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12-15-2007, 03:48 PM
Saturday, December 15, 2007
IAN R. RAPOPORT
News staff writer
TUSCALOOSA - The recruiting season is in full swing for the University of
Alabama, and seemingly everyone is going gaga over the blue-chip prospects
who visit.
Wallace Gilberry has seen it all before. By now, in the twilight of his five-year
career, he simply laughs. Just wait until they get on campus, he thinks to
himself.
"You get a five-star and you get him in here, he looks pretty," said Gilberry,
the senior defensive end. "Once the heat turns up, you see those stars start
to disappear. I'm just being honest with you, I've seen it happen to the best
of them."
Does better talent lend itself to more success? Of course. But more than
anyone else, the players understand why some prospects thrive and others
don't.
Once a player enrolls, the number of stars he received from Scout.com and
Rivals.com doesn't matter. Few freshmen see the field anyway. Often, a
player's career can be determined by how he responds to not being the best
player on the field - even (gasp) redshirting.
"I do see guys who come in and think they're the best at whatever it is,"
Johnson said. "But it's not until those guys end up getting redshirted and not
playing that it gives them an opportunity to see where they are. You realize
a lot of players at this university have talent. You got to focus on the small
things and try to play."
Johnson earned a scholarship his sophomore year. Mustin earned his before
his senior year.
Both players quickly realized that for players willing to work harder than their
teammates, the opportunity was there. Not everyone appreciated the
opportunity a Division I-A scholarship presents, they said.
"You can see it in guys," Johnson said. "When I was a walk-on, it let me know
there is a chance I can earn me a scholarship, if those guys keep doing the
(negative) things they're doing. I mean, we had a couple guys - great
players - get let loose during the (Mike) Shula era, and it gave me the
opportunity to get on the field."
Peers appreciate the hard work. Perhaps that's why Johnson and Mustin
became a pair of former walk-ons/captains.
Listen to Mustin's reaction:
"It's something you dream about," the Brentwood, Tenn., native said.
"I wasn't really expecting to get any award. I just wanted to play this year.
I guess hard work really does pay off."
IAN R. RAPOPORT
News staff writer
TUSCALOOSA - The recruiting season is in full swing for the University of
Alabama, and seemingly everyone is going gaga over the blue-chip prospects
who visit.
Wallace Gilberry has seen it all before. By now, in the twilight of his five-year
career, he simply laughs. Just wait until they get on campus, he thinks to
himself.
"You get a five-star and you get him in here, he looks pretty," said Gilberry,
the senior defensive end. "Once the heat turns up, you see those stars start
to disappear. I'm just being honest with you, I've seen it happen to the best
of them."
Does better talent lend itself to more success? Of course. But more than
anyone else, the players understand why some prospects thrive and others
don't.
Once a player enrolls, the number of stars he received from Scout.com and
Rivals.com doesn't matter. Few freshmen see the field anyway. Often, a
player's career can be determined by how he responds to not being the best
player on the field - even (gasp) redshirting.
"I do see guys who come in and think they're the best at whatever it is,"
Johnson said. "But it's not until those guys end up getting redshirted and not
playing that it gives them an opportunity to see where they are. You realize
a lot of players at this university have talent. You got to focus on the small
things and try to play."
Johnson earned a scholarship his sophomore year. Mustin earned his before
his senior year.
Both players quickly realized that for players willing to work harder than their
teammates, the opportunity was there. Not everyone appreciated the
opportunity a Division I-A scholarship presents, they said.
"You can see it in guys," Johnson said. "When I was a walk-on, it let me know
there is a chance I can earn me a scholarship, if those guys keep doing the
(negative) things they're doing. I mean, we had a couple guys - great
players - get let loose during the (Mike) Shula era, and it gave me the
opportunity to get on the field."
Peers appreciate the hard work. Perhaps that's why Johnson and Mustin
became a pair of former walk-ons/captains.
Listen to Mustin's reaction:
"It's something you dream about," the Brentwood, Tenn., native said.
"I wasn't really expecting to get any award. I just wanted to play this year.
I guess hard work really does pay off."