Tag: Brian Branch

Alabama’s Brian Branch might be the most underrated DB in college football

Alabama’s Brian Branch might be the most overlooked DB in the nation entering the 2022 season.

The start of the 2022 college football season is just around the corner and the anticipation continues to grow daily. Lately, USC‘s and UCLA’s move to the Big Ten has dominated the headlines in the sport, but I want to turn the conversation back over to what the game is all about in the first place, the players.

Some players like [autotag]Bryce Young[/autotag] receive a lot of attention around the clock. For others, it’s hard to receive the appropriate amount of recognition.

One such player is Alabama defensive back [autotag]Brian Branch[/autotag]. Branch is entering his third season in Tuscaloosa and has quietly had a strong start to his college career.

During his freshman campaign, Branch appeared in nine games totaling 27 tackles, seven passes defended and one interception. Branch would see his role increase during his sophomore season, where he compiled 55 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack and nine passes defended.

If those numbers alone aren’t enough to impress you, PFF College released this insane stat regarding Branch. He has only missed one tackle in the last two seasons.

Branch doesn’t receive a lot of love nationally when compared to other defensive backs. His teammates [autotag]Jordan Battle[/autotag] and [autotag]Eli Ricks[/autotag] have both received some preseason recognition, but Branch is the overlooked member of the Alabama secondary.

Branch’s consistency is what makes him such a valuable asset in the backend of the Alabama defense. If Branch can continue to develop and improve his game, he will most likely become more of a household name during his junior season.

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 Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

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WATCH: Harris forces fumble, Alabama offense converts points off the turnover with Latu TD reception

The forced turnover by Christian Harris led to a TD pass from QB Bryce Young to TE Cameron Latu.

Alabama’s offense finally got into the endzone during this CFP Championship against the Georgia Bulldogs in the fourth quarter thanks to a Stetson Bennett fumble recovered by Crimson Tide DB Brian Branch on the sideline.

Crimson Tide linebackers Will Anderson and Christian Harris got the initial pressure on Bennett and forced a fumble that Georgia fans, of course, were not happy about (even though it was the obvious call).

Branch made the nice grab on the sideline without awareness of the situation, most likely, as it appeared that he was nonchalant in trying to gain possession of the loose ball. He managed to get his toes in with possession to secure the turnover for the Tide. He collected the traditional belt given to any Tide defender that can grab a live ball.

Tired of field goals, Nick Saban on the ensuing possession decided that the Crimson Tide weren’t going to kick another field goal this close to the endzone, so they went all in to get the touchdown on the short reception in the endzone by Cameron Latu off of a nice Bryce Young pass.

Alabama now leads over Georgia in the CFP championship game by a score of 18-13.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

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 Layne Gerbig on Twitter @LayneG_29.

Alabama vs. Georgia: Final thoughts before kickoff of CFP championship game

Alabama vs. Georgia: Final thoughts before kickoff of CFP championship game

We are closing in on the kickoff of the 2022 College Football Playoff national championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Both teams have had magical seasons and hope to finish the season on a high note, hoisting the national championship trophy.

Alabama took care of the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship back in December, 41-24. Georgia hopes to get the best of the Tide this time around while also winning its first national championship since 1980.

Nick Saban and the Tide are seeking to become the first team to repeat as champions in the playoff era. A win would give Saban seven championships while in Tuscaloosa, and it would be his eighth overall as a college head coach.

Here are some final thoughts before kickoff.

Alabama players to watch in CFP championship rematch with Georgia

Alabama players to watch in CFP championship rematch with Georgia

When Alabama and Georgia face off on Jan. 10 in the CFP national championship, there will be as much NFL talent collectively on the field as a college football game could possibly have.

Both the Tide and Bulldogs are littered with future next-level stars and the SEC title game rematch is destined to be one to remember.

Alabama dominated Georiga a month ago in Atlanta 41-24. Bryce Young picked apart the Bulldog secondary and the Tide defense made the plays when they needed to, including a Jordan Battle pick-six to seal the victory.

The Bulldogs are fired up for the rematch and Alabama is focused on winning back-to-back titles for the first time in playoff history.

Before the two titans of college football clash, let’s take a look at five of the boys from ‘Bama that fans should look for in the contest.

Bama Report Card: Grading Alabama’s Cotton Bowl win over Cincinnati

Bama Report Card: Grading Alabama’s Cotton Bowl win over Cincinnati

It’s been nearly 24 hours since No. 1 Alabama handled business in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic defeating No. 4 Cincinnati 27-6. So we are going to enjoy the next few hours of this victory before shifting our focus over to the Georgia Bulldogs.

As we reflect on Alabama’s win for just a little longer, I thought we could take a look at how each side of the ball graded out in the playoff semifinals.

Let’s get right to it!

First …the offense…

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Alabama’s 5 impact players in Cotton Bowl win over Cincinnati

Alabama’s 5 impact players in Cotton Bowl win over Cincinnati

No. 1 Alabama ended 2021 with a dominating playoff semifinal victory over No. 4 Cincinnati 27-6. The Tide controlled the contest from start to finish and the game was never really in doubt for Alabama.

Alabama suffocated the Cincinnati offense, holding the Bearcats to a mere 218 yards of total offense.

Offensively, Alabama dominated in the running game. The Tide rushed for 301 yards, averaging 6.4 yards per attempt.

Now that the dust has settled and the calendar has turned over to 2022, let’s take a look at five Alabama players who made the biggest impact on the semifinal victory.

Grading Alabama’s defensive position groups at the halfway point

Let’s look at how the Alabama defensive position units have graded out at the halfway point of the season!

Unfortunately, we are already at the halfway point of the college football season. After last week’s loss to Texas A&M, Alabama sits at No. 5 in the country with a 5-1 record.

Since we have made it to the halfway point, it is time to give a midseason grade to each of the position groups. Yesterday we looked at the offensive position groups. Today we will look at the defensive position groups! Let’s get started!

Defensive Line B-

This group has been a little disappointing this season, but they have not been bad by any stretch of the imagination. Only one guy has been a consistent force on the defensive line for Alabama and that is Phidarian Mathis.

Mathis has racked up 3.5 sacks through the halfway point, which is a very solid number for an interior defensive lineman.

Some of the players such as Justin Eboigbe, DJ Dale, Byron Young, and even Tim Smith need to become more consistent players for the Tide.

Outside Linebackers A

Will Anderson has been an absolute animal for the Alabama defense. Anderon has three sacks on the season but is also third in the country in tackles for loss with 11.

Unfortunately, injuries have plagued the outside linebacker position opposite of Anderson. Christopher Allen’s season was cut short in the opener against Miami so Drew Sanders replaced the talented Allen. Then against Ole Miss, Sanders suffered a hand injury and is now week-to-week so to speak.

True freshman Dallas Turner has stepped up in the absence of Sanders and is doing a pretty good job.

The outside linebackers have been the most positive group along the defense this season.

Inside Linebackers C+

The lofty expectations for the Alabama defense heading into the 2021 season had a lot to do with the pair of inside linebackers that Alabama would have in Christian Harris and Henry To’oT’o.

Now that we are at the halfway point, it is safe to say those two players have not lived up to expectations. Now don’t get me wrong, they have flashed how great they can, but they both have also missed tackles and missed assignments. And they are both better than what they played so far.

Let’s see if they can turn this around in the second half of the season.

Cornerbacks B+

This group, much like the outside linebacker group, has really played pretty consistently all season. Josh Jobe has had the occasional penalty, but if we are being honest, in the pass and flag happy world in which college football is played, some penalties are to be expected.

Jalyn Armour-Davis has maybe been the surprise player of the season for the Tide. He is always in position and if he doesn’t make a play on the ball, he brings the receiver down quickly with no yards after the catch.

We have also seen the backups get a start this season in Kool-Aid McKinstry and Marcs Banks and they have proven to be valuable depth at the cornerback position.

Safeties / Stars C+

It is a common theme among the Alabama defense this season, the word inconsistent. Alabama returned plenty of experience in the back end of the defense and for whatever reason, they have simply not performed to their capabilities.

Jordan Battle isn’t an elite safety, he’s just steady. DeMarcco Hellams is constantly caught out of position and displays poor open-field tackling. Then you have Malachi Moore and Brian Branch who have yet to make a splash play from the star position.

The season is only half over, so that means there is plenty of time for each position group to correct its mistakes and get back to the Alabama defensive standard.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

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 Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

Alabama football position preview: Defensive backs

Previewing the Alabama defensive backs

Last season saw Alabama returning just one starter in the back end of the defense in Patrick Surtain. This season the only spot open is the void that Surtain left after being a top ten pick in the NFL draft this spring.

Let’s take a look at some of the guys who are expected to see playing time this fall in the Alabama defensive backfield.

Projected Starters:

Name/Pos.: Josh Jobe, CB

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 194 pounds

Josh Jobe is entering his second full season as a starter at corner for the Tide. Jobe is coming off a season where he finished tied for third in the country with 11 passes defended. Jobe has played in the shadows of Patrick Surtain for the past couple of seasons but now looks to lead the cornerbacks in Tuscaloosa.

Name/Pos.: Jayln Armour-Davis, CB

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 192 pounds

Armour-David is a talented corner with great length and athleticism. He had a really good spring and has carried that over to fall camp. But will he be able to hold off future stars Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold? This is one of the most intriguing battles in fall camp.

Name/Pos.: Malachi Moore, STAR

Height/Weight: 6-foot-0, 190 pounds

Last season Moore was one of the breakout players for the Tide. He finished his true-freshman campaign with 3 interceptions and added another 6 passes defended. With a year of experience under his belt, Moore could become one of the best defensive backs in the entire country this season.

Name/Pos.: Jordan Battle, SS

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 210 pounds

Battle saw some action as a true freshman in the 2019 season and flashed his potential then. Last year he showed the continued development leading the backend of the Alabama defense. Battle is a physical player with great instincts and ball skills. If Battle can become more of a playmaker you could see his name rise up the ranks heading into the 2022 NFL draft.

Name/Pos.: DeMarcco Hellams, FS

Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 208 pounds

Hellams is a play to become one of the breakout players for the Tide this fall. Last season Hellams slowly starting taking some reps from Daniel Wright at FS, and you started to see some of the potential that Hellams has. Hellams may be one of the hardest hitters on the entire Alabama team. If he can improve his coverage skills, Hellams will be one of the top defensive players in the SEC.

Name/Pos.: Brian Branch, MONEY

Height/Weight: 6-foot-0, 190 pounds

Branch came to Tuscaloosa last season as one of the top-rated defenders in the 2020 class. Branch battled Moore for the starting spot at STAR where Moore got the upper hand, but around the middle of the season, you started to see more of Branch in the MONEY packages. Branch is one of the best cover guys on the team and according to some sources, he has seen some reps at corner this fall. Branch could become the breakout player for Alabama this season on defense.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for all the latest on the Crimson Tide!

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

BAMA BEAT: Position breakdowns: Safeties (Ep. 328)

Clint Lamb and Brett Hudson continue the spring position breakdown series for the Alabama Crimson Tide with the safeties.

Clint Lamb and Brett Hudson continue the spring position breakdown series with the safeties. Topics include who starts next to Jordan Battle and which true freshmen who end up making an immediate impact.

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Getting to know Alabama’s signees: S Brian Branch

National Signing Day has come and gone, and Alabama’s 2020 recruiting class is officially set. There were 25 total members (26, if you count North Carolina grad transfer tight end Carl Tucker) with talent across the board. In order for fans to get …

National Signing Day has come and gone, and Alabama’s 2020 recruiting class is officially set. There were 25 total members (26, if you count North Carolina grad transfer tight end Carl Tucker) with talent across the board.

In order for fans to get to know the Crimson Tide’s newest players, we have laid out a “get to know them” article for each member.

The next player up is four-star safety Brian Branch out of Sandy Creek High School in Georgia.

Brian Branch, Safety

Hometown: Tyrone (Ga.)

High school: Sandy Creek

Size: 6-0, 182

Early enrollee: No

247Sports composite ranking: 4-star / No. 60 overall / No. 3 S

247Sports ranking: 4-star / No. 48 overall / No. 3

Rivals ranking: 4-star / No. 84 overall / No. 4 S

ESPN ranking: 4-star / 84 overall grade / No. 3 S

Commitment date: Apr. 20, 2019

Signing date: Dec. 18, 2019

Where does he fit in? Branch was a standout player on both the offensive and defensive side of the football for Sandy Creek high school. At Alabama, however, the 6-foot, 182-pounder will settle into the secondary — safety in particular.

Branch will bring the type of presence the Crimson Tide needs on the back half of the defense. He’s good enough against the run, but it’s his ability to create big plays and turnovers which should help him see the field early in his career.

Alabama lost both of its starting safeties, Xavier McKinney and Jared Mayden, so the opportunity for Branch to earn a significant role during Year 1 is certainly a possibility. It’ll be an uphill battle after not being able to early enrollee, however.

Previous players:

QB Bryce Young

WDE Will Anderson

WDE Chris Braswell

ATH Drew Sanders

ILB Demouy Kennedy

RB Jase McClellan

RB Roydell Williams

DT Tim Smith

WR Thaiu Jones-Bell

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