Alabama 2022 class analysis
Welp, it’s that time again for everybody’s favorite thread.
I’ll be posting 1 or 2 players a day.
OLB Jihaad Campbell (starting year 3)
+ size/length, athleticism, motor
-raw, needs to develop pass rush moves
Campbell is a dominant athlete who tracks down the ball carrier like a wild man. He separates from blocks and contains the outside with ease. He’ll have to develop a pass rush to play outside at the next level.
Comparison to 2021 player:
Deontae Lawson Vs Jihaad Campbell
Tale of the tape:
Lawson and Campbell are nearly exactly the same player even down to the way they play. Lawson had a good year at inside linebacker making 2nd string his freshman season. Lawson looks to be slightly stronger than Campbell with some more heavily punishing tackles but Campbell is so raw that he may have more potential. It’ll be interesting to see who ends up with more success for the Tide.
Athleticism: Tie
Size: Campbell
Speed: Campbell (slight)
Quickness/burst: Lawson (slight)
Eyes: Tie
Strength: Lawson
Hitting: Lawson
Effort: Tie
Contain: Tie
Pass rush: Neither/NA
Run stop: Tie
Coaching: Campbell (IMG)
__________________________________________________
OT Elijah Pritchett (year 2-4, Draft 1-3)
+Motor, feet, aggressiveness, run-block, power
~outside shoulder pass-pro, discipline
Elijah Pritchett is another great athlete upfront for the Tide. He is physically dominant and explosive on contact and blood thirsty in run-blocking.
After watching his head-to-head against Georgia signee Mykel Williams, he’ll need to get better at controlling the edge and handling speed rushers, but he easily got the better of that matchup overall.
Expect Pritchett to come on strong after some college level development and coaching.
Comparison to 2021 player:
(4star)Elijah Pritchett Vs (5star)Tommy Brockermeyer
Tale of the tape:
Tommy Brockermeyer draws the challenge with Latham getting the last one and with both him and Pritchett being 6-6 280 coming out of HS.
Brockermeyer is a beast and as polished as you can ask for with a highschool lineman.
Both of these guys are very similar in physicality against opponents.
The main difference I found in there play is Pritchett likes to push or knock guys back, where Tommy would mostly throw guys down.
I give Brockermeyer the advantage here with him having a year up, an impressive DE tape and a dad who played in the NFL bringing him and his brother up.
Elijah Pritchett does carry his weight a little better and seems to be a little more explosive and lighter on his feet.
Athleticism: Pritchett (slight)
Size: tie
Finishing: tie
Aggressiveness: Pritchett
Pass block: Brockermeyer
Run block: Pritchett
Technique/Skill: Brockermeyer
Feet: tie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OT Tyler Booker (year 2-4, RD2-4)
+Skill, strong finisher, technique
~ tape isn’t flashy, doesn’t immediately overpower smaller opponents
Offensive line is not an easy position to predict unless you really know what you’re looking at, and with physically dominant as a bama recruit is, they all look like future all-pros.
However, it’s obvious that Booker knows what he’s doing. He gets the job done and is very assignment sound, disciplined, and aware tackle.
He’s got a lot of athleticism & actually was used as a goaline back some at IMG.
There’s a lot to look foward to with Tyler Booker.
Comparison to Best 2021 player:
4 star Tyler Booker vs 5 star JC Latham
6-6 325 Vs 6-6 305
Tale of the Tape:
2 IMG alums go head to head here. Latham and Booker are extremely similar. Both are very athletic guys with almost identical builds.
Despite Bookers ability to carry the ball, JC defensive background and incredibly successful transition to tackle speaks for itself.
Latham seems to get a little more push than Booker and a little more aggressive.
Booker doesn’t struggle but doesn’t dominate off the snap.
I give Latham the advantage here, especially with a year ahead in the program. I also give the athletic advantage to JC.
Size: tie
Athleticism: Latham
Technique: Booker
Aggressiveness: Latham
Finishing: tie
Run Block skill: Booker (slight)
Pass Block skill: tie
Run block power: Latham
Pass block power/strength: Latham
Latham just has too much potential. I believe Booker is a great addition and will become a solid to great starter, but Latham will be tough to beat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WR Shazz Preston (Year 2-3, Rd1-3)
+ Skill, body control, 1on1 balls, high pointing, focus
~ top end speed, Acceleration, separation
Preston is a guy that’s hard to find fault with. He has all the tools to succeed as a receiver of his type.
He’s an aggressive possession guy who wins the route and dominated contested balls.
He’s not a speed guy, but he’s pretty elusive left and right. He won’t be Jalen waddle after the catch or henry Ruggs before, but you’re looking at a Kennan allen/Javon baker type player with a lot of potential.
Comparison to best 2021 player:
Shazz Preston(4star) vs Agiye Hall(4star)
Tale of the tape:
Hall draws the matchup here due to similarity in style & ability.
Agiye has a height advantage with all the ability in the world. Agiye hall also has an athletic and aggressiveness advantage when it comes to making that “WOW” catch.However, footwork and route running are going to be something Shazz may always have better.
We know that Hall was a clutch, go to guy at his highschool, but Preston’s tape shows that he’s exactly the same.
Athleticism: Preston
Physical: Hall
Speed: Hall(slight, I don’t know their 40’s)
Height: Hall
Hands: Tie
Elusiveness: Preston
High-point: Hall
Routes: Preston
Blocking: Hall
Clutch: Tie
Versatility: Preston
Preston may have a better shot of getting on the field before Hall unless Agiye becomes a more well-rounded WR.
The real key to success in the contest is mental toughness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RB Emmanuel Henderson (year 3-4, Rd2)
+ Vision, Balance, Agility, break tackle
~ breakaway speed, level of competition
Henderson is very skilled and elusive. A TJ Yeldon build with Mark Ingram ability. His speed isn’t a problem but he probably won’t be a home run threat every play.
He played against weak competition but I imagine he has to carry his team, so it probably evens out.
It’s hard to say a running back will be a 1st round heisman contender, but he’s a running back that’s going to Alabama….with his skill set, the sky is the ceiling for Emmanuel.
Comparison to 2021 best player:
E Henderson Vs C Wheaton
5star Vs 5star
Tale of the tape:
Judging the difference between Alabama runningback commits isn’t easy. Camar seems to be more of a physical presence just by the eye. Wheaton looks similar to Bo Scarborough, making it look really easy and not being touched very often or having to make many moves. However, when he does make a move, he shows that same ability Henderson has.
We have another close competition.
The key in this race, is development.
Athleticism: Wheaton (slight)
Speed: Tie
Size: Wheaton (a little more compact)
Elusiveness: Tie
Agility: Henderson
Explosion: Wheaton
Break tackle: Henderson
Vision: Henderson
Catching: Wheaton
Skill: Henderson
Balance: Henderson
A toss up between two very similar backs. Most of these comparisons could go either way and change after both have time with Alabama’s incredible S&C personnel.
Don’t be surprised if Wheaton is 1A and Henderson is 1B just due to seniority.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
QB Ty Simpson (Year 3-4, Draftable)
+ athleticism, arm, playmaking
~ panics scrambling, average speed, size
Ty Simpson has all the ability you could ask for. He can make a throw on the run with ease, find receiver immediately after evading pass rushers and hit a deep pass with a flick of the wrist
He has Bryce young playmaking but looks very off balance and panicky in the pocket. He also won’t have a size advantage. He’s not short and he could fill out, but he’ll never be a big guy.
Best play from last class comparison:
Ty Simpson(5star)vs Jalen Milroe(4star)
Tale of the tape:
These two are extremely similar in play style.
Ty Simpson has a small advantage with his arm but Jalen Milroe won’t be matched as a runner.
Milroe gives tide fans a lot to be excited about and showed a lot of promise his freshman year.
Simpson may be a 5star, but don’t count milroe’s superior athleticism.
Milroe has the advantage here and he’s ahead by a year.
Ty Simpson may be fighting an uphill battle.
Athleticism: Milroe
Size: Milroe
Speed: Milroe
Scrambling: Milroe
Eyes: Tie
Composure: Milroe
Accuracy: Simpson (slight)
Arm strength: Simpson
Experience: Milroe
Footwork: Milroe
Playmaking: Tie (Simpson as a passer, Milroe as a Runner)
Milroe is quietly a better pocket passer than people think, and has a year ahead in the program. This battle will be won and lost on decision making but this will be a true competition after Bryce goes to worst NFL team.
This is the most 50/50 QB race we’ll have seen since Blake sims vs Jake coker
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Edge Jeremiah Alexander (Year 2-3, 1-2 Round)
+ Strength, Bull rush, effort, ferocity
~ speed, quickness, finesse
Jeremiah is our premier recruit after Will Anderson broke our edge rusher curse.
However, his style will hold him back early in his career as he plays more physical than with speed. He’s not a track star off the snap but can bull rush and play the run like a pro. Expect him to come in very well coached.
Comparison to best 2021 player’s tape:
Jeremiah Alexander vs Dallas Turner
5star(.9942) #8 natl Vs 5star(.9950) #9
Tale of the tape:
Dallas Turner had a very productive freshman year. It’ll be hard to beat a guy who contributed as a freshman at a position freshman have rarely played in during the Saban era.
Dallas has produced 5.5 sacks so far in his freshman campaign.
Turner is not a lot quicker, but noticeably quicker than Alexander. However, Jeremiah is much more a physical player than Turner.
Turner has an athletic advantage on the outside shoulder of the tackle as he has some nice offensive highlights to pair with his speed.
I believe Alexander’s physicality will ultimately make him the better player if they both reach their full potential.
Athleticism: Turner
Size: Tie
Speed: Turner (slight)
Quickness/burst: Tuner (slight)
Eyes: Tie
Strength: Alexander
Hitting: Alexander
Effort: Alexander (slight)
Contain: Turner
Pass rush: Turner
Run stop: Alexander
Coaching: Tie
If this was a fight, it’d be a good one.
Maybe even house party pay-per-view level.
Safe to say judging between these two is a problem I’m really glad we have.
Welp, it’s that time again for everybody’s favorite thread.
I’ll be posting 1 or 2 players a day.
- This evaluation is based on the most current highlight tape.
- I include comparisons to the best player of the same position from last years class’s highlight tape
- I include player projections (year they’ll start & draft position
OLB Jihaad Campbell (starting year 3)
+ size/length, athleticism, motor
-raw, needs to develop pass rush moves
Campbell is a dominant athlete who tracks down the ball carrier like a wild man. He separates from blocks and contains the outside with ease. He’ll have to develop a pass rush to play outside at the next level.
Comparison to 2021 player:
Deontae Lawson Vs Jihaad Campbell
Tale of the tape:
Lawson and Campbell are nearly exactly the same player even down to the way they play. Lawson had a good year at inside linebacker making 2nd string his freshman season. Lawson looks to be slightly stronger than Campbell with some more heavily punishing tackles but Campbell is so raw that he may have more potential. It’ll be interesting to see who ends up with more success for the Tide.
Athleticism: Tie
Size: Campbell
Speed: Campbell (slight)
Quickness/burst: Lawson (slight)
Eyes: Tie
Strength: Lawson
Hitting: Lawson
Effort: Tie
Contain: Tie
Pass rush: Neither/NA
Run stop: Tie
Coaching: Campbell (IMG)
__________________________________________________
OT Elijah Pritchett (year 2-4, Draft 1-3)
+Motor, feet, aggressiveness, run-block, power
~outside shoulder pass-pro, discipline
Elijah Pritchett is another great athlete upfront for the Tide. He is physically dominant and explosive on contact and blood thirsty in run-blocking.
After watching his head-to-head against Georgia signee Mykel Williams, he’ll need to get better at controlling the edge and handling speed rushers, but he easily got the better of that matchup overall.
Expect Pritchett to come on strong after some college level development and coaching.
Comparison to 2021 player:
(4star)Elijah Pritchett Vs (5star)Tommy Brockermeyer
Tale of the tape:
Tommy Brockermeyer draws the challenge with Latham getting the last one and with both him and Pritchett being 6-6 280 coming out of HS.
Brockermeyer is a beast and as polished as you can ask for with a highschool lineman.
Both of these guys are very similar in physicality against opponents.
The main difference I found in there play is Pritchett likes to push or knock guys back, where Tommy would mostly throw guys down.
I give Brockermeyer the advantage here with him having a year up, an impressive DE tape and a dad who played in the NFL bringing him and his brother up.
Elijah Pritchett does carry his weight a little better and seems to be a little more explosive and lighter on his feet.
Athleticism: Pritchett (slight)
Size: tie
Finishing: tie
Aggressiveness: Pritchett
Pass block: Brockermeyer
Run block: Pritchett
Technique/Skill: Brockermeyer
Feet: tie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OT Tyler Booker (year 2-4, RD2-4)
+Skill, strong finisher, technique
~ tape isn’t flashy, doesn’t immediately overpower smaller opponents
Offensive line is not an easy position to predict unless you really know what you’re looking at, and with physically dominant as a bama recruit is, they all look like future all-pros.
However, it’s obvious that Booker knows what he’s doing. He gets the job done and is very assignment sound, disciplined, and aware tackle.
He’s got a lot of athleticism & actually was used as a goaline back some at IMG.
There’s a lot to look foward to with Tyler Booker.
Comparison to Best 2021 player:
4 star Tyler Booker vs 5 star JC Latham
6-6 325 Vs 6-6 305
Tale of the Tape:
2 IMG alums go head to head here. Latham and Booker are extremely similar. Both are very athletic guys with almost identical builds.
Despite Bookers ability to carry the ball, JC defensive background and incredibly successful transition to tackle speaks for itself.
Latham seems to get a little more push than Booker and a little more aggressive.
Booker doesn’t struggle but doesn’t dominate off the snap.
I give Latham the advantage here, especially with a year ahead in the program. I also give the athletic advantage to JC.
Size: tie
Athleticism: Latham
Technique: Booker
Aggressiveness: Latham
Finishing: tie
Run Block skill: Booker (slight)
Pass Block skill: tie
Run block power: Latham
Pass block power/strength: Latham
Latham just has too much potential. I believe Booker is a great addition and will become a solid to great starter, but Latham will be tough to beat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WR Shazz Preston (Year 2-3, Rd1-3)
+ Skill, body control, 1on1 balls, high pointing, focus
~ top end speed, Acceleration, separation
Preston is a guy that’s hard to find fault with. He has all the tools to succeed as a receiver of his type.
He’s an aggressive possession guy who wins the route and dominated contested balls.
He’s not a speed guy, but he’s pretty elusive left and right. He won’t be Jalen waddle after the catch or henry Ruggs before, but you’re looking at a Kennan allen/Javon baker type player with a lot of potential.
Comparison to best 2021 player:
Shazz Preston(4star) vs Agiye Hall(4star)
Tale of the tape:
Hall draws the matchup here due to similarity in style & ability.
Agiye has a height advantage with all the ability in the world. Agiye hall also has an athletic and aggressiveness advantage when it comes to making that “WOW” catch.However, footwork and route running are going to be something Shazz may always have better.
We know that Hall was a clutch, go to guy at his highschool, but Preston’s tape shows that he’s exactly the same.
Athleticism: Preston
Physical: Hall
Speed: Hall(slight, I don’t know their 40’s)
Height: Hall
Hands: Tie
Elusiveness: Preston
High-point: Hall
Routes: Preston
Blocking: Hall
Clutch: Tie
Versatility: Preston
Preston may have a better shot of getting on the field before Hall unless Agiye becomes a more well-rounded WR.
The real key to success in the contest is mental toughness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
RB Emmanuel Henderson (year 3-4, Rd2)
+ Vision, Balance, Agility, break tackle
~ breakaway speed, level of competition
Henderson is very skilled and elusive. A TJ Yeldon build with Mark Ingram ability. His speed isn’t a problem but he probably won’t be a home run threat every play.
He played against weak competition but I imagine he has to carry his team, so it probably evens out.
It’s hard to say a running back will be a 1st round heisman contender, but he’s a running back that’s going to Alabama….with his skill set, the sky is the ceiling for Emmanuel.
Comparison to 2021 best player:
E Henderson Vs C Wheaton
5star Vs 5star
Tale of the tape:
Judging the difference between Alabama runningback commits isn’t easy. Camar seems to be more of a physical presence just by the eye. Wheaton looks similar to Bo Scarborough, making it look really easy and not being touched very often or having to make many moves. However, when he does make a move, he shows that same ability Henderson has.
We have another close competition.
The key in this race, is development.
Athleticism: Wheaton (slight)
Speed: Tie
Size: Wheaton (a little more compact)
Elusiveness: Tie
Agility: Henderson
Explosion: Wheaton
Break tackle: Henderson
Vision: Henderson
Catching: Wheaton
Skill: Henderson
Balance: Henderson
A toss up between two very similar backs. Most of these comparisons could go either way and change after both have time with Alabama’s incredible S&C personnel.
Don’t be surprised if Wheaton is 1A and Henderson is 1B just due to seniority.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
QB Ty Simpson (Year 3-4, Draftable)
+ athleticism, arm, playmaking
~ panics scrambling, average speed, size
Ty Simpson has all the ability you could ask for. He can make a throw on the run with ease, find receiver immediately after evading pass rushers and hit a deep pass with a flick of the wrist
He has Bryce young playmaking but looks very off balance and panicky in the pocket. He also won’t have a size advantage. He’s not short and he could fill out, but he’ll never be a big guy.
Best play from last class comparison:
Ty Simpson(5star)vs Jalen Milroe(4star)
Tale of the tape:
These two are extremely similar in play style.
Ty Simpson has a small advantage with his arm but Jalen Milroe won’t be matched as a runner.
Milroe gives tide fans a lot to be excited about and showed a lot of promise his freshman year.
Simpson may be a 5star, but don’t count milroe’s superior athleticism.
Milroe has the advantage here and he’s ahead by a year.
Ty Simpson may be fighting an uphill battle.
Athleticism: Milroe
Size: Milroe
Speed: Milroe
Scrambling: Milroe
Eyes: Tie
Composure: Milroe
Accuracy: Simpson (slight)
Arm strength: Simpson
Experience: Milroe
Footwork: Milroe
Playmaking: Tie (Simpson as a passer, Milroe as a Runner)
Milroe is quietly a better pocket passer than people think, and has a year ahead in the program. This battle will be won and lost on decision making but this will be a true competition after Bryce goes to worst NFL team.
This is the most 50/50 QB race we’ll have seen since Blake sims vs Jake coker
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Edge Jeremiah Alexander (Year 2-3, 1-2 Round)
+ Strength, Bull rush, effort, ferocity
~ speed, quickness, finesse
Jeremiah is our premier recruit after Will Anderson broke our edge rusher curse.
However, his style will hold him back early in his career as he plays more physical than with speed. He’s not a track star off the snap but can bull rush and play the run like a pro. Expect him to come in very well coached.
Comparison to best 2021 player’s tape:
Jeremiah Alexander vs Dallas Turner
5star(.9942) #8 natl Vs 5star(.9950) #9
Tale of the tape:
Dallas Turner had a very productive freshman year. It’ll be hard to beat a guy who contributed as a freshman at a position freshman have rarely played in during the Saban era.
Dallas has produced 5.5 sacks so far in his freshman campaign.
Turner is not a lot quicker, but noticeably quicker than Alexander. However, Jeremiah is much more a physical player than Turner.
Turner has an athletic advantage on the outside shoulder of the tackle as he has some nice offensive highlights to pair with his speed.
I believe Alexander’s physicality will ultimately make him the better player if they both reach their full potential.
Athleticism: Turner
Size: Tie
Speed: Turner (slight)
Quickness/burst: Tuner (slight)
Eyes: Tie
Strength: Alexander
Hitting: Alexander
Effort: Alexander (slight)
Contain: Turner
Pass rush: Turner
Run stop: Alexander
Coaching: Tie
If this was a fight, it’d be a good one.
Maybe even house party pay-per-view level.
Safe to say judging between these two is a problem I’m really glad we have.
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