Passing drills usually aren’t cause for gawking, but Alabama junior David Palmer can turn them into a stunning display of versatility.
He lines up at flanker, runs his route, catches a pass from the quarterback and throws it back to a team manager.
What’s so special about that?
Palmer’s pass invariably is stronger and more accurate than the one he received.
Florida is preparing to defend such passes Saturday when it faces the Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship Game.
Alabama coach Gene Stallings has closed practice to the media for the first time this season, fueling speculation he will use Palmer, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound, multi-purpose offensive weapon, at quarterback.
“When he does go back to pass, he’s a guy that’s just like Charlie Ward,” UF defensive coordinator Ron Zook said. “He can scramble and make some things happen. I’ve also seen him throw some passes that are right on the money. The guy is a very, very talented athlete.”
Publicly, Stallings has said he will start sophomore Brian Burgdorf in place of Jay Barker, who tore knee ligaments two weeks ago against Auburn.
Is Stallings bluffing?
“I don’t think we’re playing possum,” said Palmer, who has started one game at quarterback and saw extensive playing time there in two other games. “I don’t think I’ll play quarterback.”
Regardless of where he lines up, Palmer will command a great deal of the Gators’ attention.
He’s a receiver, tailback and quarterback and returns kicks and punts. Palmer did it all against Tennessee earlier this season, culminating a 186-yard all-purpose day with a two-point conversion run from quarterback to give the Tide a 17-17 tie.
“I don’t know how the guy remembers where to line up, he’s got so many different places,” Zook said. “We’ve got to always know where he is.”
In a come-from-behind victory over Ole Miss, Palmer caught eight passes for 76 yards before taking over for an injured Barker at quarterback. He completed a 54-yard pass and ran for 38 yards.
“If he was playing free safety, he’d probably lead the nation in interceptions,” Tide secondary coach Bill Oliver said.
Palmer, who has caught 58 passes for a school-record 978 yards and seven touchdowns, prefers lining up at receiver. “The Deuce,” as fans call him for his jersey number, said that’s where he’s most effective.
“I have a lot more opportunities when I play wide receiver,” said Palmer, 7 of 14 passing for 170 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. “When I’m at quarterback, there are so many guys on the line coming at me. When I’m at wide receiver, the defensive back is out there alone with me. I can do a lot more things.”
Palmer’s play this year has made a tumultuous 1992 season a bad memory. He was arrested twice for drunken driving in the span of two months before the season and was suspended the first three games.
He got counseling for his alcohol problem, but rarely showed a glimpse of his freshman form, when he returned three punts for touchdowns.
The only thing anyone talks about now is Palmer’s exploits on the field.
“David Palmer, without a doubt, has the most awareness of a football player on the field I’ve ever seen,” Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill said earlier this season. “Palmer can do everything, and he has tremendous field vision. What sets him apart and amazes me is his vision and feel, it seems like he just feels where the defensive players are.
“As long as you have David Palmer, you have a chance to win.”
Alabama coaches mentally drooled all over themselves upon sight of Palmer at Jackson-Olin High School in Birmingham, where he played all the position he does at Alabama and was a defensive back.
“They couldn’t have gotten Palmer down if they had been playing touch football,” Stallings said after signing Palmer.
“Back-yard football,” Palmer said. “That’s what Coach Stallings tells me I’m playing.”
