Kool-Aid Mckinstry and Terrion Arnold Vs Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.
When the teams take the field, we will watch arguably the Nation’s best cornerback against arguably the nation’s top wide receiver. For LSU, Malik Nabers leads the country in yards with 981, while ranking in the top 10 in catches with 56, and top five in touchdowns with nine. As for Mckinstry, he’s only been targeted 27 times allowing 12 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown. Mckinstry has faced a gauntlet of some of the nation’s top wide receivers having to cover Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, Evan Stewart, Ramel Keyton, and Squirrel White.
The Secondary matchup to watch is Brian Thomas Jr versus Terrion Arnold. While their counterparts have cemented themselves among the nation’s best at the position Arnold and Thomas have flown under the radar. Brian Thomas Jr has 42 catches for 732 yards and 11 touchdowns which is the most touchdowns of any receiver in the country. Terrion Arnold has impressed improving massively since last season and has 40 tackles, a sack, six passes defended, and an interception to show for it.
For Alabama to come out on top in this game they’ll need the best performance of the season from Kool-Aid and Terrion Arnold as Nabers and Thomas Jr may be the nation’s best receiving duo. Against a similar matchup in Texas’ Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy, the Alabama duo allowed the receivers to rack up 8 catches for 153 yards and three touchdowns.