Few players arrived at Alabama with Reuben Foster-level hype. The nation's No. 1 middle linebacker was among the top 2013 recruits regardless of position.

Playing time has been scarce, however, in the first two seasons in Tuscaloosa. After starting the 2014 season opener when Trey DePriest was suspended, Foster returned to the second string. He'd competed with Reggie Ragland for the other middle linebacker job, but injuries last spring impeded that effort.

Now DePriest is a graduate and Foster is back competing for a starting job.

When asked who would be an emotional leader on this new Alabama team, 2014 captain and NFL prospect Jalston Fowler named Foster.

"To be truthful, I think guys just respect him," Fowler said at Wednesday's Alabama pro day. "They just know he crazy and you know you're going to respect the crazy guy. You don't want to piss the crazy guy off."

Foster made his biggest impact as big hitting special teams player last fall. His crushing hit on LSU's Leonard Fournette on the final play of regulation set the Alabama sideline off before winning the game in overtime.

"Whooo! I've seen Reuben do it so much, it's like second nature to him," Ragland said in November. "It's like Whooo. I think Reuben is a harder hitter than I am. Every time you see him hit, he just makes everything explode and fall. Yeah, that hit, baby. Whooo!"

He had two more big shots defending kickoffs against Texas A&M and another midway through the second quarter of the Sugar Bowl.

Tackling technique had been a criticism Nick Saban had of Foster's game. Too often he buried his head, creating dangerous situations where neck injuries came into play.

DePriest, who's aiming for a spot in the NFL draft, saw promising signs of growth from Foster.

"He got the playbook down towards the end of the year," DePriest said. "So I think you'll see big from Reuben this year."