Ad Disclosure
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. _ University of Alabama coach Nick Saban announced that senior nose guard Brandon Ivory and sophomore linebacker Tim Williams have been suspended for violating team rules.
Per team policy Saban didn’t disclose their transgressions or for how long they may be suspended, but emphasized that both they and defensive lineman Jarran Reed, who was suspended after being arrested for driving while under the influence this summer, are still on the roster.
“Each guy can return to the team on completion of the requirement of what they have to do relative to their suspension, and I have no date that I can give you that that’s going to be completed,” Saban said. “Our focus is here, we have a lot of good players, a lot of good people, in our program. A lot of guys that really do a lot of good things on and off the field.
“We’re certainly focused on those guys that we have here to develop them to be the best players that they can be, because they’ve demonstrated they’re willing to do the things they need to do and football is important enough to them to do the things they need to do to have a chance to be successful.”
Ivory has played in 29 games, with 13 starts, and was credited with 24 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, a hurry, and a pass broken up last season.
Williams, who was expected to be a pass-rusher this season, has played in seven games, with three tackles including one for a loss.
Without Ivory and Reed, who both lined up as starters in the spring, Alabama’s first unit on the defensive line Friday morning – the first practice of training camp — was A’Shawn Robinson, Dalvin Tomlinson and Jonathan Allen, with D.J. Pettway, Darren Lake and Anthony Orr on the second unit.
Running back Kenyan Drake, who had also been suspended after his arrest for obstructing justice after crossing a police line to get to his car following a shooting, did practice.
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
