As a high school senior, Ronnie Prude threw for 1,412 yards and 10 touchdowns as a quarterback. In two seasons as a cornerback at LSU, Prude has managed 32 tackles and one interception in 23 games played.
Now in spring practice, Prude is looking to make the transition from cornerback to wide receiver.
“Coming out of high school, it was [hard to make the transition from quarterback to defensive back,]” Prude said. “Mainly, I was focused on being an offensive threat. But coming in and being switched over to defensive back, and now I’ve got to go to the other side [of the ball] and get all that in too.”
Coach Nick Saban said, like cornerback Corey Webster, he is looking to give Prude more time at receiver.
“[Prude] has learned to play inside and that can be beneficial to us,” Saban said. “We used Corey a lot [at receiver], but we probably need to start using Ronnie more on offense and minimize his roles on defense to see what he can do.”
Saban also said he will need to focus on either Prude or Webster more at receiver.
“We probably can’t do both of them, because we’re in three and four wideout [sets] a lot,” Saban said. “Fifty percent of the practice is probably on offense.”
With just a few weeks of spring practice under his belt, Prude has managed to improve upon his cornerback position in addition to experimenting at wide receiver.
“Cornerback is going pretty good right now,” Prude said. “I’m just trying to learn more positions to give me the best opportunity to be on the field. And receiver-wise, it’s going pretty good.”
In trying to switch players from one side of the ball to the other, Saban said he has experienced some problems.
“It’s tough to lose too many guys playing on the other team,” Saban said. “Corey Webster’s already become a double agent for the offense. He tells them what we’re doing.”
Saban jokingly said it is hard to trust players playing on both sides of the ball.
“[Webster] gets penalties when he’s playing defense,” Saban said. “He gives up big plays in the scrimmage, so he’s completely a double agent now for the offense. It’s hard to trust him. I don’t want to get two guys out there like that.”
Despite his problem with “double agents,” Saban said the team has had a good spring, especially Prude.
“Ronnie’s had a good spring. He’s played well and played aggressive,” Saban said. “He’s done very well at cornerback. We’ve used Ronnie as a multiple role guy.”
Cornerback Travis Daniels said the team is filled with athletes who have the ability to switch positions.
“Prude is an athlete,” Daniels said. “I think that’s one thing we have a lot of on our team. I think you could take almost any player from their position and put them on the other side and everybody would be fine.”
Daniels also has experienced the transition from one position to the next as Saban has tried him out at the safety position.
And although Prude may have to work harder than other players with the transition from cornerback to wide receiver, he said he is just looking to play his best.
“I’m going to try and play both [positions] and do my best at both positions,” Prude said. “It’s all about mental toughness, executing, getting the plays, and just giving 100 percent, no matter what. I’m just going out there and having fun.”