Birmingham region top prospects show out at Nike Football Train
Alabama football signee Josh McMillon, of Whitehaven High School, during the Birmingham region Nike Football Training Camp at Spain Park High School in Hoover, Ala., Sunday, March 30, 2014. (Tamika Moore/tmoore@al.com)
(TAMIKA MOORE)
Alabama signee Joshua McMillon suffered a serious knee injury late last season for Whitehaven High School in Memphis, but he's expected to be ready to go for Alabama's fall camp.
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker is doing great, his high school coach Rodney Saulsberry said.
"He's rehabbed tremendously," Saulsberry said. "He's doing an excellent job. He's moving full speed ahead. He's way ahead of the game and prepared for what's ahead in college."
McMillon committed to Alabama last August and spurned heavy interest from Michigan and Ole Miss, keeping his pledge to the Crimson Tide and signing and February.
He tore the ACL in his right knee during Whitehaven's first round playoff game. Since then, he's been working overtime with a trainer and doing physical therapy.
"He's pretty far along because he's moving laterally," Saulsberry said. "He's doing all kinds of different work. I would say he's near 100 percent if not 100 percent. Modern medicine has made great strides."
Saulsberry expects him to be 100 percent when Alabama opens fall camp. He said Alabama coaches have mentioned him as either an outside or inside linebacker, but want him ready for the season.
"They say they want him to come in and play right away," Saulsberry said. "That's the word of the coaching staff. They get paid to make those statements."
Whitehaven went 13-1 last season, reaching the Tennessee class 6A semifinals. McMillon suffered his knee injury in the team's first playoff game.
He's set to enroll at Alabama for the first summer session after graduating from Whitehaven.
What we've written about McMillon:
- Alabama signee Joshua McMillon brings smarts, size at linebacker position
- 5 Alabama signees facing learning curves to unlock raw potential
- Alabama commit Joshua McMillon shares why he chose challenging major, what position he'll play
- 'Alabama should be excited about what they're getting' in linebacker commit Joshua McMillon, coach says