Though he's only a sophomore, Rolando McClain could end up being one of the most important players on Alabama's team this fall.
The graduation of Darren Mustin and Keith Saunders, along with the suspension of Prince Hall, and the health issues that ended the career of Zeke Knight, made the linebacker spot a potentially vulnerable area.
It didn't help matters when
McClain was involved in a motorcycle accident on May 8, which sent a scare through Crimson Tide fans. But, in light of a stellar Alabama incoming freshman recruiting class, McClain is quite candid in assessing his role on the team.
"Whether I was here or not, coach (Nick) Saban would recruit somebody just as good, if not better,"
he said. "I'm just thankful we have such good freshmen."
McClain suffered some severe scrapes and bumps and bruises, but no broken bones. Now fully recovered, he is ready to lead a trio of talented freshmen -- Courtney Upshaw, Don'ta Hightower and Jerrell Harris -- in their development as Southeastern Conference-caliber linebackers.
That will be important because the Tide has to find ways to replace Mustin, Saunders and Knight -- a trio of starters who helped the Alabama defense rank fourth in the SEC last year in scoring defense.
"I had to be a leader from the start,"
McClain said. "The road's just intensified now. For the linebackers, I just do my part to help them as much as possible. I know what I went through as a freshman, trying to learn the defense. So every day after practice, in meetings and after meetings, I try to help them as much as possible."
McClain was penciled in as a starter from the beginning, serving as a starter in the first five games of 2007 before he was benched in favor of Hall in three of the next six starts. The sophomore earned freshman All-America honors in some circles after finishing with 75 tackles and a pair of interceptions.
"The first thing about Rolando is that he plays very, very, very intelligent,"
Alabama head defensive coach Kevin Steele said."He just understands the game almost from a coach's eyes. Then, you put on top of that, he has an unbelievable amount of ability and he's big and strong. So that can be a lethal combination."
The question for Alabama coaches is whether the 6-foot-4, 250-pound McClain can be the leader Alabama needs in the middle of its linebacker corps. Last year, he was benched due to some of the normal struggles one would expect from a freshman charged with calling the defensive signals.
Now that Mustin is no longer beside him, and with Hall -- the only other experienced returning inside linebacker -- suspended for the first three games of the season, McClain will be responsible for telling the new starters where to line up.
"All of them are working hard,"
McClain said. "It's all just a stepping stone. You just take it every day, every play, that's all they can do right now."
Steele is convinced that Alabama coaches have the right person for the job despite McClain's relative inexperience.
"Rolando is a very confident young man,"
Steele said. "He understands the defense. He understands all the little nuances, and he's kind of a positive upbeat guy who is kind of outgoing and likes to help people. It's just his personality."
"I've been around some who were just as smart and just as talented, but personality wise they just were not very outgoing. So they didn't become coaches on the field. Rolando is certainly a coach on the field."
McClain's teammates are certainly thankful the May motorcycle accident wasn't serious.
"We'd be a different team if he wasn't here,"
quarterback John Parker Wilson said.
"I heard he wasn't hurt, so that is always good news,"
linebacker Cory Reamer said. "I'm sure he's learned from it and he is ready to get back on the field. He is out there with the same swagger he always had. He is ready to lead our team."
