ArDarius Stewart’s workload increased each week last season, his redshirt freshman season at Alabama, as he became more involved in the offense. He saw his first start against then-No. 1 Mississippi State and caught a career-best five passes for 51 yards the following week against Western Carolina.

But a knee injury against the Catamounts brought Stewart’s promising progression to a halt. It did not, however, slow him down this spring, where he put together a strong performance in the team’s A-Day spring game, taking home co-MVP honors after the public scrimmage. He caught eight passes for 118 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns back in April.

And that strong showing to end the spring has carried over to present day. Stewart has led the wide receivers through drills out on the practice field the past two weeks and has received high praise from his coaches for his effort during fall camp.

“ArDarius Stewart’s doing a nice job,” head coach Nick Saban said. “He’s probably been our most consistent guy out there in terms of ability to execute. He’s making plays every day.

“I think his confidence is growing, and I think he’s the next guy that we need to sort of be the man when it comes to playing receiver and playing with consistency. Quarterbacks can develop confidence in some guys that they can go to, and he’s certainly done a good job of that so far.”

The man for the Crimson Tide a season ago was Amari Cooper, there is no denying that. The fourth overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft recorded 124 receptions for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns as Blake Sims’ go-to target.

But Cooper is no longer in Tuscaloosa.

That is a reason to celebrate for Alabama’s defensive backs, who had to deal with Cooper’s NFL-caliber talent on a daily basis. But Stewart has not made things easy on his teammates in their battles on the practice field, according to junior Maurice Smith. He pointed out Stewart’s improvements and why he is tough to guard.

“I’d definitely say his speed,” Smith said when speaking to reporters Wednesday evening. “He’s improved on every aspect as a receiver – blocking, running routes and just knowing the plays. He’s being a complete receiver.”

But how did Stewart get to this point in his development? Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who obviously saw something in the Fultondale, Ala., native last season – Kiffin’s first with the Crimson Tide – explained when Stewart started to stand out.

“I think anytime players have to play, they do better a lot of times than people think they will, because now they have to,” Kiffin said. “Unfortunately, sometimes they don’t prepare the same way until they’re really playing, as much as we tell them to.

“I think we saw ArDarius kind of make a transition in a year there. There was even a time when we really had him as the third receiver – I want to say the Mississippi State game, where we were trying to get him the ball, and he got injured and didn’t end up finishing the year that we’d have liked.

“But ArDarius is as talented, probably the most talented guy that we have and has made some significant plays even in games or during the spring. We’ve just got to get him to take it to the next level so he can be an every-down player.”

Saban wants to see Stewart be that every-down player this fall, just like Kiffin. On Wednesday night, following the Crimson Tide’s first practice session of the 2015-16 school year, Saban provided more praise of the redshirt sophomore wide receiver during his post-practice press conference.

“I think he just shows more maturity,” Saban said. “I think he’s got more confidence in what he’s doing. He’s playing faster and making more plays. I still think receivers have to learn the importance of precision so that they can work well with the quarterback and the quarterback can depend on what they’re going to do. I think ArDarius has made great strides in that area.”

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