Alabama Football: Remember the names of these young Crimson Tide players

Five young Alabama football players expected to become well-known this fall.

For Alabama football players, talent is recognized early. Usually, it happens long before they arrive in Tuscaloosa. They must prove themselves in practice, scrimmage and game action, but youth is not an impediment to playing time.

Every season, first and second-year players stand out so much, they leapfrog older teammates on the Alabama football roster.

What guys will be doing the ‘leaping’ this season? Bryce Young and Will Anderson are not included in this post because either having key roles this fall will surprise no one. Instead, we focus on five other young Crimson Tide players. Three are true freshmen and two are sophomores.

The Alabama football staff must rebuild the Crimson Tide secondary. Not surprisingly, there are opportunities for young players. Three, from our list of five, stand out. The first is Jordan Battle. Jordan Battle played in every game last fall. He started four of them at safety. He made 30 tackles, including a sack and had an interception and a recovered fumble. Physically imposing, he was no typical freshman, not needing a year to add bulk and strength. Early in fall camp, the leaders at safety are Daniel Wright and Battle.

Battle will have plenty of competition at safety from sophomore DeMarcco Hellams and true freshman, Brian Branch. DeMarcco Hellams, like Battle, is physically impressive. Hellams saw action in all 13, 2019 games, mostly on special teams. He was a star on offense and defense at  DeMatha Catholic High School. Battle and Wright will need strong performances to hold off Hellams from a starting role.

Already in summer and fall camps, Brian Branch has revealed himself as a special player. Loaded with athletic ability, Branch is expected to battle Jaylin Armour-Davis and Ronald Williams at the Star position. The Tide will be solid at Star with whoever wins that competition.

On the offensive side, Javon Baker has done so well in summer mini-camp and early, fall camp, he might become the Tide’s No. 3 wide receiver. Baker is big, fast and has great hands. If either John Metchie or Slade Bolden keeps Baker out of starting three-wide sets, he should still see plenty of action. Unless he shows a blocking deficiency, Baker is too good to keep off the field.

The fifth guy chosen for this post may surprise some Alabama football fans. Running back, Roydell Williams is reportedly showing why he should the fourth guy in the Tide’s rotation. Roydell Williams never received the recruiting hype of Trey Sanders or Jase McClellan. But in a deep, deep roster of Alabama football running backs, look for Roydell to be a factor this fall.

Will more young players surprise? The biggest surprise would be if more don’t.