In what should come as a surprise to no one, Keith Holcombe is thinking the same way Nick Saban is, which means it will be sometime after Alabama’s baseball season before we know if Holcombe — who is an outfielder for the Crimson Tide baseball team and linebacker for the Bama football squad — will return to football for his final season next fall.

In the past, Holcombe has done double duty in the spring, practicing with the Alabama football team and then playing in Crimson Tide baseball games. He is on football scholarship and plays a position — inside linebacker — where depth is an issue.

Earlier this spring, Saban said he told Holcombe to concentrate on baseball this spring. “When baseball season is over, you and I will sit down and decide if you want to come back for your fifth year.

“That’s what he’s doing. He’s totally focusing on baseball. We’d love for him to come back (to football) in the fall. I hope he chooses to do that.”

Keith Holcombe concentrating on baseball

On Monday, Holcombe echoed that time frame. Asked if it would be a hard decision, an easy decision, or if the decision had already been made, he said, “That will be a decision that will be made later on in the year. I’m not really focused on that. You’ve heard me say this a thousand times: this is baseball season for me and that’s what I’m going to put all my energy into.”

Saban said when Alabama was recruiting the 6-4, 236-pound Holcombe out of Hillcrest High School that he would give Holcombe the opportunity to play both sports.

“That seems like a million years ago,” Holcombe said. “He gave me the opportunity, and this spring I’m focusing on baseball and looking forward to it.”

Saban also pointed out that Holcombe had been through four spring practices.

Keith Holcombe’s football decision due later

Somewhat surprisingly, Holcombe said that the toll on his body was not significantly better than when he was participating in spring football while also playing baseball.

“There’s a little difference here and there, but any athlete throughout college if you play one sport, two sports, three sports, your body is going to take a grind,” he said. “I can tell a little bit of difference, but not a huge difference.”

In the last couple of weeks, Holcombe has seen his hitting drop, from batting .361 to .278.

“I just need to relax,” Holcombe said. “I felt like I was putting a little too much pressure on myself at times.

“Baseball is up and down, up and down. But I’m trying to get back to how I was at the beginning of the season, just having fun.”

Holcombe said he was giving little thought to athletics after college.

He said, “I haven’t thought about that too much, because I know if I do I’ll be putting more pressure on myself and not having fun, so I’m trying to stay away from that and just live in the moment.”

Holcombe and his Alabama baseball teammates have a midweek game hosting Jacksonville State at 6 p.m. CDT Tuesday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. This weekend the Tide will be on the road at Missouri.

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