SportsLine wire reports
April 16, 1999

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Most high school football players are recruited to go far from home to play for a major college football program, but for Alabama middle linebacker Marvin Constant the journey was only across town.

As a redshirt freshman, the Tuscaloosa native and Central High School product spent the 1998 football season watching from the sidelines.

But Constant looks forward to contributing this fall. In fact, Constant has spent most of the spring on the first team defense in place of the injured junior Travis Carroll.

"It's been kind of fun," Constant said. "It's been a learning experience. You get to learn a lot, and you get to play a lot more."

Constant has recently been moved to the second team defense, as senior Canary Knight has landed the starting spot, but Alabama head football coach Mike DuBose said Knight just has more experience.

"He (Constant) didn't get demoted as much as Canary (Knight) kept improving. Marvin's going to be a fine player," DuBose said. "Marvin has responded the way you would expect him to (respond to being demoted to second team)."

ALABAMA LINEBACKER COACH JEFF ROUZIE said Constant has "had a real good spring."

"I'm real pleased with Marvin and the way he has progressed this spring. He's going to be a good football player for us," Rouzie said. "If we had to play tomorrow it would be Canary (Knight starting the game), and Marvin backing him up."

In his appearance in last Saturday's scrimmage Constant led the team with 10 tackles.

Usually constant leads the team in another categoryConstant said he is unsure how much weight he is currently capable of lifting.

"I don't know right now. The most I have ever done is 600 (squats) and 460 (bench press)," Constant said.

WHILE HE HAS MADE AN IMMEDIATE impact in the weight room, Constant said it has taken some time to adjust to college football, and he said sitting out last year helped his progression.

"The level of competition is a lot higher. There are a lot of big people who are a lot stronger (than in high school). There's a lot more to learn. It's a more technical game," Constant said.

"It's more assignment (based) as far as being in every place. You have to be where you're supposed to be or you blow the whole defense."

Constant said that the college game is much more complicated to understand.

"That's been the hardest thing for meROUZIE SAID THAT BESIDES GREAT STRENGTH, Constant's quickness allows him to make plays.

"For a big man he's got good speed," Rouzie said. "Marvin is a little stiff. That's more just his body type. But he has enough flexibility. He has really, really surprised me this spring with his ability to make plays."

Constant played linebacker very little in high school. He started for Coach Buzz Busby for three and a half years at fullback before finally trying linebacker.

In four games he recorded 33 solo tackles and 29 assists. Three of Constant's tackles were for losses.

Constant was a two-time All-State selection at Central, and he played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game in Mobile last summer.

Along with Knight, Constant must compete with Carroll for the starting slot next fall. But Constant said he is not worried about his future.

"I've still got to compete (next fall). It's for the good of the team. Whatever happens happens," Constant said.

Constant will man the White team's middle linebacker slot in tomorrow's annual A-Day game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.