TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Freshman Slade Bolden has worn plenty of hats during his first season at Alabama. Listed as a receiver, he’s played in just four snaps while spending the majority of his time filling various spots on the Crimson Tide’s scout team.
The former four-star athlete is one of Alabama’s most versatile players. He worked at defensive back during the spring before moving back to receiver this fall. He can catch balls out of the backfield and could easily fill in as a scatback if needed.
Then there’s quarterback, the position Bolden primarily played in high school. Alabama’s used him there too, lining him up behind center before the game against The Citadel to mimic the Bulldogs’ rare triple-option attack.
Bolden will once again take snaps behind center on the scout team as he’s tasked with replicating Heisman winner Kyler Murray while No. 1 Alabama prepares for its Orange Bowl matchup against No. 4 Oklahoma.
This will undoubtedly be Bolden’s most difficult assignment to date. Through 13 games, Murray has piled up 4,053 yards and 40 touchdowns through the air while adding 892 yards and 11 more scores on the ground.
“The guy is so quick, so fast, so talented. Makes really good decisions, makes them fast. Does a great job of executing their offense, understands it well,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said of Murray. “They've got a really good system and a really good scheme and a complimentary play that goes with the last play. They do a really good job. I don't know that you can (replicate that).
“If we had somebody that can duplicate what he does, we'd be playing them. Obviously the guy won the Heisman Trophy and is the best player in college football. Anybody that has had success throwing the ball as well as the rushing totals that he has and the explosive plays that he's made when they run the ball, it's pretty difficult to try to get someone to simulate that.”
While no one is expecting Bolden to completely mirror Murray, the do-it-all freshman shares some of the same tools. Bolden might not be able to match Murray’s 4.4 speed, but he can move pretty well himself. Like Murray, Bolden was a dual-threat quarterback in high school, passing for 1,622 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 1,460 yards and 20 more scores during his senior season.
"He gives us a good look,” linebacker Mack Wilson said. “He's fast; I feel like he can throw the ball as well. He gave us a great look (for) The Citadel game, and I feel like he'll give us a great look today, too.”
“You can tell he has a feel for it,” safety Deionte Thompson added. “So he does a good job giving us pictures of what we’re going to see in the game.”
Bolden donned Murray’s No. 1 jersey Monday as Alabama held its third practice in preparation for Oklahoma. Listed at 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, he’s a hair bigger than Murray (5-foot-10, 195 pounds). The Crimson Tide will begin full installation of its Oklahoma prep this week as it moves closer to its Dec. 29 meeting against the Sooners inside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.
“Our scout team can try to run the offense, but ain't nobody going to run it as good as them,” Wilson said. “So I feel like everybody's got to get extra and know what to expect. There's only so much a football team can do. We've just got to make sure everybody gets extra film and pays attention to the details."
Last edited:
