Alabama reserve lineman Da'Shawn Hand is one strong dude
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TUSCALOOSA, AL - APRIL 18: Da'Shawn Hand #9 of the White team anticipates a play during the University of Alabama Crimson Tide A-day spring game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on April 18, 2015 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Alabama's defensive front is going to be just fine. Yes the Crimson Tide are losing starters A'Shawn Robinson, D.J. Pettaway and Jarran Reed, but with players like Da'Shawn Hand ready to step into a more meaningful role, don't expect much of a drop off in 2016.
Hand was of course was regarded by many as the nation's No. 1 overall prospect in 2014 and played in eight games this season, getting to the quarterback for three sacks and recorded 6.5 tackles-for-loss overall in his second college season.
But it isn't his recruiting ranking that has his Alabama teammates impressed, it's his display of strength in the weight room that has them entertained. According to AL.com, Hand is capable of bench pressing 225-pounds, 45 times. To put that into perspective, that's eight more than Ereck Flowers was able to do at the 2015 NFL Combine, which led all draft prospects last season.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Talk about beast mode.
If Alabama's backups are stronger than anyone heading to the NFL from college, the SEC still has a serious mountain to climb to reach the heights head coach Nick Saban currently has his Alabama program running at in Tuscaloosa.