Crimson Red Sports

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Alabama is "probably not going to have" sophomore inside linebacker C.J. Mosley (elbow) on Saturday night when it visits Florida, coach Nick Saban said Thursday on his radio show.


That will be a handicap as the Tide tries to slow down fast Florida running backs Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey.

"C.J. is the perfect kind of guy to have for this kind of game ... because he can run," Saban said.

Mosley will be day-to-day next week, Saban said.


Jerrell Harris ready for more action

If Mosley is unable to play Saturday, senior outside linebacker Jerrell Harris might be called on for some duty inside on nickel defense, as he was last week against Arkansas.

Mosley will be missed if he doesn't play, Harris said.

"C.J. has a very big role on the team," Harris said. "He does a lot of things, and he's very athletic. He also contributes a lot on special teams. Really, we pride ourselves in the next man up. ..."

Who is that?

Candidates would be Harris, Nico Johnson and freshman Trey DePriest.

"It could be either one of us," Harris said, "because all the linebackers play all the positions, so any given moment you could be in the game."

Discipline, angles the keep to slowing Gators down

What's the secret to neutralizing the blazing speed in Florida's backfield?

"It's just discipline," Harris said. "We prepare all year for games like this. ...

"I don't think you want to match up with their speed. Not too many guys run as fast as they do. It's being at the right place at the right time and taking the right angles."

Dre Kirkpatrick impressing Harris

Harris is impressed with how much junior cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, a teammate at Gadsden City High School, has matured.

"It's like unbeleiveable how far he's come over the last couple of years, how much he's grown and matured to become one of the top players that he is now," Harris said.

Is Kirkpatrick a shutout cornerback?

"Yeah, he is," Harris said. "Probably the best cornerback I've played with."

Saban was asked about Kirkpatrick on his radio show and said the cornerback probably played the best game of his college career against Arkansas.

"He's a very emotional guy," Saban said. "We don't like for our players to talk to the players on the other team. We have a rule against that."

But it's hard for some players not to make it personal, Saban acknowledged....