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Home » How to lose weight quickly » Alabama Football Notebook: Hand looks to ‘showcase’ self – Times Daily

TUSCALOOSA DaShawn Hand arrived at Alabama in 2014 as the nations No. 1 overall recruit according to Rivals.com.

But as one of a nations-leading five five-star signees in the Crimson Tides recruiting class that year, the 6-foot-4 Hand was quickly humbled, settling in as just another elite recruit who had to earn his place.

Now, after three years of serving as a key reserve along Alabamas loaded defensive front sitting behind future NFL stars Jonathan Allen, Jarren Reed, Ashawn Robinson and Dalvin Tomlinson Hand enters his senior year as the frontrunner to finally start.

It was a humbling experience, but Im glad I went through it, Hand said Thursday. God has no mistakes in a mans life, so I was just riding the wave. I just kept chopping at the wood, and nows my time.

While serving as in a mostly backup capacity in his first three seasons, Hand combined for 44 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

But with all expectations that Hand will occupy one of the two open starting spots at defensive end, the 282-pound senior is ready to finally break out in his final season at the Capstone.

Its a very important season for me, just because I have to showcase my athleticism, Hand said. Ive been waiting. Ive been working. So, Im just ready to showcase.

Despite having to essentially wait his turn, the former No. 1 overall player says he never once considered transferring.

Not at all. Its all a mindset. Im a competitor, so I just like to compete, Hand said. When it was my time to go, I just had to suit up and go. So, just like now, its my time to showcase what I can do as a starter, so thats what I plan on doing.

Over the first two weeks of Alabamas spring practice, Hand has consistently seen reps with the first-team unit, beside junior defensive tackle DaRon Payne and sophomore end Raekwon Davis. Among the others looking to crack into the defensive lineman rotation include redshirt freshman Quinnen Williams, junior college transfer Isaiah Buggs and senior Jamar King.

*Hentges eager to step up

With O.J. Howard likely to be taken in the first half of the first round of next months NFL Draft, Alabamas tight end position will look a little different in 2017.

But, after watching and learning behind Howard the last two years, rising junior Hale Hentges is ready to step up and carry on the Crimson Tides recent tradition of play-making tight ends.

Weve had a lot of great role models along my two years here, you know like OJ Howard and Brandon Greene, who have taught me so knowledge and instilled a lot of confidence in me, Hentges said Thursday. So Im just kind hoping I can take what they taught me and use that to kind of expand to a larger role on the field and use that knowledge to help the younger guys out too.

Hentges and rising sophomore Miller Forristall are the only tight ends with any significant playing time, serving mostly as blockers last season. Appearing in all 15 games last season, Forristall finished with just five receptions for 73 yards and Hentges added three catches for 10 yards.

This season, though, each are likely to become more of an option in the offense, a change both welcome with open arms.

As you get in and you grow and you develop and you gain muscle, you lose weight, you get faster or whatever, your position changes, Hentges said. I saw me, I put on a good bit of weight and now Im playing that Y position. Miller is also putting on a good bit of weight right now cause thats something we all have to do to in order block these freaks that we block every day.

Forristall and Hentges arent alone, with 6-5 freshman early enrollee Major Tennison, 6-8 sophomore Cam Stewart and 6-4 redshirt freshman Irv Smith Jr. also eager to contribute in 2017.

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Alabama Football Notebook: Hand looks to 'showcase' self - Times Daily

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Home » How to lose weight quickly » Alabama Football Notebook: Hand looks to ‘showcase’ self – Times Daily