Alabama coach Nick Saban watches his quarterbacks at the second spring football scrimmage, Saturday, April 9, 2016, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com

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A look at some lesser-known Alabama players generating buzz

This is the final week of spring practice for Alabama leading up to the Tide’s spring game on Saturday.

Here are some players who didn’t play significant roles last year who have done well and generated some buzz since the Tide began spring practice in mid-March ... aside from sophomore running back Bo Scarbrough (listed alphabetically):

RELATED: Alabama's rising star at running back has second straight big scrimmage

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Alabama defensive backs Hootie Jones (6), Deionte Thompson (14), Anthony Averett (28) and Kendall Sheffield (11) work through drills during Alabama's seventh spring football practice, Friday, April 1, 2016, at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Alabama Media Group, Vasha Hunt)

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Redshirt junior cornerback Anthony Averett

Sophomore Minkah Fitzpatrick is probably the most likely to start at the cornerback spot opposite Marlon Humphrey if Alabama is in its base defense.

But even if he starts, Fitzpatrick will likely slide inside to play nickel back when the Tide is in its nickel or dime defenses.

Averett, who may be the fastest player on Alabama’s team, has improved to the point he has worked with the first-team at times during the spring, and AL.com was told that he started opposite Humphrey during the Tide’s second spring scrimmage on Saturday with Alabama in its nickel defense.

Fitzpatrick was at nickel back.

The 6-foot, 180-pound Averett ran the 40-yard dash in a team-best 4.30 seconds last spring. His 40 time this spring (4.34) was tied for the best on the team.

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Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams (73), Alabama offensive lineman J.C. Hassenauer (63), Alabama offensive lineman Lester Cotton (66) and Alabama offensive lineman Eastwood Thomas (64) work through drills during Alabama's 11th spring football practice, Friday, April 8, 2016, at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com

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Sophomore offensive lineman Lester Cotton

The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Cotton impressed enough last year that he was Alabama's backup left tackle as a true freshman.

He has been arguably the Tide’s best and most impressive offensive lineman this spring with star left tackle Cam Robinson out following shoulder surgery.

Coach Nick Saban has been consistently complimentary of Cotton. Saban acknowledged following Saturday’s scrimmage Saturday that Cotton is probably one of the five best offensive line on the team, though Saban said he isn’t sure yet whether Cotton will play left guard, right guard or right tackle.

He has worked at both guard and tackle during the spring.

RELATED: Two young Alabama O-linemen consistently receiving praise, pushing for starting jobs

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans (32) works through drills during Alabama's seventh spring football practice, Monday, April 4, 2016, at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com

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Linebacker Rashaan Evans

Evans moved to inside linebacker after playing outside linebacker his first two years with the Tide.

While he is still acclimating to a new position, he had eight tackles and a sack in Alabama’s first scrimmage and seven tackles and a sack on Saturday.

Evans, who runs a 4.60 40 at 230 pounds, is one of the top athletes on the Tide pound-for-pound, and Saban has said that Evans is “naturally instinctive” at inside linebacker.

“I think Rashaan probably has made a lot of plays,” Saban said Saturday. “I also think that — because this is a new position for him — he probably makes more mental errors and struggles to feel comfortable knowing exactly what to do sometimes. But certainly, if we can get him over the hump in that regard, he could be a really, really good player for us.”

RELATED: What's significant about Alabama's two spring experimental position changes

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Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) works through drills at the second spring football scrimmage, Saturday, April 9, 2016, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com

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Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts

Hurts has had attention-grabbing moments since the beginning of the spring.

Unprompted, a source told AL.com following one of the Tide’s first spring practices that Hurts was impressive.

Hurts is a long shot to win the starting quarterback job, but ran for 57 yards on 10 carries during Alabama’s first scrimmage and was praised by Saban following the second scrimmage on Saturday.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Hurts ran a 4.65 40 during the Tide’s spring testing, power-cleaned an impressive 315 pounds and wasn’t allowed to do more than 455 pounds on squat.

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Alabama offensive lineman Korren Kirven (78) and Alabama offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher (71) work through drills during Alabama's sixth spring football practice, Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com

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Redshirt senior offensive tackle Korren Kirven

Kirven moved to offensive tackle last year after playing defensive line his first three years at Alabama.

He developed nicely enough that he started at right tackle against Charleston Southern in place of an injured Dominick Jackson.

He is now very much in the mix in the competition to replace Jackson as the Tide’s starting right tackle.

Saban said recently that Kirven has “done a really good job, and he’s made a lot of progress.”

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Alabama running back Xavian Marks (31) works through drills during Alabama football practice, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com

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Sophomore wide receiver/returner Xavian Marks

The 5-foot-8, 163-pound Marks, who also runs track at Alabama, is currently one of the Tide’s top two returners. He is also in line to play a situational role on offense as Alabama looks to take advantage of his speed and elusiveness.

Marks’ 40 time, a 4.40, was tied for fifth-best on the team during the Tide’s spring testing.

“He has made a tremendous amount of progress,” Saban said, “and I think will contribute to our team in those roles (as a returner and on offense) next year.”

RELATED: Alabama's Trindon Holliday? Meet sophomore wide receiver Xavian Marks

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Alabama linebacker Christian Miller (47) works through drills during Alabama's fourth spring football practice, Friday, March 25, 2016, at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com

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Redshirt sophomore outside linebacker Christian Miller

The 6-foot-4 Miller has gotten bigger — up to 230 pounds after arriving to Alabama weighing around 215 — and he continues to show his ability as a pass rusher.

Miller, who ran a 4.62 40 and bench-pressed 405 pounds during the Tide’s spring testing, had six tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble during Alabama’s scrimmage on Saturday.

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Alabama wide receiver Cam Sims (17) works through drills during Alabama's second spring football practice, Monday, March 21, 2016, at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com

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Junior wide receiver Cam Sims

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Sims was one of Alabama’s top three wide receivers last spring before suffering a serious knee injury.

He is now back healthy and has had some standout moments during the spring.

Sims had two catches for 47 yards during the Tide’s scrimmage on Saturday.

“I think Cam Sims has really had a good spring,” Saban said. “... He’s done a really, really good job.”

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Alabama offensive lineman Jonah Williams (73) works through drills during Alabama's sixth spring football practice, Wednesday, April 6, 2016, at the Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com

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Freshman offensive lineman Jonah Williams

Williams, a five-star recruit from California, has star potential.

Not long after arriving to Tuscaloosa, the 6-foot-5, 290-pound Williams ran the fastest 40 among Tide offensive linemen during Alabama’s spring testing, a 5.10. He also bench-pressed 455 pounds.

He has followed that up by performing well enough during spring practice that linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton singled Williams out when asked recently about freshmen and redshirt freshmen standing out in practice.

“He’s stood out a lot,” Hamilton said.

Saban has also been complimentary.

“Jonah has done a nice job,” Saban said Saturday.

Williams is in the mix with Kirven and others to start at right tackle. Saban has also said in the past that he thinks Williams can play guard.

Williams played left tackle with the first-team offense during Alabama’s first scrimmage. Saban said afterward that Williams did well.

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