McClain impresses players, staff

TUSCALOOSA — To those of you who knew Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain back when he was a student at Decatur High, here's some news you may not know:

He apparently has grown two more feet, put on an extra 200 pounds or so and now runs the 40-yard dash in about two seconds flat.

When listening to McClain's teammates describe the young first-year player from the River City, it sounds like they're describing Paul Bunyan instead of a top freshman with an exceptionally bright football future.

The depth chart that Alabama coach Nick Saban graciously released Monday lists McClain as 6-foot-4, 255 pounds and first team at middle linebacker. But his legend is growing daily.

It seems like this happens every preseason at Alabama. The veteran players will rave constantly about one particular freshman, and this summer, McClain seems to be the guy. The last true freshman linebacker to get these kinds of reviews was DeMeco Ryans, who was the NFL's defensive rookie of the year last season.

It should thrill his many friends in Decatur that his new teammates call him "humble" and "powerful" and are about as eager as you to see what he shows when he plays his first collegiate game Saturday against Western Carolina.

"He's a manchild," said Alabama defensive end Wallace Gilberry, adding that McClain has the size to play on the defensive line.

"Some were saying that the kid would be a defensive end before he leaves here, but he's a linebacker," he said. "That's where he'll play."

First-team running back Terry Grant laughed when asked if McClain had hit him in practice yet.

"No, he's a pretty big boy," Grant said. "I try not to let him catch me."

McClain will get his chance because Saban has suspended two players for Saturday's game, including receiver Keith Brown and sophomore middle linebacker Prince Hall, a solid prospect in his own right. Hall made 77 tackles last year, including a team-high 101/2 for lost yardage.

Saban announced the suspensions Monday, but he indicated that he's known for a while that he would make this move. McClain has spent much of preseason practice working with the first-team defense, while Hall has worked with the reserves.

It's easy to downplay McClain's move into the lineup, if you wish. You could say that he's getting to start because of three primary reasons: