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TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- With A-Day just one day away, the following offensive capsules ran in Friday's editions of The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times and the (Mobile) Press-Register.

Quarterback

The vet: Having evolved from a caretaker to a playmaker, AJ McCarron comes into the season as a third-year starter and a Heisman Trophy candidate. He led the nation in passing efficiency last season as he completed 67.2 percent of his passes for 2,933 yards and a school-record 30 touchdowns, and he had only three passes intercepted. But his most impressive stat: Two consecutive national championships. Since the 1950s, only three others have done that: Nebraska’s Jerry Tagge (1970-71), Oklahoma’s Steve Davis (1974-75) and Nebraska’s Tommie Frazier (1994-95). No quarterback has won three national titles.

Call for backup: Blake Sims and Phillip Ely backed up McCarron in 2012, and they’re back, but redshirt freshman Alec Morris is in the thick of competition. Sims might have the edge now, and he gives the offense a different dimension with his running ability, but Morris is the one to watch.

Who’s out, who’s in: Nobody departed. Three freshmen arrived as early enrollees: heralded Cooper Bateman, unheralded Parker McLeod and walk-on Luke Del Rio. The competition for 2014 starter has begun.

Notable: A true freshman quarterback has never played during coach Nick Saban's tenure at Alabama.

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Potential starters on both sides of the ball are sidelined with a variety of injuries, but that won't stop Alabama from carrying out its typical, ones-versus-ones format at Saturday's A-Day game.

"We have a first-team offense on one team and the second-team defense with them," Alabama coach Nick Saban said after Thursday's practice. "And then we have the first-team defense on another team and the second-team offense together on a team. So the ones play against the ones and the twos play against the twos.

"We're really looking forward to Saturday even though we're going to have some guys who will not be able to participate."

Linebacker Xzavier Dickson (patella), cornerback John Fulton (toe), running back Derrick Henry (leg), wide receiver Kevin Norwood (toe), nose guard Wilson Love (concussion) and linebacker Trey DePriest (foot) won't be able to play in the annual spring scrimmage, Saban said. Additionally, linebacker C.J. Mosley (shoulder), wide receiver DeAndrew White (knee) and running backs Jalston Fowler (knee) and Dee Hart (knee) have worn black, non-contact jerseys throughout the spring and are expected to be limited.

Check out the A-Day rosters

Saban said that all of the injured players are anticipated to be ready for fall camp, including Dickson, who could soon have surgery. Dickson, who had 33 tackles last season, did not participate in last week's scrimmage but had been active at practice this week.

Mosley, Alabama's team MVP in 2012, will "do some things" at A-Day, Saban said.

"We may leave a black jersey on him," Saban said. "Mark Barron played in a spring game in a black jersey a few years ago."

With the clock running non-stop throughout most of the game, there aren't enough plays in it to give equal playing time for the numerous quarterbacks competing for the backup job behind AJ McCarron, Saban said. McCarron (White) and junior Blake Sims (Crimson) will definitely play, he said. Luke Del Rio, Cooper Bateman, Alec Morris and Edward Aldag are all members of the Crimson team while Parker McLeod and Phillip Ely are with McCarron on the White team.