Written by nxojkt | 01 April 2008

As is usually the case, the spring practice period is being used to experiment with some players at new positions. Some of these will be just that - experiments. But some will be permanent.

• Jimmy Johns - the most well publicized move. Jimmy has gone from being buried on the depth chart at RB to being the front-runner for the starting WILL Linebacker position.
• Jeramie Griffin - while he is technically still working at the fullback position, he is also getting snaps as a the running back in a single back set.
• Jonathan Lowe - the diminutive walk-0n who played primarily at running back last season is practicing mostly at wide receiver. New Offensive Coordinator Jim McElwain loves to use small, shifty guys in a RB/WR hybrid position that allows them to use their speed in quickness in space.
• Charles Hoke - he is still getting some reps at Tight End, but is primarily being used in the rotation at Left Tackle behind Andre Smith.
• Mike Johnson - the starter for most of the 2007 season at Right Tackle, he has moved back to the guard position he occupied during most of his 1st 2 years on campus. At the moment he is running with the 1st team at Left Guard.
• Evan Cardwell - the starting center during Antoine Caldwell's absence last season, he has moved back and forth from center to right guard. The emergence of William Vlachos at center has allowed for this move, which gives the coaches the opportunity to use Cardwell's versatility to add depth at 2 positions.
• Juan Garnier - the walk-on transfer from Ohio State has been moved from Defensive Tackle to Left Guard.
• Taylor Pharr - he worked most of last season at Right Guard, but is now a part of the 2-man rotation at Right Tackle.
• Drew Davis - he spent most of last season as Andre Smith's back-up at Left Tackle, but is now the other half of the 2-man rotation at Right Tackle.
• Tarance Farmer - after redshirting at Strong Safety in 2007, he has been moved to Wide Receiver.
• Bobby Greenwood - after a lackluster year at Right Defensive End, he has been moved to the Left Defensive End, where he play more outside containment, which he excelled at in the 4-3 defense.
• Alfred McCullough - he spent his redshirt freshman season at Defensive Tackle, but is getting a look at being a Left Defensive End. Bama's lack of depth at this position during the spring should be corrected when the incoming freshman arrive this summer, so I expect this to be temporary.
• Nick Gentry - after redshirting to attempt to add weight for the Defensive Tackle position, he has been moved to Right Defensive End. His size is more ideal for this position in Nick Saban's 3-4 scheme.
• Brandon Fanney - he has spent most of the spring moving back and forth between Defensive End and the JACK Linebacker position that he played last season. As of today he is back at the JACK, but this is a fluid situation.
• Michael DeJohn - a walk-on, he has been moved from Fullback to the WILL Linebacker position in an attempt to add depth.
• Cory Reamer - after being moved from Safety to the WILL Linebacker last season, he has been given a look at the SAM Linebacker this spring, attempting to cover for the injured Zeke Knight. As of Monday's practice, he was back at the WILL working behind Jimmy Johns, but this is a fluid situation.
• Javier Arenas - Bama's special teams star saw action late in the season at the Nickle Back "Star" position. He played well enough in that spot to convince the coaches to move him from Free Safety to Left Cornerback. He continues to move to the Star position when Bama is in Nickle formations.
• Chris Rogers - after moving from cornerback to Strong Safety last spring, he has now moved back to Right Cornerback.
• Ali Sharrief - after spending the 2007 season backing up at Strong Safety, he is now working behind Rashad Johnson at Free Safety.
• Sam Burnthall - he has moved from Strong Safety to Free Safety.
• Travis Sikes - after moving from defensive back to Wide Receiver prior to last season, he is back at Strong Safety.
• Tyrone King - the walk-on special teams player has been moved from Free Safety to 2nd string at Strong Safety.

Once the incoming freshmen arrive in the summer, some of these position moves may very well be reversed. If Bama intends to enroll a full recruiting class of 25, there must be 7 current scholarship athletes removed from scholarship - either via transfer, medical hardship, or dismissal. A quick look at the above list, paying attention to players who have moved positions several times in their career, could give hints as to who some of the likely candidates are. After Spring Practice closes we'll take a closer look at the roster and where attrition may come from.

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