Alabama football is without another key starter
The injury bug has hurt Alabama football all year. The Tide lost Chris Allen in the first game of the season. The Tide have also seen injuries to the defensive backfield and the offensive line. They only have two scholarship running backs available, and John Metchie went down with an ACL tear in the SEC Championship. Needless to say, Saban faced his biggest challenge this year.
After all this, the news got worse for Alabama football. Josh Jobe, a senior cornerback and two-year starter for the Crimson Tide, will miss the postseason with an injury.
The secondary has been a weakness all year for the Tide. However, they have stepped up in big moments against Auburn and Georgia. The corners are peaking at the right time, but they are now without the most experienced player on the depth chart.
So, who will replace Jobe as a starting outside corner? Alabama could go a few ways, but Kool-Aid McKinstry is the easy choice. He’s seen more reps as the season has progressed. While his ability to grasp the scheme still needs work, he has the talent to lock down a receiver by himself. He’s a great man corner with traits that will develop well.
Alabama may also turn to Khyree Jackson. When both starting corners were out earlier this year, Jackson saw more snaps. He also saw some reps in the SEC Championship, and he played relatively well.
Jobe wasn’t perfect, but his experience was valuable for a young team. Alabama football will have to see how they can replace him with a few weeks to go until the College Football Playoff. The Tide will start against the Cincinnati Bearcats before potentially playing in the national championship. Either way, Jobe won’t return for the year.
The injuries are stacking up, but the depth of the Tide is proving to be crucial this postseason. We’ll see how they respond to the adversity.