YOUNGER MOSLEY MAKES HIS OWN NAME WITH TIDE
Nick Saban has been Alabama’s head coach for 10 years, eight months and 11 days.
A lesser-known barometer is Crimson Tide redshirt junior linebacker Jamey Mosley, the younger brother of former Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, a two-time All-American.
“I remember when I went into C.J.’s house,” Saban said this week. “Jamey was just a small, young person. We’ve known him for a long time.”
C.J. Mosley, now in his fourth season with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens and having already received two Pro Bowl invitations, was a top-100 national prospect in the 2010 signing class and the state of Alabama’s second-ranked recruit behind Tide cornerback signee Dee Milliner. It was a much different recruiting experience for his younger brother, who received interest from the likes of Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana Tech and Old Dominion.
Despite knowing there was no scholarship at Alabama and there would always be comparisons to his older brother, Jamey Mosley opted to walk on in 2014.
“I’ve been around this place since sixth grade, and it’s just where I felt comfortable,” Mosley said last Saturday after the top-ranked Tide improved to 2-0 with a 41-10 defeat of Fresno State in Tuscaloosa. “My brother had a lot of talent, and I never looked at that as a negative thing. I looked at it as a positive and a goal to get to.
“He was always a positive influence on me, and I loved it.”
Mosley earned his first career start last week and could get his second Saturday night, when the Tide host Colorado State. The 6-foot-5, 248-pounder from the Mobile suburb of Theodore has three tackles through two games. His walkon status ended before the start of last season, when he was placed on scholarship and competed in five games but did not record any tackles.
“He’s worked really, really hard, and he’s gotten a lot bigger and a lot stronger,” Saban said. “He’s a very conscientious guy who feels it’s very important to know what to do and exactly how to do it.
“I’ve been around this place since sixth grade, and it’s just where I felt comfortable. My brother had a lot of talent ... I looked at it as a positive and a goal to get to.” – JAMEY MOSLEY
He wants to do his job well, and I think that’s why he’s been able to make a contribution to the team.”
Mosley’s ascension to the starting lineup at strongside linebacker last weekend was partly the result of what transpired the weekend before. In a 24-7 opening win over Florida State in Atlanta, Alabama lost three outside linebackers to injuries — Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Lewis and Christian Miller. The injuries to Lewis and Miller were season-ending, while Jennings sat out last week’s victory with an ankle sprain.
“I’m blessed to have the opportunity to come here and play, but I hate to have three guys go down at one position,” Mosley said. “We preach ‘next man up,’ and I just had to succeed with my opportunity. If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.”
Yet Mosley’s starting role, as Saban mentioned, was also very much earned, especially given that he showed up in Tuscaloosa as a lanky 188-pounder.
“I’ve put on a lot of weight,” he said with a smile. “I played four sports in high school, so I never had the chance to gain weight because I was always doing something. When I got here, it was just football, and these guys know what they’re doing.”
Mosley said he talks to his older brother before every game and essentially receives Saban-like advice — “He always just tells me to do my job and control what I can control,” he said — and he isn’t alone in the land of former walk-ons. Senior cornerback Levi Wallace made his first career start against Fresno State after notching his first career interception against the Seminoles.
It was a long wait for Mosley, who has no regrets.
“Any blessing comes with a burden,” he said. “You know what you’re getting into when you come here, and I was just ready for the opportunity.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.