Alabama Football: Seven bold predictions for the 2021 season
By Ronald Evans
Alabama Football Bold Prediction No. 3
Freshman wide receiver, JoJo Earle will be the next record-setting Crimson Tide punt returner. The Texas freshman has the skills to follow Jaylen Waddle in the line of great Crimson Tide punters. Like Waddle, and Javier Arenas and David Palmer in past years, Earle is electric. He will also be a regular contributor, rotating in at slot receiver. After he returns a couple of 2021 punts for touchdowns, teams may start kicking away from him. Two punt return touchdowns will be enough to add his name to the Alabama Football Record Book. Two would tie Earle with Harry Gilmer, Freddie Milons, Christion Jones and Eddie Jackson for singe-season records.
Alabama Football Bold Prediction No. 4
The most receptions by a tight end for the season will be made by redshirt junior, Cameron Latu. The former 4-Star defender in the 2018 class has made the complete transition to an offensive weapon. Jahleel Billingsley is the Crimson Tide tight end that may make more explosive plays. Latu will make a bigger impact as a possession receiver that fits perfectly in Bill O’Brien’s schemes. He is an outstanding athlete with great hands.
Alabama Football Bold Prediction No. 5
Will Anderson Jr. will enter the Crimson Tide record book with one or more games having seven or more quarterback hurries (pressures). As a freshman, Anderson did not record a sack until the eighth game. He finished strong with seven for the season.
The sophomore will get plenty of sacks in 2021, but Nick Saban places as much value on affecting a quarterback with pressure. In limited news from fall camp scrimmages, it was said Anderson has been almost unstoppable. Even Evan Neal has struggled to contain the explosive Crimson Tide linebacker.
Opponents trying to slow Anderson with double-teams may have some success. That strategy will be negated by the pressure Chris Allen will bring from the side opposite of Anderson. The pair’s combined stats will set Alabama football records, eclipsing any past pair of outside linebackers in Crimson Tide history.