Alabama football countdown: 71 days until kickoff

We are 71 days away from Alabama football kicking off its season against the Miami Hurricanes at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

We have finally done it. We are officially under 100 days until the Alabama Crimson Tide are back on a football field. After another national championship winning season, Nick Saban and company are looking for a repeat performance in 2021.

The opening week matchup is against the Miami Hurricanes in Atlanta, Ga. on Sept. 4. With it now being June 25, we are now 71 days away from the start!

Junior offensive lineman Darrian Dalcourt will wear the No. 71 for the third straight season. And with the Crimson Tide losing three of its big men up front, the former four-star prospect will have an opportunity to earn a starting job in fall camp.

If he comes up short in that quest, Dalcourt will continue to make a valuable depth piece on the interior of Alabama’s offensive line. He’s been praised multiple times by the coaching staff through his first two seasons, so there is hope that he can take the next step in 2021.

In the past, other former standout offensive linemen have worn the No. 71, including Cyrus Kouandjio and Andre Smith. Both of which were selected early in their respective NFL drafts.

Alabama offensive lineman Darrian Dalcourt (71) before an NCAA college football game against Mississippi, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)

2021 Alabama football schedule

Sept. 2 vs. Miami Hurricanes (Atlanta, Ga.)
Sept. 11 vs. Mercer Bears (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Sept. 18 at Florida Gators (Gainesville, Fla.)
Sept. 25 vs. Southern Miss Golden Eagles (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Oct. 2 vs. Ole Miss Rebels (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Oct. 9 at Texas A&M Aggies (College Station, Tex.)
Oct. 16 at Mississippi State Bulldogs (Starkville, Miss.)
Oct. 23 vs. Tennessee Volunteers (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 6 vs. LSU Tigers (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 13 vs. New Mexico State Aggies (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 20 vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 27 at Auburn Tigers (Auburn, Ala.)

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Alabama football countdown: 71 days until kickoff

We are only 71 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 26, that means we’re only 71 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.

Sophomore offensive lineman Darrian Dalcourt, who will be competing for the fifth and final starting spot along Alabama’s offensive line, is currently wearing the No. 71 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 player snapshot: No. 71 Darrian Dalcourt

Sophomore OL Darrian Dalcourt is the next man up on Alabama football’s player snapshot, which highlights each scholarship player.

As we continue through the offseason, Roll Tide Wire has decided to bring fans a quick snapshot of each scholarship player listed on Alabama’s 2020 football roster.

Each day, we’ll release two player profiles giving fans a glimpse into the players who will be available this upcoming season. Whether that’s size, classification, hometowns or recruiting rankings coming out of high school, we’ve got you covered.

Also included in each article is a quick recap letting you know what to expect from that player for the upcoming 2020 season and beyond.

Next up on the list is sophomore offensive lineman Darrian Dalcourt out of Havre De Grace (Md.).

Darrian Dalcourt, Offensive Line

Height: 6-3 / Weight: 292

Class: Sophomore

Hometown: Havre De Grace (Md.)

High School: St. Francis Academy

HS ranking (247Sports): 4-star / No. 177 overall / No. 11 OG / No. 4 MD

HS ranking (Rivals): 4-star / N/A overall / No. 3 OC / No. 4 MD

Analysis: Darrian Dalcourt wasn’t the highest rated offensive lineman in Alabama’s 2019 recruiting class. In fact, he was the fourth-highest rated out of five total additions with Evan Neal, Pierce Quick and Amari Kight being listed ahead of him.

Still, that didn’t stop the Maryland native from making a favorable impression on the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff, who ranted and raved about Dalcourt prior to the start of — and throughout — the season.

Now that Neal is expected to move from left guard, where he started as true freshman, to right tackle to replace Jedrick Wills Jr., there should be a starting spot available on the interior of the offensive line, and Dalcourt should be considered one of the front-runners.

A lot will depend on where Landon Dickerson ends up after seeing starts at right guard and center in 2019. If he sticks at center, that will more than likely mean that Emil Ekiyor Jr. or Tommy Brown will be the likely fifth starter. But if Dickerson kicks back out to guard, that could open the door for Dalcourt, as he’s a naturally built center who showed promise there in limited snaps during his first season in Tuscaloosa.

With Alabama expected to have one of the best offensive lines in the country, expect that fifth starter to be a crucial part to the overall success of the unit.

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