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OL, 6’9, 306, 5.4, 360 bp
Sylvania, AL
Nickname: Bart, full first name is Bartley
High School: Sylvania
HS Number: 77
AL Number: 77
Official Visits: Alabama
Second Choice: Michigan
Host During Alabama Visit: Michael Barfield and Sam Matthews
Committed: September 24, 1997
Academic Status: Qualified
Stats
HS Junior Season
Blocking
HS Senior Season
Blocking
Honors
- Two-time All-Area
- Two-time All-State
- Tuscaloosa News Sweet 16
- Tuscaloosa News Preseason Sweet 16
- Super Seniors Team
- USA Today Honorable Mention All-American
- Pigskin Preps Super South 75
- Forrest Davis First Team All-South
- SuperPrep All-American
- Prep Star All-American
- AL-MS All-Star Game
Stories
He Wants to Get Bigger
He’s 6’9, 306 pounds, but Bart Raulston says that he needs to bulk-up.
How much weight does he want to gain?
"The more the merrier," he says. "As long as it’s good weight, I figure that I can carry 350 or 360 and not lose any speed or quickness."
During the past football season Raulston was up to 320. But because of basketball he’s trimmed down to 306.
"My legs are already huge. Now I’m going to concentrate on my upper body."
He hopes to report to Tuscaloosa next August at 340.
He Slam-Dunked Pisgah
A warning to future Tide opponents: Never get Bart Raulston fired up. If you do, you’ll pay the price. Pisgah HS basketball fans learned that lesson the hard way.
It was during Raulston’s junior season when Sylvania traveled to play Pisgah. While the Sylvania players were going through pre-game lay-ups, the Pisgah fans began heckling Raulston.
"I got a little fired up and decided that instead of doing a lay-up, I’d slam one home."
Not only did he slam it home, he shattered the backboard and ripped down the rim.
"Glass was everywhere. The game was delayed about an hour."
And as for the rim, it’s now a trophy.
"I’ve got it hanging above my bed."
The Rematch with Pisgah
This year Raulston added insult to last year’s injury.
He was a dominant force inside for Sylvania. He scored 38 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead Sylvania to a 127-126, five-overtime victory.
He fouled out in the second overtime.
"It was nerve-wracking at the end because all I could do was watch. But I’d have to say that it was my best game."
On The Recruiting Trail …
"I Got Me an Armadillo"
Raulston was getting frustrated during his first deer hunt.
He had been hunting all day with Michael Barfield and Sam Matthews and he hadn’t even seen a deer, much less shot at one.
"I had this real nice rifle, but there wasn’t anything to shoot at. I was getting a little tired of it."
He heard a nearby noise. He turned and looked, hoping to see a deer, but it was an armadillo.
"I got to thinking it would be a shame to spend all day out there and not get to shoot that rifle. I didn’t get me a deer. I got me an armadillo though."
Q&A
TI: Which tackle slot did you play in HS? Which side will you play at Alabama?
BR: I was a strong-side tackle in high school -- meaning that it depended on the play we called as to which side I would line-up. But I always played left tackle on passing plays. Alabama thinks that I’m a left tackle. At left tackle you have to be a good pass blocker because most of the time you’re protecting the quarterback’s blind side. You have to be athletic, quick, and have long arms.
TI: Will you play next season or redshirt?
BR: I’ll be playing next season. They definitely want to get me some playing time. The coaches say that I’m already a good run-blocker. I just need a little more experience pass-blocking because at Sylvania we didn’t throw it a whole lot.
TI: When will you report to Tuscaloosa?
BR: I’m going to go down there for the second semester of summer school.
TI: How will prepare yourself between now and then?
BR: Hopefully, as soon as basketball season ends, I’ll start working out hard and putting some bulk on. I figure by Fall I’ll be up to 340. Some people may think that sounds too heavy. But I can easily carry that much and probably more.
TI: What are your impressions of Neil Callaway?
BR: Coach Callaway knows what he’s talking about. He knows how to teach. He tells you your weak points, and then he encourages you by pointing out your strengths. He’s already given me a few tips that have helped me out on my footwork.
TI: Do you have any idea the type of offense Alabama will run?
BR: I’ve been told that there will be a lot of formations. Coach DuBose said that we’ll still run the ball, but we’ll see more passing than in the past.
TI: Have you developed any friendships with some of your fellow freshmen?
BR: Yeah, I’ve become pretty good friends with Tyler Watts.
TI: What kind of person is he?
BR: He’s a great guy. You’d think that he’d be arrogant, but he’s not one bit cocky. Tyler’s really a down-to-earth type of guy.
TI: Finally, what are your feelings on the poor season Alabama had last year? Will they return to the top?
BR: Definitely! Alabama might have one bad season every 15 or 20 years. The recruiting class we had was awesome and there are a lot of good, young players already there. We’ll be back.
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