Joey Teman was prepared.
The University of Alabama sophomore walked up to the Bill Battle Athletic Performance Center with a Crimson Tide beanie on and a helmet in his left hand.
Teman wants to play Alabama football. He’s a former slot receiver at Ridge Community High School in Davenport, Florida, one who declined offers from Yale and Princeton solely for a chance to walk on to the Crimson Tide.
“I chose Alabama because I felt like I had a shot,” Teman said.
A shot is all Teman, and many other Alabama students wanted. A shot is what many UA students took advantage of Tuesday night at the Hank Crisp Indoor Football Facility for Crimson Tide football walk-on tryouts.
With the House vs. NCAA settlement looming, one that would boost the maximum number of scholarships for a football program but could limit the chance for athletes to join programs without a scholarship, the era of the walk-on college athlete may be in jeopardy.
The big picture did not matter to the UA students on the indoor Tuesday night. They were focused on one thing.
“They are looking for 10 guys in the spring and the fall,” University of Alabama freshman Daley Baughn said.
Teman knew the odds. They weren’t “one-in-a-million,” but they were close.
“But you have to just show out,” Teman said. “It’s all it is. You have to show out.”
‘I really just want to go in there and be myself’
Andrew Turner is no stranger to Tuscaloosa football.
A year ago, he was a playmaking outside linebacker and defensive end for Northridge High School, one who still takes pride in a 12-tackle and 2.5-sack performance vs. Bessemer City.
A year later, Turner was a UA freshman who “lost a lot of weight,” but who brought his versatility, his humility and his football IQ to show off for members of the Crimson Tide football staff.
“I really just want to go in there and be myself,” Turner said. “Be more humble, more chill, more composed. And just go in there and do my thing, which I know I can.”
After group warm-ups and a 40-yard dash, Turner worked with the wide receivers, saying he “slipped” during a few drills — none of which involved a football — but he believed he finished well.
“It’s more so of a learning experience, having different types of people there. There’s some real fast people, some real athletic people. You know, me being me, I’m very humble … If I did (make the team), that’s a plus. If I didn’t, I’ll keep working and go back next year.”
How ‘two athletic guys’ fared at Alabama football workouts
Hayes Burger also worked out with the Alabama wide receivers, a position he had never played in his life.
Burger, an Alabama freshman, tried out for the Crimson Tide with Baughn, a fellow freshman and aspiring tight end. Both were former soccer players at Grissom High School in Huntsville, and had never played football before.
“We’re two athletic guys,” Baughn said. “Tryouts sounded interesting, something that would be a fun story to tell maybe one day.”
For Burger, the lack of football experience was a plus.
He said the Alabama coaches honed in on “agility and speed,” taking players through cutting drills and others that showcased change of speed and direction.
“I would say I’m a pretty fast guy and fairly athletic,” Burger said. “We weren’t messing with any footballs tonight, so I think I looked pretty (good) and I think I didn’t do too bad, honestly.”
Football experience was not needed for Baughn either, who navigated blocking and agility drills and who was complimented for his strength, movement and technique on pad drills.
All Baughn said he wanted out of the tryout was to learn, to grow and to meet new people. And he left Tuesday’s workout with one major takeaway.
“There (were) a lot of very athletic guys,” Baughn said. “A lot of talent at the University of Alabama.”
Why UA students remained realistic at Alabama tryouts
Teman felt he “had a shot.” He was also realistic.
Teman had already talked to Alabama before about a potential walk-on spot, and was told by director of player personnel Bob Welton he had to be faster, which he’d been working on ahead of Tuesday’s tryout.
But even if Teman had everything Alabama could ever want out of a walk-on, he said a spot was still no guarantee.
“Alabama, it’s the biggest SEC school,” Teman said. “It’s not a small Division I. It’s not like a Division II, Division III. It’s the best of the best … You can do everything you possibly can. You can run your 40 right, do a good vertical, all that stuff. But it’s up to them and the roster. If they don’t have the open roster (spot), you can’t do much.”
Burger had set expectations. He knew what he was getting into.
Burger could confidently say he was not trying out solely to make the Alabama football team. He was just taking advantage of the opportunity.
“We’re just here to have a good time,” Burger said. “Have a good story to tell.”
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What Alabama football walk-on tryouts were like for UA students
