By By BRUCE HIXON – Sports Editor
It is no pun to say Trent Davidson is trying to tackle the tackle position.
Yet that is the case for the former T.R. Miller Tiger, who is gearing up for his sophomore season with the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team.
This is actually Davidson's third season with the Crimson Tide. As a freshman, Davidson appeared in all 12 of Alabama's games and drew starting assignments in the Iron Bowl game against Auburn and the Music City Bowl game against Minnesota.
After a promising freshman season, Davidson's hopes for a permanent spot in the starting lineup were derailed last summer when he broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. The injury sidelined Davidson for better than two months. While Davidson was later healthy enough to work out with Alabama's scout team, the Crimson Tide coaching staff opted to save the year of eligibility and redshirted him.
The 6-5, 300-pound Davidson was signed as a tight end out of T.R. Miller in 2004. The injury and Davidson's increase in weight afterwards prompted Coach Mike Shula and his staff to switch Davidson to right tackle.
Davidson said the extra weight was added in a careful manner.
Davidson indicated pass blocking has been the biggest adjustment for him in his transition from tight end to tackle.
Davidson admits there is one problem moving from tight end to tackle. While Davidson may have been among the front runners for the starting tight end slot last season before he got hurt, the move to tackle puts him behind senior Kyle Tatum on the depth chart.
Davidson is majoring in human environmental science.