Alabama Football: Nine guys who must deliver for Texas

• Sorrell and Overshown will be greatly helped if the Texas defense can push the Tide pocket from the inside. The best hope for Texas to do so, is defensive lineman, Moro Ojomo. If Bryce Young has a vulnerability, it comes from pressure up the middle, making it hard for him to see downfield. In such a situation he tends to drop back so deep, the Tide’s tackles can struggle to hold off edge pressure. The good news for Alabama football fans is the 2022 pair of offensive tackles appear more capable of performing in that situation.
• At defensive back, Ohio State transfer Ryan Watts is expected to immediately improve the Texas secondary. Watts is a big corner at 6’3″ and 210 pounds, giving him a size advantage over some of the Crimson Tide receivers.
• The Texas tackles, true freshman, Kelvin Banks and redshirt senior, Christian Jones have the daunting task of slowing the Crimson Tide’s edge pressure. Note, the operative word is ‘slowing’, rather than stopping. It will be interesting to see if Texas frequently gives one or both of them blocking help. A tell that Ewers may be trying a long passing route will be when a tight end lines up next to either one of the tackles. While Banks may already be a good player with potential for greatness, he could have a long Saturday trying to cope with Will Anderson Jr., Chris Braswell or Dallas Turner.

Depth will also be a factor for the Longhorns. Texas has more of it than last season, but not near the depth held by the Crimson Tide.