From now until kickoff in Arlington, Texas, we'll be counting down from 100 to 1 until Alabama and Michigan get the season started. Today, we move to No. 75 and what it means to UA football.

On our Countdown to kickoff, we've written about a number of things, ranging from tell tale statistics, vital years in the football program's history and even a few players on the current roster with question marks by their names. One such player, big No. 75, doesn't have many unknowns beside his spot on the roster. After four years on the UA campus, Barrett Jones has already earned a spot in Alabama football history, and it's hard to believe that he'll do anything but build upon his legacy this season.

The Tennessee native is the Tide's most experienced lineman. He's won the Outland Trophy, earned first-team All-SEC and All-American honors, and he's done it all while being by all accounts a first-class citizen, working on relief missions in his spare time. In 2012, his leadership will be even further on display as he changes positions from left tackle to center -- a move not often considered the season after your left tackle wins the nation's most prestigious award given to offensive linemen.

So where will Jones go from here? Well, barring any injury or major setback, he seems to have a straight shot to the NFL awaiting him. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. already has Jones listed as the top senior at the center position. NFL.com agrees, ranking Jones the top interior lineman available in next year's draft. And for good measure, CBSSports.com ranks Jones as the top center as well.

In other words, a career in the NFL will be there for the fifth-year senior. While he's still at Alabama, expect AJ McCarron to continue to appreciate his protection and for the running backs to continue following behind him. He's already blocked for two Heisman Trophy finalist. Will he add another before he hangs it up?