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How a former Alabama walk-on made his on-screen debut in a feature film

After a summer that saw both LeBron James and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson add to their big screen résumés, fall brought a lesser-known athlete-turned-actor to box offices.

Former Alabama walk-on Caleb Castille made his Hollywood debut as future Miami Dolphins great Tony Nathan in Woodlawn. The movie, which debuted Friday, follows Nathan as a high school running back who leads a newly integrated football team in 1970s Birmingham, Ala. and becomes one of Alabama coach Bear Bryant’s top recruits.

Brother-director pair Jon and Andrew Erwin's modestly budgeted ($15 million) film is at once a biopic, an inspirational sports movie and a civil rights saga.