Alabama Football: Predictions for Crimson Tide in 2021
By Dakota Cox
What can Alabama football expect in 2021?
We can finally put the dumpster fire that was 2020 in the rear-view mirror. While this was a devastating year for so many people, Alabama football found success. They went 12-0 in games played in 2020, and they saw four players drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Both Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts have won games as NFL starting quarterbacks, and the Tide are about to play in the College Football Playoff once again.
With all of this success in 2020, what can we expect from the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2021? Here are a few predictions.
The 2021 recruiting class will rival 2017’s
2017 might be Alabama’s greatest recruiting class ever. The Tide recruited three of the best receivers of all time, three Heisman finalists and Najee Harris. They also landed stars like Alex Leatherwood, Jedrick Wills and Dylan Moses. However, this 2021 class will compete with it.
Alabama has landed the best offensive line class ever with stars at every position. With multiple members of the 2020 line presumably heading to the NFL, there will be room for freshmen to start. Alabama also added GQ McKinstry and plenty of stars in the receiving corps. They will likely play early in their careers.
5 Tide players will be drafted in the first round
Alabama football is used to having a mass exodus of talent, and the same will occur in 2021. Expect Jaylen Waddle, Mac Jones, Najee Harris, Alex Leatherwood, Patrick Surtain and DeVonta Smith to all head to the NFL Draft. Out of those six stars, at least five of them will be drafted in the first round. If Najee Harris slides in, it will make six. He should be the best running back in the class, but there is always a debate about whether or not to draft running backs in the first round.
Bryce Young will be the next Alabama star
Bryce Young has been patiently waiting behind Mac Jones all season. Next year, it will be his time to shine. While Young hasn’t done much as a freshman, he hasn’t been put in a position to succeed. With Mac Jones likely heading for the NFL Draft, Young will get a full season to prepare as the starter. When he takes over, he will be the face of Alabama football.
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If these predictions come true, Alabama might be in place for yet another successful year.