The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Alabama still not set on top QB
Alabama’s first depth chart of the year doesn’t clear up the starting quarterback mystery at all.
The top spot looking at the depth chart is inhabited by Jake Coker/Cooper Bateman/ Alec Morris. In other words, one of the above.
Tight end O.J. Howard can’t shed much light on the threeman competition either when friends and classmates ask because, “I’m just like them, I don’t know.”
The third-ranked Crimson Tide is hardly alone in keeping a tight lid on which quarterback will take the field in the season opener.
It’s not even uncommon at Alabama except that there are apparently three guys, not just two, still in the mix just days ahead of Saturday night’s game with No. 20 Wisconsin in Arlington, Texas.
“I’d like to let him (the winner) know three months ago,” Tide coach Nick Saban said. “It’s not about what I like, it’s about what we need to do for our team right now and making a decision for our team. We’re going to make the decision when we think it’s the right time to make the decision for this group of guys.”
It’s not just a mystery for Howard, reporters and fans. It also forces Wisconsin to at least do some preparation for three fairly different quarterbacks when only Coker has attempted a college pass.
Florida: The team captain is now the comeback kid. Linebacker Antonio Morrison, who injured his left knee in January and needed two surgeries to repair the damage, will start in Saturday’s season opener against New Mexico State.
Coach Jim McElwain said Monday that “it’s unbelievable what he’s done.”
“What normally was a 10-to12-month recovery, he did in six months,” McElwain added.
Morrison left the Birmingham Bowl on a cart nearly eight months ago after an injury that reportedly included a torn ligament and meniscus damage.
But Morrison, who led the Gators with 101 tackles last season, was able to work during camp and make steady progress.
Ole Miss: Coach Hugh Freeze says junior transfer Chad Kelly will be the starting quarterback against Tennessee-Martin on Saturday, though the coach insisted Kelly’s place atop the depth chart is not “set in stone.”
Freeze said Monday that Kelly — the nephew of NFL Hall of Famer and former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly — will take the first snaps with the starters this week during practice. As long as he performs well, he’ll take the first snaps against the Skyhawks as well.
Kelly has been locked in a tight race with sophomores Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade throughout fall camp.
LSU: Coach Les Miles was back at the team’s facilities following a trip to the hospital Monday morning after not feeling well.
UCLA: Starting cornerback Ishmael Adams was arrested on suspicion of felony robbery after allegedly taking a phone from an Uber driver Sunday. The No. 13 Bruins are preparing for their opener on Saturday vs. Virginia at the Rose Bowl. Adams, 21, is being held on $100,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court today.