Courtney Upshaw now a leader for Tide linebackers

TUSCALOOSA — Alfy Hill is being coached up. Loudly.

Alabama outside linebackers coach Sal Sunseri doesn’t like Hill’s technique on a particular drill. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound true freshman has been the target of Sunseri’s attention since the start of camp. This day was no different.

It’s the kind of reaming that goes uncomfortably long. Even teammates are trying to look away, pretending not to notice.

Courtney Upshaw of Eufaula has been there. Two years ago, he was Alfy Hill.
“Yeah. I can relate to it,” Upshaw said at Alabama’s Fan Day.

Upshaw said it’s not the yelling that gets to the player, it’s the frustration of struggling to learn the defense. Remember, nearly every player was a high school star. Jack linebackers Upshaw and Hill certainly were. Their roles and responsibilities are different in Nick Saban’s system.

“Coming from high school, the high school coaches don’t really look for you to do this technique or whatever,” Upshaw said. “They just want you to go out and make plays.
“But here, they’re gonna force you — demand you — to do the technique right. They’re gonna make you do it until you get it right.”

Of course, there’s a reason Upshaw was forced to repeat a drill over and over and over when everyone else had done it. It’s the same reason that Alfy Hill is in that role right now.
They both showed tremendous upside. Hill’s physical skills are evident.

Upshaw, at 6-2, 263 pounds, is reaping the benefits of Sunseri’s methods. The junior hopes to start in the season opener Sept. 4 against San Jose State.

“I’m just working to get better,” Upshaw said. “After last year, I’m stepping up to be a leader now. Just trying to improve, be a bigger, better part of this team.”

In Saturday’s scrimmage dominated by the offense, Upshaw recorded four tackles, two sacks and broke up a pass.

“Courtney got to play some last year, so he has some experience,” Saban said after a recent practice. “He’s had a good spring and a good camp. Jerrell Harris is getting better, and he’s an outside linebacker now. Ed Stinson is making improvement. Those guys, I’m not as concerned about in terms of their development, their experience, their ability to play.”

Instead of making Upshaw repeat every drill, Sunseri now has him start every drill, demonstrating the technique he wants.

“Watch and learn!” Sunseri screams at Hill when Upshaw’s turn comes up.

“Coach Sal looks at me to be the leader of the outside guys,” Upshaw said. “That’s my job. I had to go through what they’re going through now, getting yelled at. It’s a process. We all working. It worked out for the best.”

The learning curve on this defense varies for each player. Upshaw said when he finally saw how every player’s role fits within the overall scheme, that’s when he started improving.
“Individually, everybody on defense has got a job to do — keep contain, fill this gap,” he said. “For us, the outside backers, you’ve got to control your block, get off your block and make the play. Or hold your gap, come off the ball and power off on somebody.”

He has already made several big plays in limited playing time. He started against Kentucky and had his best game, returning a fumble 45 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first half. He also recovered the fumble caused by Eryk Anders’ sack with 3:08 left in the BCS Championship Game against Texas.

He hopes more big moments are ahead. He was asked if it’s worth getting yelled out.
“Well, honestly, it wasn’t about getting yelled at,” Upshaw said. “Everybody’s going to get yelled at. I just had to realize that I’m gonna get yelled at and I’ve got to fight through it and move on to the next play.”

Alabama fans will be eager to see Upshaw in action. While he has played in 27 of 28 Alabama games his first two seasons, many recall a moment of notoriety last August.

An on-campus scuffle in a parking lot with his then-girlfriend was witnessed by a police officer. Both were arrested. Upshaw was not suspended by Saban. The linebacker later completed a court-ordered anger management course.

Still, that incident — while completely out of character for the personable Upshaw — taught him several lessons.

“Stay away from stuff like that,” he said. “It showed me little petty stuff like that can lead to something major.”

He has moved on. Better days are coming for Upshaw.

And Alfy Hill.