Calvin Ridley

(Calvin Ridley Twitter)

The first standout moment came during the first 7-on-7 session wide receiver Calvin Ridley participated in after arriving at Alabama this summer.

Competing among a mix of Tide veterans and younger players, Ridley chased a deep throw down the field, tracking the ball over his shoulder before laying out to make a diving one-handed catch.

The prized freshman from Coconut Creek, Fla. is already making an impression on teammates and coaches during the buildup to preseason practice in early August, displaying characteristics and skills that could help Ridley quickly become a primary factor in Alabama's passing game.

Ridley's high school coach, Calvin Davis, is in regular contact with Tide offensive line coach Mario Cristobal, who was Ridley's primary recruiter.

Cristobal shared Wednesday that Ridley caught five or six passes and two or three touchdowns during a 7-on-7 session Tuesday.

"He talked about how good of a day Calvin had," Davis told AL.com.

Ranked by Rivals as the top wide receiver and ninth-best overall prospect in this year's recruiting class, the 6-foot-1, 188-pound Ridley will be in the mix for immediate playing time with Alabama replacing its top three wide receivers from last season, including Heisman Trophy finalist Amari Cooper.

One team source said Ridley has some similar qualities as Cooper.

"Definitely," the source said. "Long frame. 6-1, 6-2. Quick in and out of breaks. Goes up and gets the ball. Catches just about everything in his area. So you can see the similarities. But he's got to go out there and prove it. If he has the work ethic Coop has, then the sky is the limit for him."

Early indications are positive.

Ridley has put on 15 pounds since last summer after entering his senior season at Monarch High School weighing 173.

Ridley is also feeling progressively more comfortable with Alabama's playbook and his responsibilities, Davis said.

"Every time I talk to him, he talks about how he's getting the playbook, how he's learning the plays and how he's going to be able to contribute from Week One," Davis said. "He's getting it -- the formations. He's a fast learner, so he feels he'll be ready to play."

Ridley caught 41 passes for 1,131 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior at Monarch in 2013 while averaging 27.6 yards per catch.

The now 20-year old Ridley had 18 catches for 420 yards and four touchdowns in three games as a senior before being unable to play the rest of the year due to age restrictions.

Competing in one-on-ones at The Opening in Oregon last summer, Ridley produced one of the highlight moments of the event. He got behind a cornerback down the field before reaching high and across his face to make a one-handed catch with his right hand that elicited a loud reaction from other participants.

"He's different," Davis said. "He has a chip on his shoulder, and he's just out to prove that he can play on this level. ... He's focused. He came in with the goal of being able to contribute right away, and he came in with the mentality that he was going to learn the playbook and be in the building every day learning the different concepts of the offense."

Cristobal has told Davis that Ridley's top-end speed and ability to get behind the defense and make plays have stuck out during the summer.

Ridley is one of several freshmen, Ragland said, that have been impressive in summer workouts and 7-on-7s. He referenced the diving one-handed catch.

"I think Calvin," Ragland said, "will have a great shot this year to get some playing time."