Highlights from Nick Saban’s presser following Wednesday’s practice in Tuscaloosa:

Opening statement:

“I don’t think there’s a player on our team that you could really say I’ve played my best yet. That’s what we always shoot for, that’s what we’re working and probably what we need this week against a very good Texas A&M team. They present a lot of challenges to you on both sides of the ball, but the preparation has been good. The challenges of playing on the road starts with great preparation.”

On QB Blake Barnett in hospital:

“Blake’s just ill. I can’t get into specifics with what’s wrong with him. He’s been admitted to the hospital after some tests. He’ll be fine. We don’t think it’s anything serious or anything that’s a prolonged illness.”

On Texas A&M’s offense:

“They’ve tried to run the ball more effectively this year, but I think we are going to have to play more players because they are going to try to go fast. I think when they’ve got their four wideouts in the game you’ve got to get as much speed on the field as you can. You need to have good athletes on the edges and the you need the pass rush. That being said, it does create opportunities for more players to play.”

On Texas A&M RB Tra Carson:

“He’s a little bit different style guy than what they’ve had in the past. You know they’ve had a lot of fast guys. Not that he’s not fast, but he’s a bigger, more powerful downhill runner. He’s a really good back. More kind of along the lines of the kind of backs we’ve had around here, but he’s still a very good receiver.”

On J.K. Scott’s improvement:

“Focus on the process of what you’ve got to do about making a good punt this time. Don’t have a lot of anxiety and worrying about the result. Hopefully you can duplicate it and develop consistency. He’s actually been punting better in practice.”

On possibility that Barnett could redshirt:

“I don’t think missing two days of practice this week will really have anything to do with that. We’re developing him as a player. If we develop him to a point where we think he’s going to give us the best chance to win, we’ll play him. If that doesn’t present itself, we’re certainly not interested in trying to waste a year if he’s not going to play enough to help his development.”

On Eddie Jackson’s move to safety:

“Eddie’s done a real good job for us. I think he was a little apprehensive at first to move, only because it was out of his comfort zone, but he’s been very dedicated to his approach to learn the position. He’s always been an instinctive, playmaker kind of guy even when he was playing corner. He’s done a really good job for us.”

The Crimson Tide will travel to College Station on Thursday.