Alabama’s 2021 team made it all the way to the national championship, but fell short to the Georgia Bulldogs. The talent the Crimson Tide had on that squad was a mix of young stars and draft-eligible players, many of whom have decided to declare for the 2022 NFL draft.
Big-time difference makers won’t be back next season like wide receivers John Metchie III and Jameson Williams are gone, as well as the offense line leader Evan Neal.
Nick Saban and his coaching staff are tasked with finding their replacements this offseason.
CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson put together a list of replacements for college football’s biggest stars that are moving onto the NFL.
For Evan Neal, Patterson predicts J.C. Latham or Tommy Brockermeyer will step in to fill the left tackle position.
“The top two prospects from Alabama’s 2021 signing class were both five-star tackles, and the efforts to get those commitments were likely done with the expectation that Neal would be on his way to the NFL after his third year with the Crimson Tide,” writes Patterson. “Latham, the No. 1 tackle and No. 3 overall prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, played on special teams and got in work at guard in the Cotton Bowl due to injury. Though Brockermeyer, the No. 2 tackle and No. 6 overall prospect in the 2021 class, did not see any game action in 2021, he’s likely going to play a factor in this replacement wave up front on offense because Nick Saban is tasked with replacing both starting tackles in 2022.”