Jackson Carpenter had always dreamed about running out of the player’s tunnel and onto the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

On Saturday, the former Cathedral High School standout’s dream became a reality.

Carpenter served as a quarterback on the Crimson team in the Tide’s annual A-Day Spring Game.

“I’ve been going to games here since I was a little kid,” Carpenter said. “I’ve seen those players run out of the tunnel 100 times. There is nothing like it. You’re whole body is tingling. You get a shock of energy and you feel like you can do anything.”

Carpenter didn’t take any snaps from his quarterback post, but he did receive playing time on the kickoff and punt coverage units.

Jackson’s Crimson team came back to beat the White team on a JK Scott 30-yard field goal on the game’s final play.

“When you first walk into the stadium, everything is so big,” Carpenter said of the more than 100,000-seat venue. “You can hear everybody cheering and the music, and everybody is rocking and ready to roll. I’m smiling just thinking about it.”

With the win, Crimson team members received a steak dinner, while the White squad ate a bean dinner.

The 6-foot-4 Carpenter walked on to the Tide’s roster this spring. The rising sophomore said he went through team conditioning in February before beginning spring practice in March.

Carpenter said it’s been a thrill to suit up for his childhood favorite team and play under the direction of head coach Nick Saban, who has four national championships at Alabama and one at LSU.

“He’s pretty strict, but he runs a good program,” Carpenter said. “He expects a lot of his players. He expects nothing less out of you than what you can fully give. He doesn’t care if you’re a walk-on or a five-star recruit, he wants you to make yourself and your teammates better.”

Alabama is coming off a 2016 campaign that ended in disappointing fashion. The Crimson Tide lost in the national championship game to Clemson, 35-31, denying Alabama of back-to-back titles.

Carpenter said the loss has served as extra motivation for Alabama throughout the spring.

“We never want to experience that feeling again,” Carpenter said. “For me as a fan, it was disappointing, and I can’t imagine the feeling after putting in all that work. We pride ourselves on winning the fourth quarter, and to lose that game in the fourth, we feel we need to prove ourselves all over again.”

Alabama will kickoff its 2017 campaign Sept. 2 in Atlanta against national power Florida State.

“I’m just blessed to have this opportunity,” Carpenter said. “My parents (Todd and Emily Carpenter) showed me support every day. I’m definitely appreciative of all the support I’ve had from people in Natchez and Tuscaloosa, and Roll Tide.”