Alabama Football Opponent Preview: Utah State, La-Monroe and Vandy
By Ronald Evans
Getting ready for the 2022 Alabama Football season, this preview covers what will be three of the Crimson Tide’s four least challenging games. Alabama fans can rightly chuckle that none of Utah State, Louisiana-Monroe and Vanderbilt will present any threat to a Crimson Tide victory. The games are important despite being guaranteed wins. Crimson Tide position groups need to polish their performances as units. Less experienced, backup players need game reps.
Alabama Football Game One – Utah State Aggies
Utah State might deserve more credit than Crimson Tide fans are prepared to give. The Aggies finished last season as Mountain West champions with an 11-3 record and ended the season ranked No. 24 in the AP Poll.
Blake Anderson returns his starting quarterback, Logan Bonner, who completed 61.3% of his passes last season for 3,628 yards. Three of his top receivers must be replaced. Two juniors and one senior receiver will need to step up. The Aggies will also look for an immediate impact at wide receiver by Alabama transfer, Xavier Williams.
Summing up Utah State’s offensive chances against the Tide; the Aggies’ veteran offensive line will be frequently overwhelmed by the Alabama pass rush.
Defensively Utah State is not terrible, but the Aggies do not have a secondary to slow the Tide’s passing offense.
The bright spot for Blake Anderson is his transfer additions should more than make up for his roster losses, especially on defense.
The Aggies can contend for the Mountain West again, but Sept. 3 will be a long night in Tuscaloosa.