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A handful of big performances in the preseason would certainly help his cause.
• # 36 Ronnie Harrison, S: The third-round pick out of Alabama was a long-time starter for Nick Saban, and has flashed his football IQ early in camp. Veteran safety Tashaun Gipson spoke in glowing terms about Harrison’ s fi rst days around the team. Look for his hard-hitting style on special teams as well.
• # 41 Tim Cook, RB: The fi rst-year player began last season on the practice squad, but was moved to the injured / reserve list in late September. At 6-feet, 242 pounds, can he take a step forward and turn into a reliable short-yardage back? Also look for his contributions on special teams.
• # 48 Leon Jacobs, LB: The seventh-round pick out of Wisconsin has a physique to rival former Jaguars fullback Greg Jones, and is in the mix for the strong-side linebacker job. Special teams will make a difference here as well.
• # 53 Blair Brown, LB: Another in the mix at the strong-side, the second-year player made three appearances and two starts at weak-side linebacker last season when Telvin Smith was
out with a concussion. He has a year up on Jacobs, but the competition is only just beginning.
• # 66 Darius Jackson, DL: Out of Jacksonville State( Alabama), Jackson was a FCS fi rst-team All-American and the Ohio Valley Conference defensive player of the year in 2016 and 2017. At six-feet-2, 242 pounds, can Jackson make the jump from dominating the FCS level to rushing against NFL offensive linemen?
• # 90 Taven Bryan, DE: The fi rst-round draft pick out of Florida enters one of the deepest defensive lines in the NFL, but early in training camp has shown that his size and physicality can stand up. Veteran DE Calais Campbell has been a constant in his ear on the practice fi eld the fi rst couple of weeks, and it shows.
• Bonus- # 46 Carson Tinker, LS: The sixth-year long snapper missed the 2017 season with a preseason knee injury, but is back to 100 percent in camp. The fi rst live action is always a big step in the progression during a return from a knee injury, if not physically then certainly mentally.