[Bamabeachlivin]

NAME: Barrett Jones
POSITION: Offensive lineman
HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 6-5, 271
HOMETOWN/SCHOOL: Memphis, Tenn./Evangelical Christian HS
SENIOR YEAR STATS: N/A
ESPN SCOUTS INC. GRADE/POSITION RANK: 78 (No. 28 OT)

LIKELIHOOD TO START IN 2008 (SCALE OF 1 TO 10): 2
LIKELIHOOD TO PLAY IN 2008 (SCALE OF 1 TO 10): 2

THE SKINNY
Opinions vary on where Jones will play in college. Some analysts seem his as a tackle, others at guard, still others at center. But most agree he's got a bright future as an Alabama lineman. If he starts his career at tackle, he might have a chance to challenge for the starting right tackle job. If he begins inside, he's almost certain to redshirt. Alabama returns more than a half-dozen guards and centers from last year, and it wouldn't make sense to burn Jones' redshirt year unless he was clearly the team's best option. With two seniors and a junior (Andre Smith) who is all but certain to jump to the NFL after this season among the Crimson Tide's five starting linemen, however, Jones will have an opportunity to win a job next spring.

ESPN SCOUTS INC. EVALUATION
It is easy to get excited over a kid like Jones. He has a very bright future, but still needs some fine tuning. You watch him and see his natural tools and the kid screams potential. With some work you can't help and feel he will be a darn good college lineman. He has a good frame. On film he is a well built kid, but is still needs to keep physically developing and adding bulk. The thing about Jones that draws you in is his ability to move. He has great feet and can kind of effortlessly move around. At times he has a very raw feel to him, but is able to get the job done because he is athletic. That is his strong point right now, the ability to move around and get a piece of defenders. He still has room to grow as a player though. He gets adequate push in the run game. He makes solid initial contact, but needs to watch his pad level. He gets adequate hand placement, but needs to work on staying on blocks longer. He has the tools to step and reach and get out in space and block. He needs to work on his football instincts and at times just play. It will seem like he is thinking too much and not just letting his ability take over and play the game. He seems to look around a lot and try and see what is happening and react, but by that point it is often too late. He can be physical, but is adequate at finishing at this point. He needs to work on staying with blocks and being a bit more tenacious. He has a bright future as a pass blocker. He has good lateral movement and can easily mirror a rusher. He looks to have a good wingspan and can get hands on and wash a rusher past the pocket. He tends to open up too quickly and needs to work on kicking back and staying square. He also needs to work on being more active with his punches and consistently bending at the knees. Jones is a talented kid. He has some tools that are very tough to teach, but he still needs to keep developing as a player. We feel he could greatly benefit from a red-shirt year. In addition he is still fairly a young pup age wise. Once though he starts to put all the pieces together he can be a very productive and good starting tackle in college.
Story

[Stoney]

Sounds like putty in Saban's hands for him to mold as he sees fit.