re: Spring Football News & Info

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WHO’S COMING BACK? QB: Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, Layne Hatcher ... Tagovailoa ...his experience will help the offense with a few playmakers moving on to the NFL. There will also be no talk of a quarterback competition this offseason, As for Jones, he has a chance to rise into the backup role this spring and summer. He will have to fight off Hatcher and the Tide’s newcomers, but Jones is now the second-most experienced quarterback on Alabama’s roster entering the 2019 season.
RB: Najee Harris, Brian Robinson, Jerome Ford Harris was the third running back of UA’s three-headed monster last year. He had more rushing yards (783) than Jacobs on fewer carries (117) and actually led the team in yards per carry with 6.69. He is now entering his third spring at Alabama and will be the No. 1 option out of the backfield, barring injury. Robinson will also see his role increase and should benefit from the touches he will see this spring. The same can be said for Ford, who saw time in four games but was still able to redshirt. He will be the No. 3 back this spring with no tailback early enrollees

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WHO’S COMING IN? QB: Taulia Tagovailoa, Paul Tyson Alabama signed two of the nation’s top-12 pro-style quarterbacks in the 2019 cycle The pair of 4-star recruits will compete with the older signal callers and push for the backup role. It will be interesting to see how many reps they get on A-Day. RB: No one The Crimson Tide signed two running backs this cycle, but neither of those players enrolled early like 15 other signees. Five-star prospect Trey Sanders signed early but is not yet on campus. When he arrives, he is expected to make a case for early playing time. Four-star back Keilan Robinson signed on National Signing Day and will join the team during the summer. WHO COULD STEP UP? QB: A backup This is what Alabama needs -- a reliable backup quarterback that can run the offense should something happen to Tagovailoa. Jones or one of the younger players will need to assume that role this spring. RB: Brian Robinson We talk a lot about Harris, and deservedly so. He had a solid year in 2018 as his role increased. He will be the starter because of that, but Alabama likes to use two or three backs. It’s not quite the same situation, but there aren’t many experienced players behind Harris. Robinson is a talented player, but we have only seen him during garbage time -- or as a fullback. I think he could be in for a big junior year, but he will need to prove he’s ready for that next step this spring.

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Nick will have to move someone to RB for the spring drills just to be able to conduct practice. Phone call to Bolden I guess.

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WHO’S COMING IN? WR: John Metchie Alabama signed one wide receiver in its 2019 class, and that’s Metchie. The 4-star wideout from Bramton, Canada, is an early enrollee and actually practiced with the team prior to the College Football Playoff. That handful of practices should help the youngster get off to a good start in the spring as he battles some of the second-year receivers for playing time behind the starters. TE: No one Alabama won’t have a freshman tight end on campus this spring. It signed Jahleel Billingsley in the early signing period, but he won’t join the team until this summer. The 4-star from Chicago will provide some much-needed depth when he enrolls at UA and is able to practice. WHO COULD STEP UP? WR: Tyrell Shavers, maybe Right now, the Crimson Tide is pretty set at receiver. Barring injury, Jeudy, Ruggs, Smith and Waddle will once again be the primary receivers used within the offense. However, if Saban and new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian choose to consistently use more than four wideouts, that will give players like Shavers and maybe Williams an opportunity to see more of the field. But Alabama might live by the old adage if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it when it comes to receivers. TE: Major Tennison Forristall should be the No. 1 tight end this spring and fall, but there are question marks behind him. With uncertainty about James’ availability, the springtime could be a good time for Tennison to take his game to the next level and become a contributor for the UA offense. At the very least, the Tide will need one or two tight ends outside of Forristall to assume a larger role than in 2018.

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