Crimson Red Sports

As if to send a not-so-subtle message to the doubters who questioned the health of his knee, AJ McCarron was out front leading his Crimson Tide teammates out of the tunnel Saturday night as if to say, 'Yep, nothing wrong with my knee.'

Then he went out and helped introduce freshman wide receiving sensation Amari Cooper to a nationally televised audience. Sure, those in Tuscaloosa and around the Yellow Hammer state knew of the athletically gifted player, but McCarron-to-Cooper all night through the Tennessee defense expediated the process.

If Cooper's two-touchdown performance against Ole Miss put him on the map to UA fans, he had his 'Hello SEC' game against the Volunteers. By halftime, he had 120 yards receiving and a touchdown on six catches, and he added to that in the second half.

The Miami native finished with seven catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns, setting a school record for most yards receiving in a single game by a freshman. And that doesn't include a 30-yard touchdown that was called back due to an illegal formation in the third quarter