re: Spring Football News & Info

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Spring football has ended for Alabama, and Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide have entered the offseason after 15 practices. But with those said practices and UA’s annual A-Day Game still fresh on our minds, we recap what happened at each position this spring, while also looking at the past and future of the groups. We continue our spring position rewinds with the inside linebackers.

PRE-SPRING QUESTION

There were two questions surrounding the inside linebackers shortly after the 2018-19 season ended, and they correlated with each other. Junior Mack Wilson declared for the NFL draft, which meant Alabama had to find a new starter opposite Dylan Moses. And with a reserve now stepping into a first-team role, the Crimson Tide’s already-thin depth at the inside linebacker position would take a hit, forcing the young players on campus to step up during the spring.

So, who was going to be the next starter? And which players would provide quality depth?

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QUESTIONS WE STILL HAVE

Can the younger players that struggled at times with mental errors and poor tackling improve over the summer and provide the Tide with the quality depth it desperately needs in the middle of its defense? As the quarterbacks of said defense, the play and understanding of the inside linebackers are imperative to Alabama’s success on that side of the football. That’s why we saw the two oldest and most experienced players in the room lead the first team all spring long.

But UA needs those second- and third-team players to step up over the summer and during fall camp. It will add a scholarship body in summer enrollee Christian Harris, and that could spark some of the players battling for reserve roles. But as it was before the spring started, depth at inside linebacker is still one of the Crimson Tide’s top concerns as the offseason and summer arrive.

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Spring football has ended for Alabama, and Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide have entered the offseason after 15 practices. But with those said practices and UA’s annual A-Day Game still fresh on our minds, we recap what happened at each position this spring, while also looking at the past and future of the groups. We continue our spring position rewinds with the cornerbacks.

PRE-SPRING QUESTION

Alabama lost on cornerback to the NFL draft, and that was Saivion Smith. But everyone else at the position returned, including players that missed large chunks of the 2018 season because of injuries in Trevon Diggs (foot) and Jalyn Armour-Davis (knee). That duo, along with Shyheim Carter who had sports hernia surgery after the season, entered the spring with injury concerns, which was the No. 1 question for the corners this offseason -- just how healthy would the group be?

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QUESTIONS WE STILL HAVE

The secondary exited the spring with very few questions, especially at the cornerback position.[/u] One of the only ones I have is will we see any movement at corner and/or Star because of the options Alabama will have? Jobe’s development gives the Tide three cornerbacks it feels good about, plus Carter at Star. The latter can also play safety, which provides even more flexibility there.

The cornerback position will also welcome a pair of summer enrollees in Marcus Banks and Brandon Turnage. Will either of those newcomers be able to push their soon-to-be teammates for playing time the same way Surtain -- and eventually Jobe -- did a season ago?

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The University of Alabama has four studs at wide receiver – including three primary veterans – however, one target in particular continues to be at the bottom of the pecking order.

After the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship Game, people could not escape the heartfelt “My Heart Will Go On” song from Titanic by Celine Dion.

The song, which was stitched into every video post on Twitter from Crimson Tide fans, became a reminder of a play that’s now in the folklore of the program. Alabama’s win over Georgia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta came on a 41-yard connection between two freshmen in overtime.

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A hamstring injury bothered Smitty at times last year, but when healthy he is Tagovailoa’s biggest X-factor on the outside. This proved true in the CFP semifinal against the Sooners, as he totaled six receptions for 104 yards (team-high) and a touchdown in the Tide’s 45-34 win.

He finished the season as one of five targets with 500+ yards receiving – tallying 693 yards with six scores on 42 catches. Following his freshman year, when he averaged 22.3 yards a catch, Smith posted an average of 16.50 yards per reception in 2018.

Twenty-six of his grabs went for either first downs or touchdowns (62 percent) and 14 of his catches went for 20 or more yards.

As one year of football separates Smith from the NFL Draft, he has an opportunity to join his teammates in Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III as potential Top-20 picks.

A healthy Tagovailoa and an experienced offensive line (aside from center) looks to set Smith up for a strong push.

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WHAT WE LEARNED

Depth is certainly an issue at safety, at least for the spring. Outside of McKinney, Mayden and Carter, only two scholarship players made up the rest of the position group in individual drills in Daniel Wright and Eddie Smith. The Crimson Tide will welcome two more additions during the summer in signees Jordan Battle and Demarcco Hellams, but for the 15 practices, safety was thin.

Outside of depth, though, the top two players at the position produced strong springs. McKinney will be one of the leaders on defense this spring in what could be his last season in an Alabama uniform if he continues to play at this level. Mayden showed improvement and manned the safety spot opposite McKinney with the ones. Still, there weren’t a lot of available bodies this spring.

“Xavier’s done a great job, has had a great offseason,” Saban said. “I think he was one of the best performers each week that we did offseason workouts for four weeks. You couldn’t ask a guy to set a better example. I mean his practice habits have been phenomenal these first three practices. I mean he’s doing everything he can to set a good example and be a leader for other players.

“But depth at safety is an issue. We’ve got some young guys coming in next year, and they’re going to have an opportunity to contribute. And we’ve got to get the guys that we have here now playing better with more consistency.”

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