WATCH: 2021 Alabama WR commit hilariously claims backup QB job

Alabama four-star wide receiver commit Agiye Hall out of Bloomingdale (Fla.) jokes about being Bryce Young’s backup on Twitter.

Bloomingdale High School standout receiver Agiye Hall committed to Alabama back in mid-April, and while he’s eventually supposed to be catching passes from Tide quarterbacks, he also wouldn’t mind being one.

On Saturday, Hall jokingly tweeted out a video of him throwing a pass to a teammate while also saying that he wouldn’t mind being Bryce Young’s backup in Tuscaloosa:

don’t worry bama we got the top guy @_bryce_young and me at back up just in case . pic.twitter.com/NwSnsHIagC

— ⁶ (@HallAgiye) June 20, 2020

The caption says “don’t worry bama we got the top guy @_bryce_young and me at back up just in case”, which got plenty of reaction from fans and others on social media.

While it was obviously a joke, Hall actually throws a good pass and maybe even proved to Alabama coaches that he’s capable of doing some sort of trick play in the future if asked.

Hall is rated as a four-star prospect, according to the 247Sports composite rankings, while also checking in at No. 70 overall, the No. 11 wide receiver and the No. 12 player from the state of Florida.

Stay tuned for more Alabama football updates from Roll Tide Wire, part of the USA TODAY Sports College Wire network!

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Alabama to finish 2020 CFB season with 11-1 record according to CFN

Alabama finished 2019 with a final record of 11-2, College Football News predicts that Alabama drops one game in 2020 with an 11-1 record.

Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide football team ended their 2019 campaign with a final regular-season record of 10-2, with losses to the eventual National Champions, LSU at home and in-state rival, Auburn, at Jordan Hare.

This record, paired with a win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, would bring joy to most programs across the country. However, this record led to Alabama missing the College Football Playoffs for the first time since its creation, which did not sit well with members of the team and fans.

College Football News predicted the records of the entire SEC and believes Alabama will end their 2020 season with a final record of 11-1. The lone loss is to come from Alabama’s contest against LSU in Baton Rouge, LA.

The loss to the Tigers seems interesting seeing that they lost most of their team, especially their Heisman-winning quarterback Joe Burrow; and members of their coaching staff, more specifically Joe Brady, the teams former passing game coordinator.

All together, Alabama would be set to face off against Georgia, in the SEC Championship, as LSU suffered three total losses in their prediction, leaving the Crimson Tide to be the SEC West’s representative.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on all things Alabama football as we get closer to the start of the 2020 college football season!

Alabama football countdown: 76 days until kickoff

We are only 76 days from Alabama football kicking off its season against the USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Alabama is set to kick off its season against the USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington (Tex.) on Sept. 5. As long as COVID-19 doesn’t alter the schedule, it will be the first time the Crimson Tide has faced USC since the dominate 52-6 win back in 2016.

With it now being June 21, that means we’re only 76 days away from football season officially being back!

After coming up just short of making its fifth-consecutive College Football Playoff experience, Alabama will look to bounce back in 2020 with a strong roster and returning coaching staff.

No one currently wears the No. 76 for the Crimson Tide.

2020 Alabama football schedule

Sept. 5 vs. USC (Arlington, Tex.)
Sept. 12 vs. Georgia State (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Sept. 19 vs. Georgia (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Sept. 26 vs. Kent State (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Oct. 3 at Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.)
Oct. 10 at Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Oct. 17 vs. Mississippi State (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Oct. 24 at Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Nov. 7 at LSU (Baton Rouge, La.)
No. 14 vs. UT-Martin (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 21 vs. Texas A&M (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 28 vs. Auburn (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Stay tuned for more updates from Roll Tide Wire, part of the USA TODAY Sports College Wire network!

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Alabama football countdown: 77 days until kickoff

We are only 77 days from Alabama football kicking off its season against the USC Trojans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

With it now being June 20, that means we’re only 77 days away from football season officially being back!

After coming up just short of making its fifth-consecutive College Football Playoff experience, Alabama will look to bounce back in 2020 with a strong roster and returning coaching staff.

No one currently wears the No. 77 for the Crimson Tide, but Matt Womack, a long-time player who was a starter at one point during his career, wore it last season.

2020 Alabama football schedule

Sept. 5 vs. USC (Arlington, Tex.)
Sept. 12 vs. Georgia State (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Sept. 19 vs. Georgia (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Sept. 26 vs. Kent State (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Oct. 3 at Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.)
Oct. 10 at Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Oct. 17 vs. Mississippi State (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Oct. 24 at Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Nov. 7 at LSU (Baton Rouge, La.)
No. 14 vs. UT-Martin (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 21 vs. Texas A&M (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 28 vs. Auburn (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Stay tuned for more updates from Roll Tide Wire, part of the USA TODAY Sports College Wire network!

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Greg McElroy: Mac Jones not as talented as UGA’s Jamie Newman

Former Alabama QB Greg McElroy chimes in on the Alabama QB debate and claims that Mac Jones is not as talented as UGA’s QB Jamie Newman.

Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy, who led Alabama to a National Championship, was a guest on “Xtra 1063” in Atlanta and spoke about his thoughts on the Crimson Tide’s presumptive starting quarterback for 2020, Mac Jones.

In 2019, Jones was thrusted into the starting role after Tua Tagovailoa fractured his hip and required season-ending surgery. Throughout the season, he accumulated 1,503 yards off of 97 completions for 14 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Though his stats are impressive, considering the situation, McElroy believes that Alabama is set to face a UGA quarterback in 2020 that could give them some problems.

Jamie Newman transferred from Wake Forest to UGA, and his presence on the field is expected to be a step up from what the Bulldogs are used to, but more importantly, McElroy claims that he’s “way more talented” than Jones.

“I think Newman is way more talented, I don’t even think its really comparable just given Jamie Newman’s upside,” says McElroy. “I mean, guys, we are talking about top-5 pick upside here. He has that kind of upside here. He’s ridiculous.”

Newman threw for 2,868 yards in 2019 from 220 completions on 361 passes fro 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

The former Alabama quarterback has high praise for Newman’s game.

“There are some nuances to his game, that he needs to learn,” McElroy says. “But just as far as talent is concerned, there’s not many out there in college football like him. He’s extremely accurate, big arm, needs to learn how to layer the football a little more.”

He makes it clear that he is not trying to put Jones down, as he thinks he is a solid option for the quarterback position at Alabama, but that Newman is just the superior player when put side-by-side.

“Mac Jones is a solid player, as well,” says McElroy. “I thought he performed, like I said, very admirably, but I think part of the reason why everyone will feel really good about him is the fact that he’s surrounded by an all-star team, in a lot of ways. I mean, you got two receivers that are as good as anyone in the country, in Waddle and DeVonta Smith. You have an experienced running back and a decent offensive line coming back, as well.”

At the end of the day, McElroy thinks the situation Jones is in, with the players he is supported by, is superior to that of Newman’s in Athens, GA.

“I would favor the situation Mac Jones is playing in, but if I’m going just strictly on talent, I would absolutely favor Jamie Newman” McElroy says.

You can listen to the full clip below.

"Jamie Newman… We are talking about a Top 5 pick."
– @GregMcElroy @TugCowart @HMason14 #Xtra1063 pic.twitter.com/9HW6BJ3Hsz

— Xtra 1063 (@Xtra1063) June 15, 2020

Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on Mac Jones and the Alabama Crimson Tide as they get closer to the start of the 2020 college football season!

Damien Harris shares important lessons he learned as an NFL rookie

Former Alabama RB Damien Harris shares his thoughts on being a young player in the NFL and the lessons he learned in his rookie season.

Former Alabama running back Damien Harris was a member of the Crimson Tide for a full four season where he earned two CFP National Championships and three SEC Championships.

After his junior season, some expected Harris to forego his senior season to enter the 2018 NFL draft, but he decided to stay. The move may have hurt his draft value, as Josh Jacobs stole a large part of the spotlight, and ultimately became the first running back drafted in 2019.

Harris waited for his name to be called. When he was selected in the third round with the No. 87 overall pick, he went from one of the most storied college football programs to a team worthy of being claimed a dynasty.

His rookie season with the New England Patriots was not the most eventful. He spent a lot of time on special teams, on the sidelines or as a “healthy scratch.”

While he did not accumulate any impressive stats in his first season at the professional level, he gained a lot of knowledge, whether it be from his teammates or personal experiences.

In an interview he did with NFL.com’s Paul Perillo, he speaks about what his fellow Patriot running backs taught him, as well as what he was able to learn on his own.

“The biggest thing for me last year was learning as much as I could,” Harris explained. “Everybody’s path is different. I focused on learning as much as I could and learning from the older guys in the room. There’s a lot of experience in that room. Any opportunity to improve physically or mentally that was my mindset all year.”

He learned quickly that everyone has their own path. Some enter the league as stars that are expected to make an immediate impact, others must wait for their time to shine. The latter seems to be the path Harris is on.

The ability to lean on teammates for support and guidance is not something the Kentucky-native takes for granted.

“It’s great. I have so many guys to learn from,” Harris said. “Sony is a guy I knew from college and seeing his level of success was exciting. Rex and James have developed over the years. There’s so much I can learn from them on and off the field. Listening to what they’re telling me. How to become a pro.

He also credits the New England running backs coach for being a large influence on him as a player and as a person.

“Our room is super tight from the players and our relationship with Coach Fears,” Harris said. “He’s been a mentor for me. He’s taught me so many things on and off field. He will talk to you about anything. He’s very active in our personal lives and making sure we’re good in everything we’re doing. Obviously he’s been doing it for a long time and is one of best in business. Coach Fears is helping to make me be the best I can be.”

Finally, Harris touches on what it’s like to be a young player in the NFL during these uncertain times.

“Our room is super tight from the players and our relationship with Coach Fears,” Harris said. “He’s been a mentor for me. He’s taught me so many things on and off field. He will talk to you about anything. He’s very active in our personal lives and making sure we’re good in everything we’re doing. Obviously he’s been doing it for a long time and is one of best in business. Coach Fears is helping to make me be the best I can be.”

Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on Damien Harris as he looks to have a larger role in his second year with the New England Patriots!

College Football News Preview 2020: Alabama Crimson Tide

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Alabama Crimson Tide season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Alabama Crimson Tide season with what you need to know.

– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Alabama Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 11-2 overall, 6-2 in SEC
Head Coach: Nick Saban, 14th year, 157-23
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 11
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 15
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 1

No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.

5. College Football News Preview 2020: Alabama Crimson Tide Offense 3 Things To Know

– The offense was amazing – scoring the second-most points in the history of the program – and it’s going to be fantastic again after averaging 511 yards and 47 points per game.

It’s only sins were that 1) it couldn’t outgun an LSU team that put together – possibly – the greatest season in the history of college football, 2) leaving Tua Tagovailoa in too long against Mississippi State, and 3) it couldn’t overcome a few bad throws against Auburn – 45 points weren’t quite enough.

Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian lost four players – Tua Tagovailoa, Jedrick Wills, Henry Ruggs, Jerry Jeudy – to the first 15 picks of the NFL Draft, but that’s just the cost of doing business for the Crimson Tide. What’s almost as important is who didn’t leave early.

RB Najee Harris, WR DeVonta Smith, and OT Alex Leatherwood would’ve all flirted with the first round, and almost certainly would’ve been taken in the top 50.

CFN in 60 Video: Alabama Crimson Tide Preview
[jwplayer XE96sYXz]

But the loss of Tagovailoa is the big one. It’s not like his early departure wasn’t expected, and it’s not 100% certain his injured hip would be completely and totally ready to roll for the season opener, but he was one of the all-time most efficient quarterbacks completing g 69% of his passes for 7,442 yards and 87 touchdown s with 11 picks, and averaging 10.9 yards per attempt.

He was pretty good.

Junior Mac Jones is the safe call to step in and run the attack. He’s the veteran who saw plenty of action in mop-up duty before stepping in when Tagovailoa went down for the year. He’s got the arm, can hit the deep ball, and can spread the ball around, throwing 14 touchdown passes with three interceptions – two of them, though, were killers against Auburn.

Taulia Tagovailoa transferred to Maryland, and there’s a reason – welcome to Bryce Young.

Remember when Alabama used to win big things with decent quarterback recruits? That went bye-bye with superstar talents Jalen Hurts, Tua, and now with Young, one of the 2020’s top national prospects. He’s only 6-0 and 190 pounds, but he can sling it, and he’s devastating in the open field. USC had him, and Bama stole him away.

– What’s amazing about Alabama is how it lost Jeudy and Ruggs to the first round of the NFL Draft, and it still might have the nation’s best receiving corps. DeVonta Smith – forever famous for catching the 2018 national championship game-winner – returns after leading the team with 1,256 yards and 14 scores on 68 catches. He’s great, but do-it-all playmaker Jaylen Waddle – who averaged 17 yards per catch with six scores, and almost beat Auburn by himself – might be even more explosive.

Start with those two, hope for relatively untested talents like Slade Bolden and John Metchie to be ready for primetime, expect the excellent freshman to provide the depth, and look for tight ends Miller Forristall to and North Carolina transfer Carl Tucker to get plenty of work.

– The receiving corps is great, but the running back situation is even stronger. The 1-2 punch of Najee Harris – who came up with a nationally underappreciated 1,224 yards and 13 touchdowns – and Brian Robinson Jr. was ready for the NFL before last year.

Landing star recruit Jace McClellan – pulling him away from Oklahoma – to go along with Trey Sanders and third-leading rusher Keilan Robinson is almost unfair.

Harris is the guy, but the rotation will be strong behind yet another great line. Alex Leatherwood continues to be an all-star at left tackle, Landon Dickerson is back at center, and as long as a right tackle emerges right away in place of Jedrick Wills, all will be fine.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Alabama Crimson Tide Defense 3 Things To Know

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Alabama 2020 Preview: CFN in 60

Alabama Crimson Tide 2020 Preview: previewing, predicting, and looking ahead with what you need to know

Photo Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama Crimson Tide 2020 Preview: previewing, predicting, and looking ahead with what you need to know

Photo Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles coach Doug Pederson impressed with Jalen Hurts in offseason

Even now, Hurts has continued to impress the coaches. In a press conference earlier this week on Twitter, Pederson said this about Hurts:

When former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles as the 53rd overall pick, many wondered if he’d ever see any action on the field.

Even a month ago, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson told the media that he doesn’t see Hurts being the backup this year, some of which has to do with the coronavirus.

But Pederson also shared how Hurts is putting in the work, and over time, could become a huge asset for the Eagles.

Even now, Hurts has continued to impress the coaches. In a press conference earlier this week on Twitter, Pederson had this to say about Hurts:

“The one thing is not having them on the grass. But his growth as a mental standpoint from the beginning of the offseason to now has been very good and his ability to recall plays and recite plays, and one thing (quarterbacks coach) Press Taylor has done is put him into a huddle situation where he’s calling plays and being able to spit that back to him. And he’s done that at a really good, high level.

And now it’s just a matter of once we get him on the grass, he’s got to do it for real and go from there. But I’ve been really impressed with his progress this spring.”

Although there’s no doubt that Carson Wentz will be the starter this fall, Hurts could work his way up to the first backup spot.

Only time will tell. But if there’s one player who’s willing to give it all he has for that chance, it’s Jalen Hurts.

Hurts finished the 2019 season at Oklahoma with a career high 3,851 yards passing, as well as a career-high 32 passing TDs. He added a career-best 1,298 yards rushing and career-high 20 rushing touchdowns.

In his college career at Alabama and Oklahoma, Hurts recorded almost 9,500 passing yards and 80 touchdowns along with almost 3,300 rushing yards and 43 rushing touchdowns.

Hurts won a national championship, SEC championship and Big 12 championship during his career. He was also named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year this past season, as well as the BIG 12 Male Athlete of the Year.

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Draft Wire’s latest 2021 NFL mock draft has 7 Alabama players in first round

Draft Wire’s latest 2021 NFL Mock Draft predicts seven Alabama players will be selected in the first round.

It’s never too early to start looking at mock drafts, especially when the 2020 Alabama football team is loaded with potential early-round talent.

USA Today’s Draft Wire posted their latest mock draft for the 2021 NFL draft and it predicts seven Alabama players will be drafted in the first round.

Here’s where those players are projected to land:

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Najee Harris

The Alabama running back could possibly join an offense that currently houses elite talent including Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Mike Evans. Tampa’s expected starting running back for 2020 is Ronald Jones II. Their backfield definitely needs the addition of someone special, like Harris, in order to help the passing game.

23. Green Bay Packers – Jaylen Waddle

Waddle is a player that is set to be a serious offensive leader for the 2020 college football season. His speed, elusiveness and incredible route running abilities could make him a star in his rookie season. The Packers seem to be moving away from Aaron Rodgers and toward the Jordan Love Era. Will Jaylen Waddle be Love’s first offensive addition through the draft?

Next … a key defensive player

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