(UA) TUSCALOOSA — Three current and five former Crimson Tide football players will earn their undergraduate degrees on Saturday, Aug. 9 as the University of Alabama holds its August Commencement exercises at 9 a.m. in Coleman Coliseum.

The current Tide players are junior offensive lineman Drew Davis, senior safety Rashad Johnson and senior quarterback John Parker Wilson.

“We are really pleased and happy that we have three players that are going to graduate on Saturday,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. “John Parker, Drew Davis and Rashad Johnson, are guys who have certainly impacted this team in a positive way. I want to congratulate them and their families and I know they are extremely happy. This is what we want guys to do when they come to The University of Alabama. This is what affects the quality of their life forever.”

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Johnson, a preseason All-SEC safety, will earn his degree in Arts and Sciences.

“This is a big accomplishment. It was my main focus when I came here as a walk-on. My education was definitely a big issue in deciding to come to the University of Alabama . I knew I would get a great education. Just being able to put The University of Alabama graduate on my resume is a big thing to me. It’s a big accomplishment for me and my family. My mom and dad went to college, but neither one finished with a college degree. So having a college degree is important to me.”

Wilson, who is a three-year starter at quarterback and holds single season records for pass attempts, completions, touchdowns and passing yards, will earn a Marketing degree on Saturday.

“I think it’s a huge deal to come in here four years later and get a degree. It’s an exciting time for me and my family. To be able to accomplish this after so much work has been put into this is exciting to me.”

Davis, who earned the Bart Starr Most Improved Player Award following spring practice, will receive his undergraduate degree in Marketing.

“This accomplishment is the end to a lot of hard work. Like Coach Saban says, ‘really impact the quality of your life.’ I plan on looking at a second degree or master’s degree. I am talking to advisors now to see what best suits me.”

Other current Crimson Tide players who have earned an undergraduate degree are senior center Antoine Caldwell (Consumer Science) and senior wide receivers Will Oakley (Marketing) and Nikita Stover (Human Environmental Science). Five of UA’s nine scholarship football seniors will have earned their undergraduate degrees prior to the start of the 2008 season. Davis would push that number to six, but is only a junior in terms of athletic eligibility.

Five former UA players will also graduate on Saturday, including Charles Hoke (Finance), Zeke Knight (Human Environmental Studies), Terrence Jones (Human Environmental Studies), Tyrone Prothro (Human Environmental Studies) and B.J. Stabler (General Business).

11 thoughts on “8 UA football players set to graduate”

  1. I wish the guys well. We’ll definitely miss you after you’re gone! Good luck wherever life takes you.

  2. They have degrees, but what do they mean? I had to fire a UAT grad a few years ago (an ex-athlete) who had a double major in Public Relations and Anthropology, and yet the guy could not write a coherent email. He could not be trained to do anything, so we had to let him go.

  3. They “earned” their degrees, Amy? And you know that how, exactly?

    Instead of just spouting nonsense, try relying on some facts. But I suppose if you did, you would stop being an ignorant bammer.

  4. How is it again that the Auturd players earned their sociology credits? Oh yeah they didn’t, they weren’t even there.

  5. Kevin, in what fantasy world did you “fire” an ex-Alabama player?

    In reality, are you sure it wasn’t you firing an ex-Alabama PolyTECHnic Institute player by the name of Junior “Illiterate” Rosegreen, or “Stuttering” Kenny Irons, or Cadillac “I has a degree” Williams, or Quinton “Master of Ebonics” Groves from a fantasy football league of which you created in the cellar of your mother’s/wife’s single wide on Wire Road?

  6. I’m also running for president of president of the United States of American. I hope you all comprehend my plan to change American. Be sure to vote for me on the next election day!

    The next habitual liar that comes through here will tell us Mal Moore once shined the shoes of his most famous ancestor, Christopher Columbus. The already below zero credibility belonging to API fans has just hit an all time low.

  7. Kevin, with yet another ridiculous statement coming from your end of the cow pasture, I think you’re one of the only AUtards I’m actually beginning to pity.

    1. I’d very much appreciate it if you’d kindly provide us with the true name of this so called player you had to “fire”.

    2. I’d very much appreciate it if you’d kindly name the business of which you supposedly manage, which also gives you the authority to decide who goes and who stays.

  8. Leave Kevin alone people. I just received word that he was fired from his fudgesicle man job today.

  9. wow,are you serious bout skipping class and drawing?at least we didn’t have to steal books.and why did it take more than for years for 5 ex-players to get a four year degree.coloring cows and alalosers got an art degree.what did he paint?”well Saban this is bear bryant in a coffin.it signifies how we’ll never be better than even utah.sorry coach.oh btw who is replacing you after 2009 cause your three years will be up?” have fun celebrating art degrees.

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