re: 2020 FB Recruiting & Roster

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Alabama long snapper Scott Meyer will finish out his college career elsewhere in the SEC.

Entering the NCAA transfer portal in February, Meyer will transfer to Vanderbilt for his final two years of collegiate eligibility, BamaOnLine has learned. The Alpharetta, Ga., native graduated from Alabama earlier this month and will be immediately eligible to play for the Commodores.

A former walk-on, Meyer acted as the Crimson Tide’s primary snapper on extra points and field goal attempts, finishing perfect on all chances, in 2017. He was a reserve behind starter Thomas Fletcher this past season and only saw the field in one game -- Week 12 against The Citadel.

Fletcher will be Alabama’s lone scholarship snapper this fall. Freshman walk-on Jake Hall from Saraland (Ala.) High School is the only other long snapper listed on the Crimson Tide’s current roster.

Redshirt Sr. Punter Mike Bernier is still in the transfer portal.

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25. Mississippi State Bulldogs
24. Army Black Knights
23. Iowa Hawkeyes
22. Syracuse Orange
21. Wisconsin Badgers
20. Nebraska Cornhuskers
19. Washington State Cougars
18. Auburn Tigers added Note: if history holds, should finish higher - when little is expected, usually outperform..
17. Stanford Cardinal
16. Utah Utes
15. Washington Huskies
14. UCF Knights
13. Penn State Nittany Lions
12. Texas A&M Aggies added Note: while playing the top 3 teams in the nation
11. Texas Longhorns
10. Oregon Ducks
9. LSU Tigers
8. Florida Gators
7. Michigan Wolverines
6. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
4. Oklahoma Sooners
3. Georgia Bulldogs
ESPN: We're going to have to trust Jake Fromm when he says he and the offense made strides this spring, because it didn't show up on G-Day, with the exception of a seemingly rising star in wideout Jeremiah Holloman. The defense, on the other hand, was a reason for optimism.
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
ESPN: With no major injuries and no quarterback competition, it was something of a quiet spring for the defending SEC champs. Even Nick Saban's hip-replacement surgery seemed to go swimmingly. But there's still work to be done in Tuscaloosa. While Josh Jobe and a few other players created a buzz, the defense must find a way to replace a bunch of draft picks and bounce back from a rough end to last season. And looking bigger picture, having seven new assistant coaches is something worth keeping an eye on.

1. Clemson Tigers
ESPN: It should come as no surprise that the Tigers remain No. 1 headed out of spring practice. They return one of the most dynamic offenses in college football and appear to have even enhanced that unit with some early-enrollee freshmen who could make a difference. (added Note: and the easiest schedule since the ACC became a Basketball conference)

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For a fifth consecutive offseason, BamaOnLine is counting down Alabama’s top 25 most important players ahead of the Crimson Tide’s fast-approaching fall camp and 2019 football season.

We continue our rankings with redshirt senior offensive lineman Matt Womack at No. 23.

*** Breakdown of Alabama’s Top-25 Most Important Players for 2019: Two things went into consideration in this breakdown. One was how much the player would see the field this fall. With that condition, the list is primarily made up of starters. The second aspect is the player’s importance to the team, meaning if they are replacing a starter at a key position and how hard it would be to replace them should something occur to force them out of commission.
WOMACK PROFILE
Height: 6-foot-7 Weight: 325 pounds
Hometown: Hernando, Ms. High School: Magnolia Heights

247Sports Composite ranking: three-star (2015)
- No. 620 nationally
- No. 68 offensive tackle
- No. 15 in state of Mississippi

2019 OUTLOOK
Womack is entering his fifth and final season at Alabama and will look to do what he did in 2017 -- start. The redshirt senior was the Crimson Tide’s starting right tackle that year, but a foot injury last spring kept him from doing the same in 2018. He missed the first four games of his redshirt junior campaign because of the injury and saw time in seven games as a reserve, while Jedrick Wills started at right tackle. Wills is back, so Womack will have to claim a different starting spot this fall.

In the spring, the 6-foot-7 Womack worked at right guard since Alex Leatherwood moved to left tackle with Jonah Williams declaring for the draft. Head coach Nick Saban and teammates said Womack played well during spring practices and made an easy transition from tackle to guard. However, when Wills sustained an ankle injury in the second scrimmage, Womack was needed at right tackle again. He started there in the A-Day Game but didn’t finish due to a shoulder injury.

With an offseason to heal, Womack should enter fall camp as a viable option at right guard for the Tide. Outside of the injury, he didn’t do anything to hurt his stock in the spring and provides a veteran presence on a line that will have to replace three starters. Womack attended the team’s leadership retreat last month and will look to fill a role in that regard for Alabama’s upcoming season.

“He’s seen all the changes made around here,” Wills said of Womack. “He’s been through multiple coaching staffs and also been through multiple offensive lines. He knows everything that’s going on, knows the ins and outs of everything, and I feel like just for him to step up and give his knowledge of what’s actually happening is helpful not only to me but the younger guys and everybody else around here.”

WHY NO. 23?

This is actually the highest Womack has been ranked in this offseason series. The last two years, he has landed at No. 24. A number of offensive linemen could have been ranked here, as well. Deonte Brown will be an option at left or right guard when he is eligible to return. Emil Ekiyor will likely start the season at left guard -- that is if he can hold off true freshman Evan Neal. All of them will be options for Alabama, but Womack is the most experienced, thus getting the nod in the rankings.

If Womack can stay healthy, he can claim a starting spot at guard in his final year in Tuscaloosa. He’s started before, and Saban and company would like to have that kind of experience while replacing veterans like Williams, Ross Pierschbacher and even Lester Cotton. But there are a couple of things that could hold him back. One being another setback like his foot or shoulder, while the other is competition. We provided three other names, and that’s not including potential additions.

Still, a right side of Womack and Wills and a left side of Leatherwood and Ekiyor, Neal or Brown would give the Tide an offensive line that will likely contend for the Joe Moore Award once again. It just depends on the combination Saban and new offensive line coach Kyle Flood think gives Alabama the best chance to win. The praise for Womack’s ability to switch from tackle to guard this spring suggests the fifth-year senior could be one of the five best linemen for the 2019 season.
WHAT SAY YOU?
*** Below are the players that are ranked below Womack at No. 23.
25. PKs Joseph Bulovas and Will Reichard
24. QBs Mac Jones and Taulia Tagovailoa

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