Alabama held its only morning practice of fall camp on Friday, making its final tune-ups before its second fall scrimmage in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. Here are our observations from the brief viewing period for the 13th of 20 fall camp practices:

Coach Nick Saban said during his Thursday evening press conference that freshman nose tackle D.J. Dale was expected to return to practice on a limited basis, but Dale was not spotted during individual drills. That doesn’t mean he didn’t practice later on, though.

The offensive line continued to work in pairs and trios, simulating getting off a block and working to the second level of the defense. Emil Ekiyor Jr. and Jedrick Wills Jr. were the first right guard-right tackle pair, with Landon Dickerson later joining them as a center and also working as the second right guard. Alex Leatherwood and Evan Neal were the first left tackle-left guard pair.

Brian Robinson Jr. led the running backs through footwork drills, followed by Jerome Ford, Najee Harris, Keilan Robinson, and Chadarius Townsend, who has switched from a wide receiver to a running back for the second time.

With Townsend’s position switch, the team only has two scholarship slot receivers running routes during passing drills: Jerry Jeudy and Jaylen Waddle. Those two ran routes with tight ends Miller Forristall and Major Tennison. 

No surprises in the cornerback group, which had two players at a time dropping back and then breaking on a throw from an assistant. Patrick Surtain II and Trevon Diggs were the first pair and Scooby Carter and Jalyn Armour-Davis were the second. Nigel Knott continues to miss practice with an undisclosed medical issue.

The team’s second fall scrimmage commences at 12:30 p.m. Saturday inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Saban will address the media after the scrimmage at around 3:15 p.m.