Alabama Football: 2020 All ‘wouldn’t it be great’ Team
By Ronald Evans
Wouldn’t it be great if these 10 Alabama football players finished with a bang?
Alabama football players are like the rest of us in at least one way. We all must adjust to life sometimes being unfair. Or we have to delay more immediate gratifications for a longer-term reward.
Nick Saban sets depth charts based on performance. The best players play first and most. It should not be any other way.
Still, ‘wouldn’t it be great’ if the 10 guys listed below finished their Alabama football careers in grand style. For the record, players with eligibility after the 2020 season are not included in the list. The 10 guys stuck with the Alabama Crimson Tide when sticking has ceased to be the norm.
If they remain healthy, five or six of the players should have outstanding seasons. The other four or five must fight for meaningful snaps. It would be great if they all have productive final seasons.
Every Crimson Tide fan expects Najee Harris, Alex Leatherwood, Devonta Smith to have All-American seasons. On the offensive line, Landon Dickerson and Deonte Brown should also be in consideration for post-season honors. Harris, Leatherwood, Smitty and Dickerson could have made a move to the NFL. All would have been drafted.
Deonte Brown is likely to start in 2020. He is a ferocious run blocker. The only thing ever holding Deonte Brown back was Deonte – as in his weight. Alabama football insiders claim Brown was north of 380 pounds when he arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2016. He made eight starts last season and is listed at 338 pounds. Deonte could be an All-EC player in 2020.
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Reviewing the five with less secure paths to final season success begins with Brian Robinson. B-Rob had no option of NFL early-entry, other than as a free agent. The transfer portal would have been an easy option. Many schools would consider him their feature back. But he chose to stay home, not just his college home, his real home, in Tuscaloosa. No player will work harder in 2020 than Brian. It would be great to see him have a big year.
Miller Forristall is another player for whom NFL early-entry made no sense. Other than his freshman season in 2016, Forristall has had an injury-plagued Tide career. It would be great to see him healthy and producing for the Crimson Tide for a full, 2020 season.
Chris Owens is highly respected by the coaching staff and his offensive line peers. He is another guy who could have moved on for more playing time. Over four Crimson Tide seasons, he has just four starts.
Josh McMillon is a college football rarity. The 2020 season will be his sixth. Tabbed to start at inside linebacker opposite Dylan Moses last season – an injury denied that opportunity. Other than special teams play, Josh has little game experience. Going into season six in Tuscaloosa, he has only two seasons of playing experience. He did not play a down his first two seasons. He deserves a payoff for sticking when most others would have bailed.
Another guy to be commended for sticking is Ben Davis. The son of an Alabama football legend and former 5-star recruit has not matched expectations. There has been some chatter he will get meaningful snaps at outside linebacker in 2020. That too would be great.
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Another reason to root for Ben Davis is patience. Many players with legacy fathers might have been riled, being stuck down the depth chart. Not a peep has been heard from Ben and Wayne.