Alabama Football: What Miami participation report tells us

Fifty-nine Alabama Football players participated in the season-opener against the Miami Hurricanes. Although one game can offer only a clue, rather than a trend, a close look at who played, who didn’t, and the distribution of snaps, provides some interesting insights.

Eight freshmen from the 2021 signing class saw game action against Miami. Only two of them got double-digit snaps, with 18 going to JoJo Earle and 10 to Ja’Corey Brooks. The others were Dallas Turner (9 snaps), Agiye Hall (7), J.C. Latham and Kool-Aid McKinstry (4 each), Deontae Lawson (3) and Kendrick Blackshire with one snap.

Alabama Football Participation by Position Groups

• Quarterback – Bryce Young played all but 10 snaps. Paul Tyson was in for seven snaps and Jalen Milroe for three.
• Running Back (4) – Brian Robinson Jr. (34 snaps), Jase McLellan (24), Trey Sanders (11) and Roydell Williams (9)
• Wide Receiver (9) – John Metchie III (47 snaps). Jameson Williams (45), Slade Bolden (29), Traeshon Holden (24), Javon Baker (21), JoJo Earle (18), Ja’Corey Brooks (10), Agiye Hall (7) and Thaiu Jones-Bell (4)
• Tight End (4) – Cameron Latu (50 snaps), Kendall Randolph (21), Jahleel Billingsley (19) and Major Tennison (15)
• Offensive Line (10) – Evan Neal, Darrian Dalcourt and Javion Cohen (74 snaps each), Chris Owens and Emil Ekiyor Jr. (73 each), J.C. Latham (4), Tommy Brown (4), Amari Kight (3), Pierce Quick (3) and Seth McLaughlin (3)

Note: Some of Kendall Randolph’s snaps may have been as an offensive lineman.

• Secondary  (8) – Malachi Moore and Jordan Battle (66 snaps each), Jalyn Armour-Davis (62), Josh Jobe (61), Brian Branch (52), Daniel Wright (26), Marcus Banks (5), and Kool-Aid McKinstry (4)
• Linebackers (10) – Christian Harris (62), Henry To’o To’o (56), William Anderson Jr. (53), Drew Sanders (38), Chris Braswell (22), Chris Allen (10), Dallas Turner (9), Jaylen Moody (9), Deontae Lawson (3) and Kendrick Blackshire (1)
• Defensive Line (8) -Justin Eboigbe (31 snaps), Phidarian Mathis (30), Byron Young (26), D.J. Dale (20), Stephon Wynn Jr. (6), Tim Smith and Jah-Marian Latham (3), Jamil Burroughs (2)

Alabama Football – Did not participate partial list

• DeMarcco Hellams (injury)
• LaBryan Ray (injury)
• Khyree Jackson – Junior DB
• Kristian Story – Sophomore DB
• Terrion Arnold – Freshman DB
• Damon Payne – Freshman DL
• Braylen Ingraham – Redshirt Sophomore DL (may be injured)
• Monkell Goodwin – Freshman DL
• Keanu Koht – Freshman LB
• King Mwikuta – Junior LB
• Jackson Bratton Sophomore LB
• Quandarrius Robinson – Sophmore LB (suspended)
• Shane Lee – Junior LB (may be injured)
• Demouy Kennedy – Sophomore LB
• Damieon George Jr. – Sophomore OL (may be injured)
• Camar Wheaton – Freshman RB
• Robbie Ouzts – Freshman TE
• Christian Leary – Freshman WR

Interesting Points from Participation Report

• With game two being an FCS opponent, many more Tide players are expected to play. Any on the ‘did not participate’ list, who do not play against Mercer, are either far down the depth charts or dealing with injuries.
• Trey Sanders made the most of his limited action. His snaps will surely go up, meaning others will go down.
• Breaking into the top six, most active wideouts will be a challenge for the rest of the position group.
• Even after Hellams returns, McKinstry’s snaps will likely go up during the season. Despite doing well in fall camp, absent future injuries, Kristian Story, Khyree Jackson and Terrion Arnold may not see much action.
• With Chris Allen out, snaps for Drew Sanders, Chris Braswell and Dallas Turner will increase.
• Though the defensive line went eight deep, the snaps were dominated by just four players. That could be a sign of the Crimson Tide’s response to CFB’s offensive trends. The Tide’s ‘rabbits’ packages are less dependent on defensive linemen.
• Alabama football fans are concerned Paul Tyson (or Jalen Milroe) need more work to prepare for a possible Bryce Young injury. In the short term, the Mercer game will provide it.

Two notes: Snap counts are unofficial and some of the players list as ‘might be injured’ missed time late in fall camp from being banged up. They may no longer be injured, but just behind in preparation.