Nick Saban will only put players in a position to succeed, so it’s not uncommon for highly-talented members of the Crimson Tide to ride the bench and wait for their turn to shine.
Mac Jones, Josh Jacobs and Bryce Young are a few examples of players selected in the first round of the NFL draft who did not see the field much, or at all, during their freshmen seasons.
In 2023, there will likely be a few first-year players who will see significant playing time. A recent ranking from On3’s Matt Zenitz predicts three Alabama freshmen will be impact players in 2023.
Defensive back Caleb Downs is the first player to be named. Zenitz likens his ability to play as a true freshman to Alabama legend Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Crimson Tide defense is expected to play a large role in the team’s successes in 2023, so Downs will be serving an important role.
Next is Tide running back Justice Haynes. While Jase McClellan will likely see first-team reps with Roydell Williams just behind him, Haynes is still expected to see the field despite his positioning on the depth chart. Haynes was impressive during Alabama’s A-Day spring game and could work his way into a meaningful role in the running back room quickly.
Finally, offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor makes the list. Zenitz argues that Proctor could wind up starting on the offensive line at some point in the 2023 season, but likely won’t begin as a starter. Regardless, Proctor has the size and ability to be an impactful lineman to protect whoever is chosen to be Alabama’s starting quarterback.
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football as the 2023 season approaches.
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on Twitter @SpurrFM.