Alabama losing Steele to Clemson, Coffee to pros

Alabama’s football program lost two key people on Friday.

The departure of head defensive coach and linebackers coach Kevin Steele, who took the defensive coordinator’s position at Clemson, wasn’t a surprise.

But running back Glen Coffee’s decision to enter the NFL Draft raised eyebrows.

Coffee had a big junior year running behind Alabama’s veteran offensive line. The 6-foot-1, 198-pounder from Fort Walton Beach, Fla., averaged 98.8 yards per game, gaining 1,383 yards on 233 carries. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry and scored 10 rushing touchdowns.

Coffee also displayed an explosive burst that had been missing in his sophomore season. Coffee had an 87-yard touchdown run against Arkansas and burned Kentucky for a 78-yard touchdown.

“I really enjoyed my time at the University of Alabama, but I think it is the right time for me to move on to the NFL,“ Coffee said Friday afternoon. “Alabama has been a tremendous place for me to develop as both a football player and a person.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better group of coaches. I want to personally thank Coach (Nick) Saban and Coach (Burton) Burns for everything they have done for me.“

The junior also caught 16 passes for 118 yards, including a touchdown catch in Alabama’s Sugar Bowl loss to Utah.

Coffee was voted the team MVP by his teammates this season.

“I was definitely honored,” he said. “It shows that your teammates respect you and count on you every game. I was very thankful.”

Earlier this week, junior running backs Knowshon Moreno of Georgia and Beanie Wells of Ohio State also said they were coming out a year early and turning pro.

Steele’s departure was announced by Clemson coach Dabo Swinney on Friday. It had been expected for a week.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban wished the best for Steele.

“Kevin is an outstanding coach and really did an excellent job with each and every responsibility he had while he was here,” Saban said in a statement. “We appreciate all that he did in terms of his time and his dedication.

“We’ve known each other for a long time and he has always been a close friend through the years. Although we are sorry to see them go, we wish Kevin and his family all the best at Clemson. He will do a great job as he always has.”

Alabama middle linebacker Rolando McClain credited Steele not only for developing his skills as a player, but also as person.

“I’m not a big people person and he’s just an outgoing, crazy guy,” McClain said before the Sugar Bowl. “Something like, he got me to come outside my shell. A lot of coaches aren’t able to do that. And he did it. It’s not just business with him. In the meeting room or practice we can have fun. That’s what I like. That’s why I like being around him so much. That’s why he’s such a good coach.”

Steele has 23 years of college experience and spent four years in the NFL. He has worked for national champion head coaches Saban, Tom Osborne, Bobby Bowden and Johnny Majors. He has been a part of 11 teams that have finished in the top 20 of the national polls at five different schools, including this year’s Alabama team.

“Kevin Steele is one of the most respected coaches in the nation,” Swinney said. “He has recruited this state for many years and is respected by the high school coaches of South Carolina. He is a perfect fit for this staff.”

“I am very excited to join Dabo Swinney’s staff at Clemson,” said Steele, who also was head coach at Baylor from 1999-2002. “It feels great to return to the state of South Carolina. I have recruited this state for many years and feel at home in this area.”

Alabama ranked third in the nation in total defense (256.9), fourth in rushing defense (78.85), sixth in scoring defense (13.0) and 13th in pass efficiency defense (101.63 rating points) at the end of the regular season. The Crimson Tide led the SEC in rushing defense and total defense.

Big weekend
This is a big recruiting weekend in Tuscaloosa. A number of players, some of whom have already committed, are expected to visit.

One of those may strengthen his commitment with the news of Coffee’s departure. Top-rated running back Trent Richardson of Pensacola, Fla., is expected. Richardson’s commitment appeared shaky when he scheduled visits to LSU and Florida and also talked of visiting Florida State.

The Web site Crimson Confidential reports that Richardson joins Alabama commitment running back Mike Marrow, defensive tackle Quinton Dial, offensive tackle D.J. Fluker, receivers Mike Bowman and Kevin Norwood, and defensive backs Gerald West and Rod Woodson.

The Web site said uncommitted players scheduled for this weekend visits are defensive backs Dre Kirkpatrick, Greg Reid and Darren Myles Jr., linebackers Tana Patrick and Mississippi State commitment Fletcher Cox, receivers Kendall Kelly, Pat Patterson and Chad Bumphis.