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TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama freshmen Nico Johnson and Tana Patrick could get playing time at weakside linebacker when the Crimson Tide faces host Ole Miss on Saturday.
Since starter Dont’a Hightower was injured early in the Arkansas game, the Crimson Tide has compensated without using the freshmen, instead sliding senior Cory Reamer to Hightower’s weakside spot. UA coach Nick Saban said Monday that more players would be involved at linebacker, however, and mentioned the freshman tandem specifically on Wednesday.
“Tana is making progress, Nico is making progress. We’ve really played Nico at both Mike (middle) and Will (weakside), so his learning curve is a little heavier than the rest of the guys,” Saban said. “But they’re all doing fine, and they’re all probably going to have to play at some point, and they might get an opportunity sooner than later, because this is going to be more of a game where they play more regular people where we won’t be in nickel all the time, so we’ll be playing our linebackers.”
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