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Alabama Football: 7 True Freshmen and 2 JUCO’s Likely To Play in 2017

By Ronald Evans

Oct 1, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide cheerleaders fly the flags after their team scored against the Kentucky Wildcats at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide defeated Kentucky 34-6. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide cheerleaders fly the flags after their team scored against the Kentucky Wildcats at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Tide defeated Kentucky 34-6. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 12, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide cheerleaders celebrate after scoring a touchdown against Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Tide defeated the Bulldogs 51-3. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide cheerleaders celebrate after scoring a touchdown against Mississippi State Bulldogs at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Tide defeated the Bulldogs 51-3. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

Alabama Football has 7 True Freshmen and 2 JUCO’s likely to play in 2017. As many as 6 may become starters.

Alabama Football has vacant starter positions on the 2017 squad. Key positions on the offensive line, the defensive line and in the secondary are open to competition. Two and perhaps three key special teams positions must be filled as well.

The Alabama Football machine is fueled by competition. Every rep, every drill, every play provides a challenge, move up in the positional pecking order or slide down. Every minute in a game must be repeatedly earned in preparation. No player is guaranteed anything beyond the opportunity to compete with a roster filled with talent and determination.

There will not be a depth chart of any value until Monday of FSU game-week. Until then, we fans will scrutinize any morsel of information. A few days ago we took a look at the 7 redshirt freshmen who sat out 2016. You can read it here: https://bamahammer.com/2017/02/06/alabama-football-seven-freshmen-redshirts-2016/

Let’s look now at 7 true freshmen and 2 JUCO transfers. In that group of 9 players, as many as six could be new starters in 2017.

The first two, true freshmen almost assured to start are Long Snapper Thomas Fletcher and Kicker, Joseph Bulovas. Cole Mazza and Adam Griffith must be replaced and Fletcher and Bulovas are expected to seize their chance to start.

Admittedly, Long Snapper videos, are a mite dry but this video of big-legged joseph Bulovas will excite Tide fans:

For those who somehow missed the abundance of details generated about these players on Signing Day: Fletcher, who is from Texas, before attending the IMG Academy, is an early enrollee. Bulovas, from Mandeville, LA was the No. 1 Rated Kicker coming out of high school. Bulovas is blue-shirting, which allows him to train as a walk-on until the first day of fall classes. After then he will play in 2017, on a 2018 scholarship.

Fletcher, to a to-be-determined holder, for the foot of Bulovas is likely to be a season-long Tide connection.

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