re: Bama Football Tidings

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Continued from above...
It’s your moment

A few players have either waited their turn or had injuries that derailed their career to this point. This is the time for them to bloom or face the prospect of losing their moment.

Running back Najee Harris tops this list. The former No. 1 recruit has been the third option for two years and now there’s a clear hole for the Californian. Mastering the ancillary skills like pass blocking has been a big part of the offseason checklist since Jacobs and Damien Harris had quietly filled those roles previously.

Defensive linemen Raekwon Davis and LaBryan Ray also fit this mold. Davis has been a started but was overshadowed by first-round picks like Quinnen Williams and Daron Payne. Ray has been a rotation player but not a starter at end and he’s flashed that five-star potential.

Should Anoma be out of the plans this fall, the return of Terrell Lewis would be even more crucial at outside linebacker. Uber-talented but often injured Washington D.C. product missed all of last season with an ACL tear. Limited still in spring, Lewis will be one to watch closely this August.

At middle linebacker, Dylan Moses gets the keys to the playcalling role that’s produced a handful of NFL stars in Saban’s tenure. With little depth returning or arriving, he could be among the most important two or three players on this roster.

And the quarterback?

For a change, there’s no competition here. Tua Tagovailoa’s the guy as long as he stays healthy after a Heisman runner-up debut as starter last fall. He’ll have something to prove after finishing slower than he began last season. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence is the quarterback with the buzz this summer and for good reason. These two figure to be the frontrunners for the Heisman should things play out as most expect.

Having Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, Devonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle back give Tagovailoa an edge if only for the depth and variety of talent at the receiver position. On the other hand, he won’t have the matchup nightmares of Jacobs at running back and Smith at tight end to mystify defensive coordinators.

Either way, this is the year for these receivers and their left-handed quarterback to prove their point will all but Waddle (because he’s a sophomore) as potential first-round picks next spring.

Michael Casagrande is an Alabama beat writer for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.

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