It seems like the guys at 'BamaOnline have gotten their hands on the 2008 media guide, which I'm sure is being widely circulated at Hoover for the SEC Media Days, Alabama nose guard Josh Chapman, along with QB Nick Fanuzzi and OL William Vlachos, has been granted a medical hardship waiver, and therefore will still be freshmen in 2008. All three of those guys played in the Western Carolina a year ago -- and Chapman played against Vanderbilt and Arkansas as well -- but they will go into the 2008 season remaining as freshmen thanks to their medical hardship waiver applications being successfully granted. Defensive end Nick Gentry, who suffered last season after needing surgery to correct an old should injury, was also granted a medical hardship waiver, and will remain a freshman.
Wide receiver Darius Hanks and defensive end Alfred McCullough weren't so lucky, however. Their applications were apparently not granted, and as a result they will go into the 2008 season as sophomores.
Also, the jersey numbers for the true freshmen have been released as well. The following is how it shakes out:
1: Burton Scott
2: Star Jackson
4: Mark Barron
5: Jerrell Harris
8: Julio Jones
15: Alonzo Lawrence
22: Mark Ingram
23: Robby Green
31: Ivan Matchett
36: Chris Jordan
37: Robert Lester
41: Courtney Upshaw
44: Jermaine Preyear
46: Wesley Neighbors
54: Glenn Harbin
56: Don'ta Hightwower
57: Marcel Dareus
62: Terrance Cody
65: Damian Square
72: Tyler Love
75: Barrett Jones
89: Michael Williams
94: Undra Billingsley
97: John Michael Boswell
Oddly enough, there have been no reports yet on the number for Brad Smelley. He wore #9 in high school, but that number will not be available considering Nikita Stover will play on offense as well, and he too is sporting the number.
A couple of more notes:
- If you will notice, there are several duplicate numbers on the roster. That is not necessarily a problem, mind you. There is no rule against two different players having the same number, so long as they are not on the field at the same time. As a result, for example, both Roy Upchurch and Jerrell Harris will be able to wear the number five because they play on opposite sides of the ball, and thus won't be on the field at the same time.
- Perhaps I am just a rube who is reading too much into things, but with that in mind... I find it interesting that Alonzo Lawrence was given 15. Earlier in the summer, Lawrence said that he was going to wear #21 at Alabama, which was his high school number for some time. Of course, if Prince Hall were to return, he could not take Hall's #21 because they would be on the field at the same time. Again, perhaps I am just a rube reading too much into things, but it's possible that Lawrence's new number could be an indication that Prince Hall is going to return. Either way, with practice starting in one week, we'll find out soon enough.