2021 CFP SEASON PREVIEW AUTUMN 11

ALABAMA
#1 SEC WEST: CONF 11-0, HOME 5-0, AWAY 6-0, BOWL: W/W
Head Coach: Nick Saban (15th) OC: Bill O’Brian (1) DC: Pete Golding (3)
OFFENSE:
QB: Lost Mac Jones (4500 YDS, 41 TD, 4 INT) to the NFL who threw for the most yards and second most touchdowns of any QB in 2020 and
boasted the highest completion percentage. Sophomore five-star Bryce Young (156 YDS, 1 TD) is the new starter after almost getting to start
over Mac Jones last year. The backup will be either four-star freshman Jalen Milroe or Paul Tyson, the great grandson of Paul “Bear” Bryant.
RB: Lost Doak Walker Award winner and FBS touchdown leader Najee Harris (1466 YDS, 26 rush TD, 4 rec TD) to the NFL. Backup Brian
Robinson Jr. (483 YDS, 6 TD) is back and ready to take over the starting role. 2019 five-star Trey Sanders (134 YDS in 4 games) will backup
Robinson and 2020 four-star Jase McCllellan (245 YDS, 2 TD) will not be denied his share of carries either. Deeper in the backfield is four-star
sophomore Roydell Williams (71 YDS, 1 TD). Junior Keilan Robinson (254 YDS, 2 TD in 2019) transferred to Texas after opting out in 2020. Fourstar
sophomore Kyle Edwards also entered the transfer portal.
WR: Lost Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff Award winner DeVonta Smith (1856 YDS, 23 TD) to the NFL. Also lost Jaylen Waddle (591 YDS, 4 TD)
who was off to a better start than Smith until missing eight games for an injury. Returns their third best receiver John Metchie III (916 YDS, 6
TD) who put up more yards than most teams leading receiver. Also returns Slade Bolden (270 YDS, 1 TD). Outside of Metchie and Bolden, no
other returning receiver had more than 24 yards, however, there are 6 four-stars and 1 five-star (Ja’Corey Brooks) on the roster. Expect early
enrollee Agiye Hall to have a breakout season, who is already drawing comparisons to DeVonta Smith. Jameson Williams (154 YDS, 2 TD)
transferred in from Ohio State. Even with NFL departures the room is deep with players mentioned above along with Xavier Williams and Javon
Baker.
TE: Returns Jahleel Billingsley (287 YDS, 3 TD) and senior Major Tennison (55 YDS, 1 TD in career). No other tight ends on the roster recorded
any receptions on offense in 2020. Kendall Randolph and Cameron Latu saw playing time but had no catches. Randolph can also play at tackle.
6’5 250lb Latu could see more passes his way this season. Brought in freshman four-star Caden Clark.
OL: Lost C Landon Dickerson, T Alex Leatherwood, and G Deonte Brown to the NFL. Returns 6’7 360lb LT Evan Neal who is one of the best in the
country and has started since arriving as a five-star. The other projected starters are LG Tommy Brown, C Chris Owens, RG Emil Ekiyor Jr, and RT
Kendall Randolph or Freshman All-SEC selection Javion Cohen. Last season four starters returned on the offensive line, this year only two
starters are back which is more in line with their usual numbers, considering the amount of NFL talent moving on from Bama every year.
DEFENSE:
DL: Lost DT Christian Barmore to the NFL. DE starters will be Labryan Ray (12 TOT in 7 games) and Justin Eboigbe (19 TOT, 1 INT) with Byron
Young (29 TOT,6.5 TFL, 1 sack) and Phidarian Mathis (31 TOT, 5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 FF) also seeing a lot of time.
LB: Lost Dylan Moses (80 TOT) to the NFL after leading the team in tackles two straight years. Former 5-star Ale Kaho (33 TOT, 3 blocked punts
in 3 years) transferred out. Returns one of the best linebackers in the country with All-SEC freshman Will Anderson Jr who ranked third in the
SEC in both sacks (7) and TFL (10.5) as a true freshman. Also returns Christopher Allen (41 TOT, 6 sacks, 2 FF), second leader in tackles Christian
Harris (79 TOT, 4.5 sacks), and Jaylen Moody (18 TOT) who should all start. Henry To’o To’o transferred in from Tennessee where he led the
Vols with 68 TOT. Also returns Shane Lee (3 TOT in 2020 but 86 TOT in 2019) and 2020 5-star Drew Sanders (9 TOT). King Mwikuta and Demouy
Kennedy were both 4-star recruits.
SF: Returns five of six defensive backs that made a start (CB Surtain was drafted). Returns Daniel Wright (60 TOT, 2 INT) and Jordan Battle (66
TOT, 1 INT) who are the projected starters. Also returns All-SEC freshman Malachi Moore (44 TOT, 3 INT). Brian Branch (27 TOT, 2 INT) and
Demarcco Hellams (62 TOT, 1 sack) are also back.
CB: Lost Patrick Surtain II (38 TOT, 1 INT) to the NFL. Returns Josh Jobe (55 TOT, 2 sacks) who is one of the best DBs in the country and Jalyn
Armour-Davis (3 TOT) who will start. Marcus Banks (2 TOT) will provide quality depth.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
KR: Returns All-American Will Reichard (84/84 XP, 14/14 FG) who contributed 69 kickoffs. Backup Joseph Bulovas (22/29 FG) transferred to
Vanderbilt.
PR: Lost LS Thomas Fletcher to the NFL. Starting punter Charlie Scott (39.2 YD AVG) is no longer listed on the roster. Punter Jack Martin (46.1 YD
AVG) transferred in from Troy where he also handled kickoffs. Someone will have to return punts in place of DeVonta Smith. WRs Xavier
Williams, Slade Bolden and CB Kool-Aid McKinstry returned punts in the spring game.
SPIN
Tuscaloosa, AL – Saban has only lost two games in the month of October since being hired as head coach of the Tide
and has not lost to an SEC East team since 2010. Alabama is tied for the best home win percentage (93.3%) since
2010. The 2020 defense led the SEC in scoring allowed (19.4 PPG) and the offense ranked 2 nd nationally, scoring 48.5
PPG. 2020 was Alabama’s first undefeated season since 2009. In the last 13 seasons, Alabama has finished the regular
season without a loss only 4 times, which is no minor achievement, but I would have thought it was more. There are
only 12 returning starters from last season, tied for the fifth fewest among power five teams, 3 on offense, 7 on
defense. The defense will be a strength thanks to experience and depth. It will be tough to replace the players who
led the FBS in rushing TDs (Harris), receiving TDs (Smith), and second most passing TDs (Jones) but if anyone can, its
Bama with a five-star recruit for each. Reloading is not the problem. The concerning part is that more than half of the
coaching staff from 2020 has departed. For a regular season win total, at worst, Alabama loses one game. I think they
will repeat as West Division Champions.
Twitter @Autumn_Eleven