Alabama football signee Malachi Moore finds himself in a unique and surprising situation.

Moore graduated from Hewitt-Trussville and signed with Alabama in December and planned to join the Crimson Tide as an early enrollee when classes resumed earlier this month.

Instead, Moore isn’t in school – not at Hewitt-Trussville or Alabama – and will spend the next few months working out on his own before joining the Crimson Tide in May.

RELATED: Complete coverage of Alabama football

“I just look at it like it’s a positive for me,” Moore said. “Like my mom said, I don’t have to worry about working out and classes and football right now. I’m taking the time to focus on myself and working out.”

Managing the 85-scholarship limit has become increasingly complex for Alabama and other SEC schools, thanks to an increasing number of top prospects opting to enroll in January while underclassmen consider an early exit to the NFL. Moore’s situation serves as a prime example.

At Alabama, running back Najee Harris, offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood and linebacker Dylan Moses opted to return to Alabama instead of heading to the NFL, and the NCAA granted linebacker Joshua McMillon an extra year of eligibility as an injury hardship.

That made it a numbers game at Alabama, with 13 of the 22 players who signed in December already enrolled. The Crimson Tide apparently didn’t have room for Moore.

So, he waits.

What’s his normal day like now?

“It’s just working out and trying to get more muscle and add some weight and doing some skill work,” he said.

Moore said he talks daily to the early enrollees, who consistently tell him “how hard the workouts are.”

Moore said he’s not too concerned about missing spring practice. Fellow safety signee Brian Branch remains at Sandy Creek (Ga.) High in suburban Atlanta.