Which incoming freshmen match up with open positions to make an impact next year?

Does Trey Sanders count?

From looking at TSurge's recruiting list on page 1 of the thread, it appears most of those you listed in your initial post are going to be arriving soon (early enrollees). That will definitely help. Does anyone have any idea which ones are really intelligent? With Saban's system being rather complex, the ability to pick it up and understand assignments is critical. Our recent setbacks at OLB seem to be with recruits that are either unable to understand or just don't think they have to.

I expect Sanders to start at one of the OLB spots.
I won't be totally surprised if Braswell starts at the other

I don't think Kennedy will start, but I think he'll play a lot later in the year. He's still a true freshman and he's still light in the pants. I think Harris and Lee or Kaho open up the season at ILB.

We will be replacing both safeties. Battle is a safe bet at 1 spot, Wright and Hellams will have the leg up at the other, but Branch is a name to keep an eye on as far as newcomers.

At WR I expect Shavers, Metchie, Waddle to be the base 3. Bell will have to beat out Bolden to backup Waddle. Holden could be the one to keep an eye on here since neither Metchie or Shavers are really proven on the outside.

We'll have a cornerback spot open with Diggs departing, but I don't expect a TF to come in and win that job because I don't really see a great one committed


My best guess at a defensive starting 11 right now (making assumptions on JRs leaving early):

DE- Ray
DT- Dale
DE- Barmore

OLB- Allen
ILB- Lee
ILB- Harris
OLB- Sanders

CB- Surtain
CB- Armour-Davis
N- Jobe
FS- Battle
SS- Hellams

This may sound facetious but i'm not going to be totally shocked if Ben Davis is on the field for our first defensive snap next season at OLB. I think just looking at that rough depth chart and correlating it to the talent coming in, Branch probably has the best crack at winning a starting job because A) he looks really good on film and B) he's competing with guys with very little experience back there. Branch looks like a Mckinney clone to me.

I think they'll experiment some with Quan Robinson- I know we look at Kennedy as that ranging, fast middle linebacker type- but Quon was playing safety in his sophomore year and his speed isn't far behind Kennedy. Same could go with Sanders really. I won't be surprised if one of those 3 ends up in the middle between Sanders, Robinson, Braswell

I actually think Bryce Young has a chance. Whether that is a good or bad thing I don't know. I think Mac from an experience standpoint has the edge and is capable, but his arm has limitations and his overall athleticism in terms of simply escaping trouble or extending plays is not very good. He's probably on par with a McElroy (maybe slightly better arm but slightly less accurate), which was good enough in 2009 but I'm not sure it is in 2020.

Edit - I didn't read close enough and didn't realize you wanted to limit it to those guy. Apologies.

The ILB from Muscle Shoals.

Dude looks like a pasty Reuben Foster

That is another thing that also hurt us this year: we didn't have any key true freshman step up this year. Almost every NC/playoff season that we've had there is a true freshman(men) that makes a big play/big plays. Christian Harris might have been that guy but he was forced to take on way too much with the injuries.

We are generally very good at putting young kids in positions to succeed.

We just weren't really afforded that opportunity this year.

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Stepping up is what Lee and Harris did.

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I agree, they did. Maybe a bad choice of words. but you get what I am saying.

I thought Evan Neal stepped up pretty big this year. Maybe you're referring only to the defensive side.

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I thought Evan Neal stepped up pretty big this year. Maybe you're referring only to the defensive side.

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No, you are right. Forgot about him.