The make-or-break scrimmage for Alabama football players is today. Not that it will cement anything for the 2022 season. All player roles must be won and held in every week of every season.
But the last scrimmage of fall camp always clarifies and often solidifies most starting roles. The best thing about the second scrimmage for Alabama football fans is what can be learned. There will be many invited eyeballs. Information will be carefully shared but will be available through various sources.
Every Alabama Crimson Tide fan has their special areas of interest. Below are the eight areas I most hope to learn more about.
Alabama Football Scrimmage Questions
- What is the injury status of Jordan Battle, Eli Ricks and Khyree Jackson? Battle is not expected to participate and what player fills his role temporarily will be interesting. The most likely options are Brian Branch, Malachi Moore and Kristian Story.
- There appears to be a better chance of Jackson taking part on Saturday than there is for Ricks. Back injury recoveries are unpredictable and rushing him back could be a mistake. Whatever the cornerback lineup in the scrimmage, can Terrion Arnold establish himself as a starter?
- Will Darrian Dalcourt emerge as the clear No. 1 at center, or will the competition between him and Seth McLaughlin continue for another week or two?
- There is a similar situation at left guard. Most Alabama fans believe Javion Cohen will return to his starting role. Kendall Randolph got the most snaps in the first scrimmage and at this point, it is hard to know which one will start against Utah State.
- Despite a highly talented, younger group behind him, can Jaylen Moody lock down an early season starting position at Will linebacker? Moody (along with Randolph and for a different reason, Cohen) are to be commended for ‘sticking’ with the Tide when other paths would have been easier to follow.
- Who are the top three wide receivers, along with No. 4 and No. 5? Will dropped passes (mostly Ja’Corey Brooks) be a problem again in scrimmage two? Bryce Young needs to build chemistry with more than one or two Crimson Tide wideouts. For freshman, Kobe Prentice to break into the top five, he needs another good scrimmage.
- Who will Nick Saban trust at punt returner with Jojo Earle out? At kick returner, does Saban go with perhaps the most talented returner in Jahmyr Gibbs or choose a potentially lesser used running back?
- There have been rumors punter James Burnip is much-improved over last season. Alabama fans would love for that to be confirmed on Saturday.
Check-in with Bama Hammer Saturday night and Sunday as we pass along post-scrimmage information and analysis.