Surprise breakout players to watch for Alabama Football in week one

If Alabama takes care of enterprise as anticipated in week one in opposition to Western Kentucky, the Tide ought to be capable of rotate lots of gamers in. 

Because the Kalen DeBoer period kicks off, it is going to be fascinating to see if Alabama can get deep into its depth chart. With numerous new faces on the roster together with freshmen and transfers, this is able to be the fan base’s first alternative to see many of those guys in dwell motion. 

Assuming Alabama can construct sufficient of a cushion to get into its 2s and 3s on the depth chart, listed below are two gamers particularly I will likely be keeping track of. 

When the Crimson Tide has the ball, true freshman large receiver Caleb Odom will likely be onerous to overlook. At 6’5”, the transformed tight finish brings a novel component to Bama’s receiver room. Odom may even get some first workforce snaps in opposition to WKU, however this place room is deep and he’ll doubtless get most of his reps with the second group. 

Odom has confirmed capabilities as a jump-ball menace and may very well be a crimson zone goal for the Tide. Search for the Bama quarterbacks to look his approach after they get close to the aim line. 

On the opposite facet of the ball, one other super-athletic true freshman may have my eye in linebacker Justin Okoronkwo. A product of Germany, Okoronkwo has been spectacular all through the whole offseason. Although he needed to acclimate to the American sport and tradition, he has tailored shortly and proven immense potential.

Coach Nick Saban raved that he has 5-star skills, and Okoronkwo has continued to make an impression on Kane Wommack and the brand new employees. He was very energetic in Alabama’s A-Day sport, tallying a game-high 11 tackles. 

With redshirt sophomore linebacker Jeremiah Alexander battling an damage and presumably inactive in opposition to WKU, Okoronkwo might even be a second-team participant behind Deontae Lawson, Jihaad Campbell, and Justin Jefferson.

Whereas he’s considered by some as the way forward for Alabama’s linebacker room, Okoronkwo may make an influence in his very first sport.