The 2027 Marietta, Georgia, defensive back had a torn tendon in his middle finger when he first camped in front of Alabama defensive backs coach Maurice Linguist in June. With a cast on one hand, and at times with that hand behind his back, Ward was still able to make a statement, even recording an interception during one-on-one drills.

Ideally, Alabama would be at full tilt during spring practice, but the chance to build depth is a silver lining.

South Alabama football will be on the spring practice field on Thursday morning, with three new coaches and several other new faces. The Jaguars finished 7-6 in 2024 under first-year coach Major Applewhite,

A transfer and freshman started at corner for the Crimson Tide last season, and freshman Dijon Lee and Utah transfer Cam Calhoun are impressing coaches and teammates at the start of spring camp.