The adage that freshmen don’t play at Alabama has been disproven time and again. Monday, Crimson Tide outside linebacker Will Anderson earned the Shaun Alexander-FWAA National Freshman Player of the Year Award, while defensive back Malachi Moore was also included in the Football Writers Association of America’s all-freshman team.
A total of 19 true freshmen saw the field for Alabama this past season. While Anderson and Moore took on starting roles, some of the Tide’s other newcomers didn’t see as much time at their respective positions.
With that in mind, today we will examine some of the seldom-used freshmen poised for bigger roles next season. For this exercise, we limited the list to true freshmen who played in fewer than 150 total snaps.
Here are five names you shouldn’t forget about heading into the coming season.
Bryce Young, QB — 114 snaps last season
Let’s get the obvious name out of the way at first. After coming to Alabama as the top quarterback in the 2020 class, Bryce Young took a backseat to Mac Jones’ record-breaking year behind center. With Jones now departed for the NFL, Young is the heavy favorite to take on the starting role behind center for the Tide.
Young didn’t get as much action as he probably expected last season. Over nine appearances, he completed 13 of 22 passes (59.1 percent) for 156 yards and one touchdown without an interception.
It’s worth noting that much of Young’s time on the field occurred when Alabama was attempting to run out the clock late during blowouts. With seldom opportunities to impress, the five-star freshman often held on to the ball too long while looking to make big plays. That resulted in seven sacks and five fumbles. If Young is able to secure the starting job this spring, he should be able to play with more maturity and poise behind center.
As for what Young offers to Alabama’s offense, the dual-threat passer should add another dimension to the Tide’s attack as defenses will now have to account for the plays he can make with his legs. That could be especially valuable for Alabama given its transitioning offensive line and influx of new playmakers on offense.
Jase McClellan, RB — 149 snaps last season
Jase McClellan barely meets the qualifications for this list. While the freshman back played behind Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr. last season, he made the most of his limited workload, averaging a team-best 10.65 yards on his 23 carries.
McClellan came close to eclipsing the century mark on two occasions last year, recording 99 yards and a touchdown over 10 carries against Kentucky before rushing for 95 yards and a score on six touches against Arkansas. According to Pro Football Focus, the 5-foot-11, 212-pound back gained 180 of his 245 yards after contact. He also showed his ability to break away from defenders, tallying five carries of 15 yards or more.
While his 34 offensive snaps are a small sample size, McClellan earned a better offensive grade (90.9) than Harris (89.7) from PFF. With the Doak Walker Award winner now in the NFL and Robinson’s future undetermined, McClellan could make a serious push for the starting role next year. Regardless, he should get more touches moving forward.
Demouy Kennedy, ILB — 6 snaps last season
Demouy Kennedy came to Alabama as the No. 1 recruit in the state and No. 34 overall player in the 2020 class. However, due to the Tide’s immense depth at inside linebacker, the five-star Mobile native saw just six total snaps all on special teams.
Kennedy came to Alabama undersized at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. The absence of spring camp last year didn’t help as it deprived him of the chance to put on some much-needed weight. If he can manage to bulk up this offseason, he should be in a better position to showcase his talent.
The departures of Dylan Moses and Joshua McMillon should provide more of an opportunity for Kennedy to see the field. While he’s unlikely to pass Christian Harris, Jaylen Moody or Shane Lee for a starting spot, he should be able to push for snaps on the second unit if he progresses well over the next few months.
Javon Baker, WR — 145 snaps last season
Like McClellan, Javon Baker nearly had too many snaps to make this list. He also joins Young as the two listed players best positioned to take on starting roles next season.
Following Jaylen Waddle’s injury in Week 5, Baker became Alabama’s fourth receiver behind starters DeVonta Smith, John Metchie III and Slade Bolden. While the freshman recorded just two receptions for 15 yards, he should be targeted a lot more this upcoming season now that Smith and Waddle have moved on to the NFL.
Listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds Baker has the ability to play both inside and out at receiver. However, given Alabama’s incoming depth at the slot position, he’ll likely feature more on the perimeter.
While no one is expecting Baker to be a like-for-like replacement to Smith, the young receiver is also known for his acrobatic catches. Last season, Alabama head coach Nick Saban spoke highly of Baker calling him a “very physical player” while stating he has a big catch radius and really good hands.
After sharpening those tools during his first year in the program, he could develop into a dangerous weapon for the Tide.
Jamil Burroughs, DL — 65 snaps last season
There was a lot of buzz surrounding Tim Smith this past season, but he wasn’t the only freshman defensive tackle to break onto the scene. Jamil Burroughs also saw some action, recording five tackles over six appearances.
Burroughs helped fill in on the defensive line as LaBryan Ray was hampered by a lingering elbow injury. According to Saban, that opportunity came after offensive linemen had a hard time containing the freshman on the scout team during practice.
Burroughs, 6-foot-3, 326 pounds, played primarily at tackle but could also move to defensive end depending on the formation. While he’s unlikely to break into the starting lineup to begin the season, he should have the opportunity to build on last year’s success.
A total of 19 true freshmen saw the field for Alabama this past season. While Anderson and Moore took on starting roles, some of the Tide’s other newcomers didn’t see as much time at their respective positions.
With that in mind, today we will examine some of the seldom-used freshmen poised for bigger roles next season. For this exercise, we limited the list to true freshmen who played in fewer than 150 total snaps.
Here are five names you shouldn’t forget about heading into the coming season.
Bryce Young, QB — 114 snaps last season
Let’s get the obvious name out of the way at first. After coming to Alabama as the top quarterback in the 2020 class, Bryce Young took a backseat to Mac Jones’ record-breaking year behind center. With Jones now departed for the NFL, Young is the heavy favorite to take on the starting role behind center for the Tide.
Young didn’t get as much action as he probably expected last season. Over nine appearances, he completed 13 of 22 passes (59.1 percent) for 156 yards and one touchdown without an interception.
It’s worth noting that much of Young’s time on the field occurred when Alabama was attempting to run out the clock late during blowouts. With seldom opportunities to impress, the five-star freshman often held on to the ball too long while looking to make big plays. That resulted in seven sacks and five fumbles. If Young is able to secure the starting job this spring, he should be able to play with more maturity and poise behind center.
As for what Young offers to Alabama’s offense, the dual-threat passer should add another dimension to the Tide’s attack as defenses will now have to account for the plays he can make with his legs. That could be especially valuable for Alabama given its transitioning offensive line and influx of new playmakers on offense.
Jase McClellan, RB — 149 snaps last season
Jase McClellan barely meets the qualifications for this list. While the freshman back played behind Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr. last season, he made the most of his limited workload, averaging a team-best 10.65 yards on his 23 carries.
McClellan came close to eclipsing the century mark on two occasions last year, recording 99 yards and a touchdown over 10 carries against Kentucky before rushing for 95 yards and a score on six touches against Arkansas. According to Pro Football Focus, the 5-foot-11, 212-pound back gained 180 of his 245 yards after contact. He also showed his ability to break away from defenders, tallying five carries of 15 yards or more.
While his 34 offensive snaps are a small sample size, McClellan earned a better offensive grade (90.9) than Harris (89.7) from PFF. With the Doak Walker Award winner now in the NFL and Robinson’s future undetermined, McClellan could make a serious push for the starting role next year. Regardless, he should get more touches moving forward.
Demouy Kennedy, ILB — 6 snaps last season
Demouy Kennedy came to Alabama as the No. 1 recruit in the state and No. 34 overall player in the 2020 class. However, due to the Tide’s immense depth at inside linebacker, the five-star Mobile native saw just six total snaps all on special teams.
Kennedy came to Alabama undersized at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. The absence of spring camp last year didn’t help as it deprived him of the chance to put on some much-needed weight. If he can manage to bulk up this offseason, he should be in a better position to showcase his talent.
The departures of Dylan Moses and Joshua McMillon should provide more of an opportunity for Kennedy to see the field. While he’s unlikely to pass Christian Harris, Jaylen Moody or Shane Lee for a starting spot, he should be able to push for snaps on the second unit if he progresses well over the next few months.
Javon Baker, WR — 145 snaps last season
Like McClellan, Javon Baker nearly had too many snaps to make this list. He also joins Young as the two listed players best positioned to take on starting roles next season.
Following Jaylen Waddle’s injury in Week 5, Baker became Alabama’s fourth receiver behind starters DeVonta Smith, John Metchie III and Slade Bolden. While the freshman recorded just two receptions for 15 yards, he should be targeted a lot more this upcoming season now that Smith and Waddle have moved on to the NFL.
Listed at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds Baker has the ability to play both inside and out at receiver. However, given Alabama’s incoming depth at the slot position, he’ll likely feature more on the perimeter.
While no one is expecting Baker to be a like-for-like replacement to Smith, the young receiver is also known for his acrobatic catches. Last season, Alabama head coach Nick Saban spoke highly of Baker calling him a “very physical player” while stating he has a big catch radius and really good hands.
After sharpening those tools during his first year in the program, he could develop into a dangerous weapon for the Tide.
Jamil Burroughs, DL — 65 snaps last season
There was a lot of buzz surrounding Tim Smith this past season, but he wasn’t the only freshman defensive tackle to break onto the scene. Jamil Burroughs also saw some action, recording five tackles over six appearances.
Burroughs helped fill in on the defensive line as LaBryan Ray was hampered by a lingering elbow injury. According to Saban, that opportunity came after offensive linemen had a hard time containing the freshman on the scout team during practice.
Burroughs, 6-foot-3, 326 pounds, played primarily at tackle but could also move to defensive end depending on the formation. While he’s unlikely to break into the starting lineup to begin the season, he should have the opportunity to build on last year’s success.
