DB,
5-9,
177,
4.4
Thomasville, AL
High School: Thomasville
HS Mascot: Tigers
HS Coach: Stacy Luker
HS Position: QB, WR, DB
HS Number: 7
Official Visits: Alabama, Ole Miss and Auburn
Second Choice: Ole Miss
Host During Alabama Visit: Ahmaad Galloway
Birthday: 10-8-81
Academic Status: Not Qualified
Q&A with Anthony Madison
TI: You grew up a big Alabama didn't you?
AM: You could say that. I've liked Alabama a whole lot because my family has been cheering for them and things like that. So I've been around it a lot and have grown close to Alabama.
TI: Have you ever attended an Alabama game?
AM: I have not been to an Alabama game. My next one will be my first one. I've been to Auburn and Ole Miss, but never Alabama.
TI: Do you remember watching your first Alabama game on TV?
AM: The only thing that I remember is that it was 1992. Gene Stallings was the coach. Man, I just loved them. I did go to the A-Day game this year.
TI: How was that?
AM: Oh man, it was incredible. That just made me think how glad I was that I decided to go to Alabama.
TI: Really?
AM: Yeah, it solidified everything to me that this is where I need to be. It was the people and the support that I saw at a scrimmage. To see those people out there just to watch the team practice is incredible. You don't find that anywhere else. Just being a part of something like that, the tradition, and being a part of everything else makes you feel so good.
I was hoping and praying all along for the opportunity to go to Alabama and there was a time that I didn't think that it was going to happen.
TI: Last summer when you went to the Alabama camp it looked like that you were going to get that opportunity.
AM: Yeah, I went to the camp. I had a real good camp. I ran a 4.44 40. I covered all of the top receivers really well. I had some really good plays. I did everything that you could ask for a defensive back to do. I was thinking they were going to offer but, hey, they didn't offer. I waited and waited and still I didn't get an offer. I didn't hear anything from them as time passed on and I started to focus on other schools that I knew wanted me. I didn't think that the opportunity for me to go to Alabama was coming. But in January the new coaching staff began showing interest. They came over to my school and watched film of me, and Coach Thurmond said that he really liked me.
TI: Did he offer you on the spot?
AM: He told me that he couldn't offer me until Coach Fran approved it. But he talked to Coach Fran and got it approved real quick. I was like 'woo'.
TI: But you were committed to Ole Miss by then.
AM: Yeah, and being a man of my word I didn't want to change. But I made a comment that came out on the Internet that if Alabama offered that I was going to come. Like I said, that was my dream and now there was the opportunity in front of me. But it was tough for me because I believe that I should keep my word and I didn't want to go back on Ole Miss like that.
TI: Is that why after your visit to Alabama that you said you were probably going to stick with your commitment to Ole Miss?
AM: When I came home from my visit to Alabama I felt like I was going to stick with Ole Miss. I wanted to be a man of my word. Really, at a time like that I should've been more selfish and do what I really wanted to do. But I had told Coach Cut [David Cutcliffe] that I was coming and so I said to myself that that's what I have to do. But deep down inside I was like thinking, 'you know where you really want to go, so do it.' When I left Alabama, I told Coach Fran to give me a couple of days to think about it. But Ole Miss kind of started pressuring me. They wanted a definite answer. I think they knew that once I visited Alabama, that's where I would go. But everything turned out just the way I wanted it to.
TI: What are your impressions of the new coaching staff?
AM: They are business-like. They want to win. They care about the players. They're excited and pumped up. They want to turn the program around and I think they can. Coach Fran, Coach Thurmond and Coach Torbush are enthused and they're working hard. Just knowing how hard they work makes me want to work even harder. That's the kind of coaches I want to be around. They want players that work hard and have good character, players that work hard on and off the field.
TI: They seem to be set on taking as many good players from the state of Alabama as they can get.
AM: Exactly. The thing about it is, they take care of the in-state players first and then go out and get others. You've got to take care of your own first. These kids out of state are just like me being committed to Ole Miss. They've been fans of their in-state school all of their lives. Most of the time a kid will go to the school in his state if he has the chance. That's just the way it is.
TI: Do you worry that the NCAA is going to put Alabama on probation?
AM: At first it worried me. It had me thinking that I didn't know what was going on. But the Alabama coaches have been honest with me since the beginning. They've told me that they didn't have the answer. They said they don't know what will happen. That's what I like about Coach Fran and Coach Thurmond. They made it clear that they just don't know. I know that I'm getting off the subject here, but the honesty of these coaches is something that I really like. It's just like when I asked Coach Thurmond about the chances of me getting early playing time. He said if I go out and prove myself that I can compete that I will play. But he said that there's no way that he could guarantee me playing time. He told me that I have to earn it. I appreciate that.
TI: So will you be a cornerback?
AM: Yeah, cornerback. I'll probably return punts and kickoffs too.
TI: What do you think of playing corner?
AM: It's fine with me. I've been a corner since eighth grade. I've had a real good defensive back coach [Shannon Felder]. He played ball at Alabama.
TI: Do you have a good feel for what it takes to play corner?
AM: I have a real good feel for it. Coach Felder really knows his stuff and he's taught me a lot. I know that it's a real competitive position but I don't mind that. You've got to have a lot of guts to play out there.
TI: What do you think about playing a lot of man defense?
AM: It's going to be something else. You've got to be ready. You can't go out there with fear in your eyes. The defense is going to work out good. We're going to pressure the quarterbacks with a lot of blitzing and if the corners hold up it's going to be real tough, buddy. Coach Torbush has a history a building a good defense and that's something that I want to be a part of. Just being coached by him is an honor and a privilege. There are a lot of advantages to playing for Coach Torbush.
TI: You're about 5-9, right?
AM: Right. I'm 5-9. I weigh about 177 right now.
TI: The recent trend is to look for bigger corners that match up better with the taller receivers. But Coach Thurmond and [Thomasville] Coach [Stacy] Luker say not to worry about your height because of you're great leaping ability.
AM: Yeah, I have a real good vertical jump and I'm strong, especially in the legs, and that's helped me a lot. I squat 600 pounds and I do reps with over 400. I won't have any problem.
TI: What are you doing to get ready for next season?
AM: Well, right now I'm just working out to get ready for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game. I'm going to play in that.
TI: When are you going to report to Alabama?
AM: The thing about it is that I have a 16.25 on my ACT right now [17 is the required minimum]. I have over a 2.5 GPA, but I have to get the test up some. I took it again and I'm waiting on the results. I think I made it this time, but if not I still have another chance.
TI: Which players from the incoming freshman class have you become good friends with?
AM: Von Ewing is my favorite. I talk to Charlie Peprah on the phone a lot. I talk to Todd Bates and Roman Harper. The defensive backs, we all talk a lot. Now Juke King doesn't talk much. He's all business. Every once and a while he'll say something, but not much. He doesn't like to talk much.
TI: How does Juke King look physically?
AM: Man, you need to see him. He looks great. He's about 6-1, 220. I think he could be a linebacker. He's got good size and good speed. He could be a strong safety or a rover. He's real big and he's a hard hitter.
TI: Tell me, what's your number one goal at Alabama?
AM: To graduate. I know that I'm going there to play football, but getting an education is the main key. You're only one play from a career-ending injury, so education is something you have to focus on first. Every freshman wants to compete for playing time and earn a position. I want to stay healthy and do the best I can.
TI: How about winning a national championship?
AM: Oh man, what are you talking about? You know that's part of it. That goes without saying. As a player, that is the main thing.
|