Yeldon stars in Alabama spring game

With head coach Nick Saban pacing the sidelines wearing a suit, and a crowd of 78,315 rabid fans, the White team defeated the Crimson team 17-14 in Alabama's spring game on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Sophomore running back T.J. Yeldon, led the White with 129 total yards including the game-winning touchdown. For the second straight year, Yeldon earned the Dixie Howell Award given to the game's most valuable player.

White team quarterback AJ McCarron completed 19 of 30 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions. McCarron led the White team to 335 total yards. The Crimson team totaled 285 total yards on the day.

"This is like playing in an all-star game," McCarron said. "You don't get in a rhythm. It's not a real game, but it's fun to go out there and try to make plays happen, and do some trick plays."

But it was those nine turnovers -- five by the Crimson team and four by the White team -- that probably didn't make Saban very happy.

"The biggest thing I was concerned about was how the team would go out there and what would be their energy, their enthusiasm, and their attention to detail," Saban told rolltide.com. "I don't think that there were enough guys that answered that question in a positive way to my liking. But I'm never satisfied."

Linebacker C.J. Mosley of the Crimson team had a game-high nine tackles and a fumble recovery while linebacker Tana Patrick had eight tackles.

Defensive back Landon Collins led the White team with five tackles.

Saban had to be pleased with punter Cody Mandell, who punted seven times, averaging 48.3 yards per punt. Three of Mandell's punts were downed inside the 20-yard line.

Sophomore center Ryan Kelly of the White team earned the Dwight Stephenson Lineman of the Game Award given to the game's most valuable lineman.