Alabama Football: Recapping the Weekend

The Alabama football team will return to the practice field December 18^th to start preparations for the BCS National Championship game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.  While the practice fields have been quiet, there has been plenty of action involving the Crimson Tide.

Recruiting
Alabama received two commitments this weekend in Luke Del Rio and Jonathan Cook.

Del Rioa three star quarterback prospect from Denver, Colorado accepted an opportunity to be a preferred walk on for Alabama.  The 6-foot-2, one hundred and ninety pound prospect from Valor Christian threw for over 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns in his senior season.  He is the son of Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio and turned down full scholarship offers from the likes of UCLA, Oregon State, and Oklahoma State.

Cook is a 6-foot, 190lbs defensive back from Spanish Fort High School. Once a Nebraska commitment, Cook delivered a standout performance in the Alabama-Mississippi high school all-star game Saturday and received a scholarship offer from the University of Alabama.  Upon receiving an offer, Cook was quick to accept.  He is considered to be a 3 or 4 star prospect by the major recruiting services.

Coaching
The head coaching carousel may be coming to an end, however one Alabama coach will be on the move this winter.   While coordinators Kirby Smart and Doug Nussmeier were long considered favorites for positions elsewhere, it is defensive backs coach Jeremy Pruitt who will be departing, accepting the defensive coordinator position at Florida State.

Pruitt, long considered an up-and-comer in the coaching ranks joined the Alabama program in 2007 as the Director of Player Development before being promoted to Defensive Backs coach in 2010.  He will still coach in the national championship game on January 7^th.