Alphonse Taylor Arrested: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction on Alabama OL | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

University of Alabama offensive lineman Alphonse Taylor was charged with driving under the influence after being arrested by the Tuscaloosa Police Department on July 17.

Charlie Potter of 247Sports passed along the news from the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office the same day, adding that Taylor's bond was set at $1,000. Matt Zenitz of AL.com also reported the news.

Saban explained his decision to suspend Taylor on July 19 in an interview on ESPN (h/t Michael Casagrande of AL.com):

I think when you have a DUI, what makes it significantly different is you've put other people in danger by the choices you have made and the decision you made. So that, to me, is a little more serious in terms of what we need to do. I would like to look at what we're doing with [Taylor], not as a punishment, but as a treatment of what we need to do help him be a better player, to be a better person, to make better choices and decisions in the future. And I think that will help him the most.

Stephanie Taylor of the Tuscaloosa News shared Taylor's mugshot after his arrest:

Stephanie Taylor @TNews_Steph

Alabama football player Alphonse Taylor charged with DUI, in Tuscaloosa County jail Sunday with bond at $1,000.

Taylor allegedly "left the scene of an accident and was arrested in the 1100 block of [East] Hargrove Road early [July 17]," according to Ben Jones of TideSports.com.

Stephanie Taylor, citing court documents, reported on Friday that Taylor "tested negative for alcohol, but performed poorly on field sobriety tests."

According to documents requested by The Tuscaloosa News and provided by the Tuscaloosa Office of the City Attorney, Taylor called Tuscaloosa Police at 8:50 a.m. that Sunday to report that he had struck a vehicle in the parking lot.

"I immediately noticed that Taylor's speech was very slow and he appeared lethargic," the responding officer wrote in the arrest report. "Taylor advised that he had not been drinking, he did not take medication and had no medical problems."

The officer wrote that Taylor was reclining in his 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe when he arrived. Taylor told the officer that he had bumped his head on the steering wheel. The 911 call taker who dispatched the officer to the accident reported that Taylor was very difficult to understand.

"While I was speaking with him, I observed him drop his phone on the ground between his feet," the officer wrote. "Taylor struggled and swayed to retrieve his phone." Taylor was arrested, and provided two breath samples at 9:19 a.m. The tests showed that he had a 0.0 blood alcohol content.

Taylor emerged as a key cog in the Crimson Tide offensive line last season as the team went 14-1 and won the national championship. He started all 15 games at right guard and finished with a team-leading 57 knockdown blocks, according to his official bio.

Outside expectations are high for the senior heading into the 2016 campaign, too. He was listed on the All-SEC preseason second team following the conference's media days last week.

Saban hadn't guaranteed his place in the starting lineup prior to the arrest, though. Marq Burnett of SEC Country passed along comments from the Alabama coach after Taylor got demoted to a backup role during spring practice.

"He's going to continue to be on the second team if he doesn't get his weight down and get in shape," Saban said. "Would he be a better first-teamer with all the experience he has?"

Redshirt freshman Brandon Kennedy filled the void during what seemed more like an attempted wake-up call from Saban than a true long-term demotion for Taylor.

Those additional reps with the starters could prove vital if Kennedy does step into a starting role when the Tide open the regular season against USC on Sept. 3.