos at center, David Ross at right guard and John Michael Boswell or Taylor Pharr at right tackle.
