Alabama Football: What happens when Eyabi Anoma returns or doesn’t

Immensely talented outside linebacker, Eyabi Anoma is not currently participating in Alabama football activity. What is next?

Several hours ago, (Friday morning) Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News broke the story Alabama football player, Eyabi Anoma is not enrolled in school. A dozen or more stories followed, none saying anything more than what Cecil originally reported.

The lack of new information has not kept numerous presumptions to be presented on Twitter and discussed on message boards. We can neither confirm nor discredit any of the presumptions.

For those who have not seen the chatter; a quick summary of claims.

• Eyabi was suspended by Nick Saban weeks ago.
• There is turmoil in his family – perhaps illness with his mother – causing him to want to be closer to home.
• Mike Locksley is encouraging him to transfer to Maryland.
• Anoma is dissatisfied with his backup role for the coming season.
• His lack of attention to daily detail has him stuck below the depth chart, two-deep.

No source has said Eyabi has put his name in the transfer portal.

There is plenty of time for Anoma to enroll in fall classes in Tuscaloosa. There is some question that fall enrollment might not be enough to make him eligible to participate in fall camp.

Alabama football fans were hoping Eyabi would have a key pass-rushing role this fall. He has the athletic potential to excel at the task. There were some spring, insider reports saying during scrimmages, Anoma dominated Tide offensive linemen.

Losing Eyabi would diminish the talent level of the outside linebacking group considerably. However, not properly channeled, Anoma’s athletic gifts do not guarantee productivity.

Even without Eyabi, the Tide’s outside linebacking group has an abundance of talent. Seniors Anfernee Jennings and Terrell Lewis are the 2019 leaders. The Alabama football staff is bullish on sophomore Chris Allen. Behind those three are redshirt freshman, Jarez Parks, true freshmen Kevin Harris and King Mwikuta, along with redshirt junior Ben Davis.

Though the ILB group is not deep, If necessary, one of the group of Christian Harris, Ale Kaho and Markail Benton could move to OLB. Incoming freshman, defensive end, Braylen Ingraham could also be tried at OLB.

We don’t know enough to suggest what the future holds for Eyabi and being a member of the Alabama football team. We certainly don’t presume to know what Eyabi or Nick Saban should do.

We do know, sometimes a subtraction can be an addition for teams. No player’s talent is enough to overcome distractions to the team caused by his actions. We hope Eyabi Anoma and Alabama football are not at that crossroads.