Alabama Crimson Tide Offensive Players To Watch Vs. Texas
How do you replace a Heisman Trophy winner and eventual No. 1 overall draft pick? That's the million-dollar question at Alabama right now, but those concerns may be eased after this past weekend.
There's a standard set by head coach Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa, AL., though, to be the best and beat the best. The No.3 Crimson Tide have been in the College Football Playoff in 7 of 9 seasons and, in recent years, has boasted one of the best offenses in the country.
The early-to-mid 2010s Alabama teams relied on bruising running backs like Mark Ingram and Derrick Henry to pace its offense, but since 2016, quarterback play has been a key factor in the Crimson Tide's success. They've boasted gunslingers Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones and Bryce Young — the latter three have gone on to become first-round NFL Draft picks — the past seven seasons, and now the Crimson Tide are hoping Jalen Milroe can do the same.
Here are the players to watch on Alabama's offense when it squares off against the No. 11 Texas Longhorns in Week 2 Saturday.
QB Jalen Milroe
Milroe is priority No. 1 for the Crimson Tide offense.
The Katy, Texas, native is finally the full-time starter after waiting two years behind Young, and he played well in his first game of 2023.
Not only was he obviously Alabama's leading passer, going 13-for-18 for 194 yards and three touchdowns, but he led the Crimson Tide in the ground game as well. He ran the ball seven times for 48 yards and two scores.
On his first touchdown pass of the game, Milroe had plenty of time to survey the field, but the pocket was beginning to bear down on him as he stepped up and uncorked a 47-yard bomb to wide receiver Isaiah Bond.
Milroe was pulled midway through the third quarter after the Crimson Tide went up 42-0.
RB Jase McClellan
Jase McClellan's the starter so he gets the nod here, but all the running backs are to watch — for both good and bad reasons.
Milroe made up for Alabama's deficiencies on the ground against the Blue Raiders, leading the Crimson Tide on the ground, but McClellan was No. 2 in the box score with 39 yards and a score on 10 carries.
However, true freshman Justice Haynes impressed in his collegiate debut.
The five-star in the class of 2023 from Buford, Georgia, averaged the highest yards per carry of any running back at 7.3.
Not only can Haynes catch the ball out of the backfield, but at 5-11, 200 pounds he plays low to the ground and through contact.
However, he and McClellan weren't alone in the rushing attack, as three other Alabama running backs — Roydell Williams, Richard Young and Jam Miller — all had at least four carries.
Saban's strategy of rotating running backs keeps them fresh and limits injury, but might hurt the offense's rhythm in the ground game.
WR Isaiah Bond
Like the running backs, the Alabama wide receiver room is also pretty deep heading into 2023.
Last season, Isaiah Bond wasn't a huge receiving threat catching 14 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown — a total he matched Saturday. Bond hauled in five passes for 76 yards as well.
While Saturday may be too early to tell if Bond has cemented himself as the season's No. 1 receiver, Milroe will still have a reliable receiving option in Jermaine Burton among others.
Burton was second behind Jahmyr Gibbs with 40 receptions, but led the Crimson Tide with 677 yards. He found the end zone seven times last season.
Burton reeled in three passes for 62 yards and a touchdown against Middle Tennessee.
