Back in July, Alabama running back Dee Hart suffered a torn ACL during voluntary summer workouts, an injury that ultimately required surgery and an indefinite absence from the football field.
As the Tide begin fall camp, the status of Hart’s return became slightly more clear. But only slightly.
“Maybe sometime in October [Hart] would be able to start running, but is it worth it to bring the guy back for that little bit of the season?,” coach Nick Saban posed after Tuesday’s practice. “Maybe he’ll be able to practice some later in the season. Maybe in a black shirt. Maybe for bowl practice. But we won’t make the decision to play him until we see how he develops.
“Hopefully at some point in the season Dee Hart will be able to do some practicing,” Saban said. “Will it be worth playing the guy this year? Until he’s 100 percent and really ready to go at no risk of injury we will not make that decision.”
Although just a freshman, Hart was expected to compete for a backup position with Alabama and possibly see the field as a return specialist.
(Thanks to the Birmingham News for the quotes)