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Calvin Ridley, Alabama freshmen make necessary impact

ATLANTA -- Calvin Ridley was always confident in himself.

“I knew I could play like this,” he said. “But, yeah, I’m surprised I’ve been this good. I ain’t gonna lie.”

Minkah Fitzpatrick was humbled by the complex schemes on defense, but learned quickly.

“Right after camp, a week or two before the first game, I felt really, really comfortable with it,” he said.

Comfort was not a sensation Daron Payne felt that first practice, but his body caught up to the speed of the game.

“Your heart is beating and not stopping until like two hours after practice,” he said.