Tag: freshman

An unexpected true freshman may become one of Alabama’s top stars in 2024

This Alabama freshman may be one of the most impactful players in 2024, but it’s not who you’d think.

As Alabama Crimson Tide football fans prepare for the upcoming season, there are a lot of new aspects of the game to get accustomed to. While it can be challenging to adjust to a new coaching staff, two new teams in the conference and a new-look roster with multiple players joining the program as incoming freshmen or as transfers, there are a few names and faces that fans of the Tide should be familiar with.

Of course, there are a few obvious answers like head coach Kalen DeBoer and highly-coveted freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams. However, fans need to get used to hearing the name Zabien Brown.

CBS Sports’s Chris Hummer named the true freshman defensive back as one of the best freshmen on one of the best teams in the nation.

“Alabama lost its top two cornerbacks to the NFL Draft and returned only one player from that room last year, so there was a lot of opportunity for young players this spring to step in and compete,” writes Hummer. “Brown did just that and ended up starting Alabama’s spring game opposite USC transfer Domani Jackson. Brown’s starting status isn’t assured heading into fall camp after the Tide added former Wake Forest cornerback DaShawn Jones in the portal. But Brown, a dominant player at California power Mater Dei, showed this spring he’ll play a lot in 2024.”

Brown joins the Crimson Tide at an interesting time, but it may work in his favor. For the entirety of Nick Saban’s tenure as the head coach of Alabama, the defensive secondary consisted of star players who wreaked havoc on opposing teams.

Saban would personally work with the defensive backs, which was a large reason as to why they consistently performed so well. DeBoer is an offensive-minded head coach, so he’s not expected to have the hands-on approach that Saban did.

To sum it all up, Brown has an opportunity to play as a true freshman, showcase his talents under an immensely bright spotlight as a cornerback at Alabama and has some mighty shoes to fill when considering the legends who were previously a member of that positional group.

There’s no telling how much playing time Brown will get early on in the 2024 college football season, as Hummer mentioned; but fans should be ready to see his skills on full display whenever he gets the chance to take the field, which will not be sparingly. Even if Brown isn’t given a starting job, he’s still expected to serve in a considerably large role for a freshman in the Crimson Tide program.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football news as the 2024 offseason progresses and the team prepares for the season-opening matchup against Western Kentucky on Aug. 31 in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

EvanMiya analytics releases 2023-24 freshman rankings, and Jared McCain is outside the top 15

Prominent college basketball analytics site ranked the 2023-24 freshman class by its Bayesian Performance Rating. Where did Jared McCain fall after his 35-point game against FSU?

Noted college basketball analytics site EvanMiya, run by Evan Miyakawa, released its 2023-24 freshman rankings on Tuesday.

The rankings sorted the freshman class by their Bayesian Performance Rating, and Duke star Jared McCain finished 18th.

The first-year Blue Devils guard is averaging 13.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. He currently sports a performance rating of 4.20, finishing just above Kansas’s Johnny Furphy.

The ranking also listed each freshman’s preseason ranking, and McCain was eighth before the season began.

The Kentucky Wildcats cleaned up in the rankings, with two players in the top three and two more within the top 25. Reed Sheppard, who was ranked 26th before the season began, led the rankings with a performance rating of 8.45. Teammate Rob Dillingham, a likely lottery pick, came in third with a 5.96.

Sheppard is averaging 12.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.6 steals per game for the Wildcats, and he’s shooting above 50% from the floor and from beyond the arc. Dillingham is producing 14.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game himself.

McCain is the second-highest freshman in the rankings behind UNC’s Elliot Cadeau in seventh.

Caleb Downs recognized as the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year

Alabama Safety Caleb Downs recognized as the top freshman in the country

When you start to make your way down the list of all-time great Alabama running backs, it is just a matter of time until the legend [autotag]Shaun Alexander[/autotag] comes up. During three seasons of varsity football in high school, Alexander rushed for 6,657 yards and 110 touchdowns – both are still Top 10 all-time prep records. In his senior year, he was named Kentucky’s “Mr. Football” and was recruited to join the Tide by Gene Stallings and was one of the most highly sought-after recruits at the time.

Alexander redshirted in 1995 as a true freshman, however, he quickly burst onto the scene in 1996 as a redshirt freshman. Alexander put his name on the map in a crucial SEC showdown as he rushed for a school-record 291 yards and four touchdowns in a 26-0 victory over No. 11 LSU in Baton Rouge. Alexander posted career statistics of 727 carries for 3,565 yards and 41 touchdowns. He also had 62 career receptions for 798 yards and eight scores.

As a result of his success in college, the Seattle Seahawks used the No. 19 pick in the 2000 NFL Draft on the ‘Bama back. Alexander went on to be an NFL MVP and named to the 2000s All-Decade team among a laundry list of accolades.

As a result for the impact he left on the college game, the College Football Freshman Player of the Year award was renamed after Shaun Alexander in 2019 because of his remarkable freshman campaign and performance against LSU back in 1996.

This year, the winner of the award was Alabama DB [autotag]Caleb Downs[/autotag]. It is fitting for the award to head back to Tuscaloosa with Will Anderson being the winner back in 2020-2021. Even though he is only a freshman, people in the NFL have already taken notice of Downs and he is on a path to be the next great Alabama Safety like Minkah Fitzpatrick.

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 Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Alabama safety Caleb Downs named SEC Freshman of the Year

Safety Caleb Downs named as the SEC Freshman of the Year

Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide knew that Caleb Downs was a really special player when they recruited him out of high school. Downs was the No. 1 safety in the 2023 class and the No. 8 player overall out of Mill Creek High School in Georgia.

As a true freshman this year, Downs earned a starting job in the very first game and was sensational the whole way through. He was a key contributor in a very strong Alabama secondary as he posted 99 tackles, one forced fumbles, three passes defended and two interceptions.

Downs was named to the All-SEC First-Team yesterday and today was announced as the SEC Freshman of the Year. Downs looks to be the next great DB in a program that has been littered with them.

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 Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Alabama safety Caleb Downs named Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week

Alabama safety Caleb Downs was named as the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week on Tuesday.

Alabama safety Caleb Downs was named as the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week on Tuesday. Former Alabama running back Shaun Alexander recognizes the top freshman in college football from week to week.

Downs had a solid showing for the Crimson Tide in Week 5 against Mississippi State. He tallied 13 tackles as well as an interception in the Tide’s win over the Bulldogs.

Thus far, Downs has been a bright spot in Alabama’s secondary. His ability to contribute to stopping the run and prevent big pass plays has helped him become one of the top safeties in college football this season. Another interesting thing to note is that Downs currently leads the Crimson Tide with 40 tackles.

He will be an underclassman that Alabama fans will want to keep a close eye on moving forward.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest in regards to the Alabama football program.

3 Alabama freshmen named as potential impact players in the SEC

These three first-year members of Alabama Football are poised to make some noise in the SEC during the 2023 season.

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.

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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. 

Two Alabama freshmen receive prestigous recognition following impressive season

Freshmen Colby Shelton and Alton Davis II were named as a Second-team freshman All-Americans by the National College Writers Baseball Association. Both had impressive first-year campaigns in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama freshmen Colby Shelton and Alton Davis II were named as second-team freshman All-Americans by the National College Baseball Writers Association.

Both Shelton and Davis II played key roles for the Crimson Tide in 2023.

Shelton had a stellar freshman campaign at the plate. He accounted for 25 home runs and 51 runs batted. Shelton led the team in home runs, slugging percentage (.729), and OPS (1.148).

Davis II finished the season as the team’s go-to arm out of the bullpen. An electric fastball and energy on the mound helped Davis II earn national recognition. He recorded two saves and recorded 11 strikeouts in 10.2 innings.

Davis II will play for Team USA this summer. It is unclear if Shelton will participate in any summer leagues.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the Alabama baseball program.

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This Gator was named to College Football News’ Freshman All-American First Team

Florida saw a few freshmen break out in 2022, but you might be surprised by which Gator made College Football News’ Freshman All-American First Team.

When talking about Florida’s standout freshmen in 2022, names like [autotag]Trevor Etienne[/autotag] and [autotag]Shemar James[/autotag] quickly come to mind, but it’s offensive tackle [autotag]Austin Barber[/autotag] who made College Football News’ Freshman All-American First Team on Tuesday.

Etienne and James received honorable mentions, but it’s Barber who has cemented himself as one of the top young offensive linemen in the country. He started the season as Florida’s sixth offensive lineman but quickly stepped into a starting role once right tackle [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] went down. Barber ended up starting five games for UF and playing over 600 snaps this season.

Pro Football Focus gave Barber an offensive grade of 80.7, which is good for 12th best among players that aren’t draft eligible this year. The numbers say he’s a better run blocker (80.3) than a pass blocker (75.9), but he’s got at least another year to get even better. Florida’s offensive line allowed just 15 sacks this season, which is good for the second-best number in the SEC and a share of the No. 15 spot nationally.

Etienne’s honorable mention status might surprise some Gators fans, but splitting carries with [autotag]Montrell Johnson J[/autotag]r. (and [autotag]Nay’Quan Wrigh[/autotag]t early in the year) ate into his production. He finished the year with 705 yards and six touchdowns on 110 carries.

James played in all 12 games for the Gators and started three of those en route to a 40-tackle season that ranked second among SEC true freshmen. He should be a starter for the Gators next season with the departure of [autotag]Ventrell Miller[/autotag].

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Alabama forward Noah Clowney eager to win as 2022-2023 season approaches

Alabama freshman Noah Clowney is eager to win with the Tide this season. On Thursday, he spoke with the media about his expectations for the season.

Alabama freshman forward Noah Clowney was a key piece of the Tide’s 2022 recruiting class that was brought in. The South Carolina native was ranked as the No. 96 overall recruit in the country, according to 247Sports’ recruiting rankings.

He is listed at 6-foot-10, 205 pounds. Nate Oats and the rest of the coaching staff are expecting big things out of the freshman this season. On Thursday, he spoke with the media about some of his goals entering his first year of action in Tuscaloosa. Clowney responded by saying this:

“I don’t really have individual goals. Obviously, I want to play at the next level but I want to win games. I don’t think nobody like losing. I feel like everybody on the team that had a chance to feel what losing feel like in high school. I lost my last two years in state championships, so nobody likes to lose. You know you can change that every day at practice. You don’t win games when you go out there. You win games when you’re practicing in the summer and in the fall.”

After performing well in Alabama’s tour overseas as well as two exhibitions, Clowney is expected to be a crucial piece in the Tide’s frontcourt. His length and versatility can provide a challenge to opposing defenses. Not to mention, he can finish at the rim and produce on the offensive end. Nonetheless, his eagerness to win is something that should set the tone early in the locker room this season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Clowney’s career at Alabama as well as other Tide basketball news.

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LOOK: Many of Texas’ 2022 signees arrive on campus

The arrival of the fifth-ranked signing class breeds lots of excitement around the program.

The remaining members of Texas’ 2022 class are beginning to make their way to campus for summer workouts.

Last season, Texas watched wide receiver Xavier Worthy and defensive lineman Byron Murphy see significant playing time as true freshmen. The new group is expected to have many competing to make an early impact this fall.

Texas put an emphasis on strengthening the trenches on both sides of the ball in the 2022 cycle.

Five-stars Devon Campbell and Kelvin Banks highlight Texas’ uber-talented offensive line group coming in.

Four-star edge rusher J’Mond Tapp is quick off the line and could help Texas at a major position of need. He joins early enrollees Justice Finkley and Jaray Bledsoe on the defensive front.

The arrival of the fifth-ranked signing class breeds a great deal of excitement around the program. Players were all smiles moving into their long-awaited new homes.