Bryce Young once tried to recruit Tide teammate Traeshon Holden to USC

This is funny to see after knowing what we know now!

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young is making himself a household name within the college football world. Every time he takes the field, you just know excitement will ensue and points will not be at a premium.

Those that don’t follow the recruiting process closely might not know that Bryce Young was first committed to play for the USC Trojans before he put ink to paper to play for the Crimson Tide.

Young was a five-star prospect and the second-ranked player in the country for the class of 2020. He was the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation and was all but set on playing for the Trojans.

On July 15, 2018, Young committed to play for USC. But, as his recruiting progressed, he continued to take official visits to Alabama,

While committed to USC, Young can be seen here in a video within a tweet dated back to 2019 trying to recruit his current Alabama teammate Traeshon Holden to USC, to which Holden recently retweeted with a comment of his own.

Well would you look at this 😏🤣 https://t.co/ivta2Ssmpw

— TRAESHON HOLDEN🤞🏽 (@300_Sh0wtime) October 18, 2021

Two days after an official visit to Alabama in September of 2019, Young would flip his commitment from USC to Alabama, signalling the start of an eventual new era at QB for the Crimson Tide.

The rest is history, and that history is still being written. Young is now a sophomore with at least one more year at the helm for the Crimson Tide offense following this season.

The future is bright for this rising star, and we should all be excited to see what he has in store for us going forward. It’s hard to imagine that he could get any better, but it is apparent that with each passing week his skills improve. His ceiling isn’t close to being reached and he still has a lot of time to reach it.

Traeshon Holden is also a talented athlete. Coming out of high school as a four-star recruit at wide receiver, he saw offers from several schools including Arizona State, Oregon, and Houston.

At Alabama, his playing time has been sparse, but he has shown promise in the limited time he has seen on-field action. His potential certainly shows that he could be a valued member of the offense if he stays the course and works hard.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire for continued coverage of the Alabama 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.

Grading Alabama’s win over Mississippi State

Alabama got back to its dominating ways on Saturday night against Mississippi State, let’s see how the Tide grade out this week!

Saturday night in Starkville was a sight for sore eyes as the Crimson Tide put on its best performance of the season. Even though the Tide came into the contest ranked fifth, the season wasn’t really going as expected. As we all know, the Tide is always chasing perfection.

After taking a loss to the Texas A&M Aggies in the previous week, the Tide came back with vengeance, defeating the Bulldogs 49-9.

Each week we grade all three phases of the game for the Crimson Tide, let’s see how they did this week!

Offense: A+

This was by far the most complete performance of the season by the Alabama offense. The Tide passed for nearly 350 yards and added almost another 200 on the ground. The balanced attacked kept the Mississippi State defense on heels for most of the contest, especially in the second half.

Bryce Young looked like a veteran quarterback out there, completing 20 of his 28 passing attempts for 348 yards and four touchdowns.

Brian Robinson Jr. wore down the Bulldog defense for a tough 73 yards on 19 carries. Robinson bullied his way for two rushing touchdowns, but also added a 51-yard touchdown reception, showing off his versatility. Roydell Williams was able to take advantage of a wore out Mississippi State defense in the second half rushing for 78 yards on 11 carries.

Collectively, the wide receiver group played its best game of the season on Saturday night. John Metchie III went off for 117 yards on seven catches and a touchdown. Jameson Williams once again showed off his elite speed on 75-yard touchdown reception to open the second half. The surprise of the night was sophomore Traeshon Holden. Holden reeled in three catches for 70 yards and one touchdown.

Upfront it was yet another average day for the offensive line. The line was not bad by any stretch, but it is clearly not one of the strengths of the team. Through seven games it is safe to say the offensive line is what it is.

Defense: A+

The defensive performance for the Tide was nearly textbook for the modern age of college football. The bend but don’t break philosophy was executed almost perfectly.

The Alabama defense gave up 299 yards of total offense to the Bulldogs but did not surrender a single touchdown. Will Rogers threw the ball a total of 55 times in the contest for 300 yards but was also picked off three different times.

The Tide smothered the ground game of Mississippi State, holding the Bulldogs to minus one-yard rushing in the contest. Now, Alabama did sack Rogers several times throughout the contests, and Rogers finished with minus 41 yards rushing.

Will Anderson Jr. completed wrecked the Mississippi State offensive line on Saturday night with four sacks. He was simply unblockable. As a team, Alabama sacked Rogers a total of seven times.

In the backend, the secondary played as well as one could hope. Jordan Battle had what was probably the best performance of his Tide career. The junior safety picked off Rogers on two separate occasions, returning one for a touchdown in the first half.

Let’s see if the Tide defense can play with the same intensity moving forward!

Special Teams: A-

One of the quiet stars of Alabama’s victory over Mississippi State was punter James Burnip. While his net punting average was not fantastic, he did pen the Bulldog offense inside the 20 on two different occasions.

Placekicker Will Reichard continues to be a consistent force for the Tide, connecting on all seven of his point-after attempts.

Jameson Williams averaged 32.5 yards per kick return with a long of 45.

Overall: A+

The Crimson Tide put together its most complete game of the 2021 season on Saturday night. The only area that you could point to that wasn’t dominant was the offensive line which continues to be a work in progress. Otherwise, the Tide completely dominated the Bulldogs and restored hope among the Tide faithful.

Stay tuned to Roll Tide Wire as we offer continuous coverage on the Alabama 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.

What we learned from Alabama’s emphatic win over Mississippi State

The question all week leading up to Alabama’s matchup with Mississippi State was how the Tide would respond following last week’s loss to Texas A&M. To say Alabama answered the bell would be an understatement.

Alabama just completely dominated the Bulldogs 49-9 in Starkville. In a game in which the Tide never trailed, it reminded the Alabama faithful of what this team can and should be. The offense was balanced and the defense forced turnovers and did not allow a single touchdown.

Each week we look at a few of the things we learned from the Tide’s performance, let’s see what we learned this week!

Alabama football position preview: Wide receivers

Alabama is loaded with young talent at wide receiver.

Now that we have completed the defensive side of the ball in our position previews, we shift our focus to the offensive side. Today we will look at the wide receivers.

Let’s get started!

Alabama football countdown: 11 days until kickoff

We are 11 days from Alabama football kicking off its season on the road against the Missouri Tigers to start a 10-game, SEC only schedule.

There has been a lot of uncertainty surrounding college football over the last couple of months, but as of right now, the season still looks like it’s a go for the SEC, ACC and Big 12.

So, what does that mean? It means that we can continue the Countdown to Kickoff en route to the Crimson Tide — and the rest of the SEC — getting things underway on Sept. 26.

With it now being Sept. 15, we are officially 11 days away from the start!

Two true freshmen are currently wearing the No. 11 for Alabama. Wide receiver Traeshon Holden, the four-star wide receiver out of Kissemme (Fla.), wears it for the offense while Kristian Story wears it on defense.

Story was a four-star athlete in the 2020 recruiting class. He played at Lanett High School in Alabama.

Prior to those two first-year players, the number was worn by two others in 2019. Former cornerback Scooby Carter, who entered the transfer portal earlier in the offseason and ended up at Mississippi Gulf Coast College, and former standout receiver Henry Ruggs III.

Rugg just completed his first NFL game as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders after being the top receiver taken in the 2020 NFL Draft back in April.

Aug 31, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) runs away from Duke Blue Devils safety Dylan Singleton (16) during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

2020 Alabama football schedule

Sept. 26 at Missouri (Columbia, Mizz.)
Oct. 3 vs. Texas A&M (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Oct. 10 at Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.)
Oct. 17 vs. Georgia (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Oct. 24 at Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Oct. 31 vs. Miss State (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 14 at LSU (Baton Rouge, La.)
No. 21 vs. Kentucky (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 28 vs. Auburn (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Dec. 5 at Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)

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. 11 Traeshon Holden

True freshman WR Traeshon Holden 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 anywhere from 2-4 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 true freshman wide receiver Traeshon Holden out of Harbor City (Calif.).

Traeshon Holden, Wide Receiver

Alabama recruiting — Nov 23, 2019; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; An SEC end zone pylon on the field during the Alabama Crimson Tide game against the Western Carolina Catamounts at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Height: 6-3 / Weight: 196

Class: Freshman

Hometown: Kissimmee (Fla.)

High School: Narbonne High School (Calif.)

HS ranking (247Sports): 4-star / No. 232 overall / No. 41 WR / No. 22 CA

HS ranking (Rivals): 4-star / No. 244 overall / No. 46 WR / No. 24 CA

Analysis: Traeshon Holden might not be in a position to earn significant early playing time for the Crimson Tide in 2020, but that doesn’t mean he should be a forgotten member in the receiver room.

The four-star true freshman brings top-notch size and length (listed at 6-foot-3, 196 pounds already) to the position, and he uses his body well when setting up opposing defensive backs. He’s also got great hands and can push defenses vertically.

DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle will slot into the top two spots on the depth chart this upcoming season, but the battle for No. 3 could get interesting. Holden should be considered a long shot in comparison to John Metchie, Slade Bolden and Tyrell Shavers, but that doesn’t mean he won’t see the field.

Check out more on Holden from Roll Tide Wire here.

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Why Alabama fans should be excited about freshman WR Traeshon Holden

When watching his tape, it’s hard not to notice his strict route-running and ability to move wherever needed in order to bring the ball i…

After losing star wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III to the NFL, Alabama fans now look to Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith as the two receivers to lead the 2020 Crimson Tide offense.

John Metchie III and Tyrell Shavers are two names the Alabama fanbase may have heard before, and it’s likely they will hear their names called more often in 2020. The both of them are poised to step up this season to help the offense maintain there elite level of play.

One freshman receiver may be able to have an impact in his first year in Tuscaloosa, Traeshon Holden.

Holden, who is native to Kissimmee, Florida, finished his high school career at Narbonne high school in Harbor City, California.

In his senior season, Holden reeled in 31 receptions for 512 yards, an average of 16.5 yards-per-catch and seven touchdowns. These stats earned Holden four stars from 247Sports.

The receiver is listed at 6-foot-3, 196 pounds on the Alabama roster.

The big-body freshman says the players he looks up to are Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Amari Cooper – all Alabama products.

What makes Holden so special is that he is a severe down-field threat and is not afraid to run through defensive backs to complete his routes.

All of his skills can be seen in his highlight reel posted by AL.com

Smith has the all-around skill, Waddle has the speed and elusiveness and Holden can offer strength, speed and hands.

When watching his tape, it’s hard not to notice his strict route-running and ability to move wherever needed in order to bring the ball in. His long legs and large frame allow him to not only get down the field quickly, but to also reach around or over any defensive back that may be in his way.

With Tua Tagovailoa in the rearview mirror for the Crimson Tide, Mac Jones will likely take over. From what we have seen, Jones is not as confident as Tua when throwing downfield. Having Holden’s presence can be a big help to Jones.

Let’s also not forget that Holden is also an elite kick returner. When watching his film, it’s hard not to be impressed after he disappears into a pile and then comes out the other end, seemingly untouched.

There’s some work to be done on Holden’s end though. He is a true freshman trying to get playing time amidst a squad of tight-knit players that have shown the coaching staff who they are capable of.

However, if he is able to get it one during the preseason training and establish himself as a viable receiver that can help Alabama succeed, expect to hear his name called throughout the 2020 season.

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Getting to know Alabama’s signees: WR Traeshon Holden

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 …

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.

Next man up is four-star wide receiver Traeshon Holden out of Narbonne High School in Harbor City (Calif.).

Traeshon Holden, Wide Receiver

Hometown: Harbor City (Calif.)

High school: Narbonne

Size: 6-3, 195 (6-3, 196 on official Alabama roster)

Early enrollee: Yes

247Sports composite ranking: 4-star / No. 232 overall / No. 41 WR

247Sports ranking: 4-star / No. 185 overall / No. 32 WR

Rivals ranking: 4-star / No. 244 overall / No. 46 WR

ESPN ranking: 4-star / 81 overall grade / No. 41 WR

Commitment date: Mar. 2, 2019

Signing date: Dec. 18, 2019

Where does he fit in? Wide receiver was a position that the Alabama coaching staff felt the need to target in the 2020 recruiting class — and rightfully so.

While DeVonta Smith did announce that he would return for his senior season (a major development for the Crimson Tide’s 2020 outlook), the team still lost Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III to the NFL.

With Smith’s return and Jaylen Waddle going into his third season, the top two spots on the depth chart appear to be locked up, and John Metchie currently has a sizable lead for the No. 3 role. After depth chart status those three, however, should be up for grabs.

At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Traeshon Holden brings top-notch length to the position. And while his skill set somewhat differs from what Alabama fans have grown used to seeing from the wide receiver group, he should be a nice change of pace to the other players on the roster, including fellow true freshmen Thaiu Jones-Bell and Javon Baker.

Previous players:

RB Roydell Williams

DT Tim Smith

WR Thaiu Jones-Bell

S Brian Branch

OLB Quandarrius Robinson

ILB Jackson Bratton

ATH Kristian Story

DT Jah-Marien Latham

S Malachi Moore

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Getting to know Alabama’s signees: WR Traeshon Holden

Alabama signed 22 of its 26 commitments during the early signing period last Wednesday. To give fans a chance to get to know the newest Crimson Tide members, we are doing a series of overviews with each of the 2020 signees. Next up on the list, …

Next up on the list, four-star wide receiver Traeshon Holden.

Traeshon Holden, Wide Receiver

Hometown: Harbor City (Calif.)

High school: Narbonne

Size: 6-3, 195

247Sports composite ranking: 4-star / No. 197 overall / No. 35 WR

Rivals ranking: 4-star / No. 244 overall / No. 45 WR

Commitment date: Mar. 2, 2019

Signing date: Dec. 18, 2019

Where does he fit in? Wide receiver was a position that the Alabama coaching staff felt the need to target in the 2020 recruiting class — and rightfully so.

While there have been rumors that DeVonta Smith and/or Henry Ruggs III could return next season, that is far from a guarantee at this point. Even if they did, the losses at receiver in 2020 could include that duo, as well as Jaylen Waddle.

To head off some of those losses, the addition of Holden, Thaiu Jones-Bell and current commit Javon Baker was crucial. But that also means that their presence won’t be heavily relied on until at least 2021.

At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Holden brings top-notch length to the position. And while his skill set somewhat differs from what Alabama fans have grown used to seeing from the wide receiver group, he should be a nice change of pace.

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