TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- University of Alabama coach Nick Saban announced following the first practice of fall camp that Brandon Ivory, Jarran Reed and Tim Williams have been suspended for "violation of team rules and policies."
"Each guy can return to the team upon completion of the requirement of what they have to do relative their suspension," Saban explained. "We have no date that I can give you when that's going to be completed."
Ivory, a senior who started all 12 games last season at nose guard, was one of only five returning starters from 2013. Reed, a junior college transfer, was expected to compete for first-team reps on the defensive line as well. And Williams, a former four-star defensive end who appeared in seven games as a true freshman last season, was expected to compete for reps at outside linebacker.
"Our focus is here," Saban said. "We have a lot of good players, a lot of good people in our program, a lot of guys that do good things off the field, and we're focused on those guys that we have here."
Alabama has had its fair share of off-the-field drama this offseason. Reed and linebacker Dillon Lee were both arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence, running back Kenyan Drake was arrested for disobeying a police officer and fellow back Altee Tenpenny was given a citation by police for possessing a small amount of marijuana.
Saban, answering a question at SEC media days about Drake and Reed, said that "those players are suspended but they're not kicked off the team." Nothing was announced regarding the status of Tenpenny or Lee.
"Are there consequences?" Saban said at the media gathering. "Yeah, we don't have to depend on the guy. They might get suspended for some games, because that's the one thing that will change their behavior because they all want to play. I get that part, and we do that. But I don't usually announce that. I don't usually say we're going to do that. I tell you before the game, 'These three guys aren't going to play.'"
The Crimson Tide, coming off back-to-back losses for the first time since 2008, will start the season ranked No. 2 in the Amway Coaches Poll, behind defending champ Florida State.