Player Profile: Marlon Davis

Marlon Davis - #76 - OL/Guard - 6-4 - 290 lbs. - Columbus, GA - Carver HS - 3 Varsity Letters

Marlon has another opportunity in 2008 to solidify a starting role for an entire season. It looked as though that would happen for him in 2007, but a mid-season suspension for inappropriate use of textbooks took him out of action for 4 games.

A true guard, he could play either the left or right guard spot. At the moment it looks as though right guard will be where he begins the season. It is crucial for Alabama’s offense that the Tide get more reliable production from the right side of the offensive line. With 2007’s right tackle Mike Johnson having been moved to left guard in the spring, Davis will have a new starter to his outside.

Successful offensive line play is dependent upon familiarity with those around you, and the right tackle position is the position with the largest question mark. To make matters worse from that standpoint is the fact that if Drew Davis, Taylor Pharr and Tyler Love fail to lock down the right tackle position, then there could also be a change on his left. The most logical change would be to see Mike Johnson move back to right tackle, which might see Antoine Caldwell move out to left guard.

2008 Prospectus: With the right side of the line being a problem, Davis has to step up and be a leader. He appeared to be showing steady improvement in 2007 prior to the suspension, giving hope that 2008 could be a good year for him. A lot of his success will be dependent upon how well the players at right tackle solidify things. There is no experienced depth behind him, with David Ross, Evan Cardwell and Patrick Crump the other guards returning. That lack of competition could be a problem from a motivation standpoint, but I expect to see far better overall senior leadership in 2008 than we saw in 2007.

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