Alabama saw 10 players selected from its national championship team in the 2021 NFL draft.
You would never know it by what went on Saturday in Atlanta as Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide put on a clinic in destroying Miami, 44-13. The Tide amassed 500 yards of total offense.
Saban is 15-0 in his openers with Alabama.
You lose your quarterback — Mac Jones to the New England Patriots — and a Heisman Trophy winner in DeVonta Smith as well Jaylen Waddle and all your new skill players do is come out and land a 94-yard touchdown pass.
That would be sophomore Bryce Young finding Jameson Williams for the long touchdown on a three-play, 99-yard drive that took less than a minute.
In replacing the New England Patriots’ quarterback, Price went 27-of-38 for 344 with 4 touchdown passes.
In case you were wondering how Jones did in his first start for the Crimson Tide, he went 10-of-12 for 275 yards with 3 touchdowns in a 66-3 waltz over Western Carolina after Tua Tagovailoa was injured during the 2019 season.
Bama making it look easy on this 94-yard strike ⚡️
(via @SECNetwork) pic.twitter.com/WHzKNTW05J
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 4, 2021
The first-rounders included a pair of wide receivers, one that won the Heisman Trophy, a quarterback, and a running back.
- Waddle – Pick No. 6 by the Miami Dolphins
- Patrick Surtain II – Pick No. 9 by the Denver Broncos
- Smith – Pick No. 10 by the Philadelphia Eagles
- Jones – Pick No. 15 by the New England Patriots
- Alex Leatherwood – Pick No. 17 by the Las Vegas Raiders;
- Najee Harris – Pick No. 24 by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Oh, and if you were wondering if the defense is as fierce:
Alabama's defense 😳 pic.twitter.com/SPoANS3hLG
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 4, 2021