Alabama’s Deaderick Rejoins Team After Being Shot, Won’t Play Saturday

So said Nick Saban on his SEC teleconference call this afternoon. Deaderick’s defensive end spot is expected to be filled by sophomore Marcell Dareus.

Less than 24 hours after taking a bullet in the forearm during a robbery attempt, Alabama defensive end Brandon Deaderick was released from the hospital. Where did he go? To practice, naturally. The Press-Register reports that Deaderick “arrived quietly at the Crimson Tide’s indoor practice, making eye contact and sending casual nods to teammates.”

Deaderick started 14 games for the Crimson Tide last season and was expected to start in the team’s opener against Virginia Tech on Saturday night.

Alabama DE Brandon Deaderick, the 2008 starter and a lynchpin of the defensive line for 2009, was shot last night in a frightening robbery in a Tuscaloosa apartment complex.

Deaderick refused to give the robber money when he was approached in a parking lot by a man with a blue bandana across his face and a gun in hand. The man then shot Deaderick in the arm and leg. This tends to happen when you refuse to give money to people with guns.