5 on 5: What We're Hearing About Tommy Rees and the Alabama Crimson Tide

The latest on what's being said about the Alabama Crimson Tide, including the baseball team having a road trip to remember.

Here's this week's edition. Like usual, take it for what it's worth: 

1) We're hearing a lot of good things from multiple sources about new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. In part because he's young, Rees seems to have the ability to hold young talented players accountable, and in a way that they're ok with it. He's a very good teacher with "big picture" vision, but he has no tolerance for the same mistakes being made again and again. 

Nick Saban doesn't throw around a lot of praise until it's earned, even during the spring, so this following line from Thursday night's press conference certainly got our attention:  

"I like where we're headed and what we're doing. I think the scheme that we have to run the ball is well tied together. Hopefully between that and play-action passes we can make a few more explosive plays and not just rely on dropping back all the time. I think that would be very helpful."

Among the new players there's a lot of talk about junior college transfer Malik Benson at wide receiver. 

2) According to the SEC, the conference had 88 total players (70 active and 18 on injured lists) on Opening Day rosters for Major League Baseball. The former Crimson Tide players included (* injured list)

• Matt Foster, Chicago White Sox*
• Tommy Hunter, New York Mets
• Jimmy Nelson, Los Angeles Dodgers*
• David Robertson, New York Mets
• Spencer Turnbull, Detroit Tigers

The only disappointing thing about that list is that they're all pitchers. 

3) If you saw our recent report on prospect Amari Jefferson, who is committed to Tennessee as a baseball player, we have it on good authority that Alabama is offering him the chance to play both baseball and football with the Crimson Tide. Jefferson is a consensus 4-star football recruit from Chattanooga, Tenn., where he plays for the Baylor School. He'd like to be a two-sport athlete at the next level and has already scheduled official visits to Alabama (June 9-11) and Georgia (June 16-18).

4) There was a buzz on campus last week when Illinois big man Coleman Hawkins was spotted on campus. It turns out he's dating Crimson Tide forward/guard Aaliyah Nye, who was second on the team in scoring after transferring in from Illinois last season. On Tuesday, the 6-10 Hawkins, who averaged 9.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and three assists last season, declared for the 2023 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility.

5) Alabama baseball has been raving about the setup and turnout (paid attendance of 6,479) from this week's game in Huntsville, beginning with head coach Brad Bohannon. “The atmosphere here tonight was awesome," he said. "It was electric. The place was packed, and the Trash Pandas put on an absolute first-class event. This was an awesome experience for our kids, and we cannot get back soon enough." It wasn't just lip service. 

The 🚀 city was 🔥 tonight!!! Thank you @trashpandas can’t come back soon enough! #RollTide 🐘 https://t.co/sqWGWYWgxa

— Brad Bohannon (@CoachBo_Bama) March 29, 2023

See Also:

The Man who Turned Alabama Athletics Around: Mal Moore

College Football Desperately Needs to Adjust Calendar Overload

Alabama Basketball is Not Built For March Success? Don't Buy it