Successful Senior Day and a look into the future for Alabama Football

Future looks bright for Alabama Football

In addition to Downs, who has been a standout all season, Bama had several other young players contribute against UT-Chattanooga. Young quarterbacks Ty Simpson and Dylan Lonergan showed lots of potential in their second half reps, distributing the ball to freshmen receivers Jalen Hale and Cole Adams, redshirt freshman tight end Danny Lewis Jr., and others.

True freshman running backs Justice Haynes and Richard Young saw plenty of reps, both scoring their first career touchdowns.

If anything, the youngsters and reserves on the defensive side of the ball were even more impressive. Freshman defensive lineman Jordan Renaud and redshirt sophomore edge Keanu Koht were both disruptive in their snaps, and redshirt freshman inside linebacker Shawn Murphy looked like a future star.

Lastly, Alabama Football was able to display depth at the safety position. With Jaylen Key missing another game with an injury, junior Devonta Smith returned from an injury of his own to get his first extended action of the season. Smith looked well-adjusted to the speed of the game and recorded four tackles.

Senior Kristian Story notched his first career interception in the game, and did not participate in the Senior Day festivities. Should he return next year, there will be a heated position battle between the two veterans.

All reports suggest that Smith had all but won the job in fall camp this season before suffering an injury. Although we have yet to see him against high-level competition, he looked a little more fluid in pass coverage than the physical Story. With guys like Jake Pope, Bray Hubbard, and Tony Mitchell also in the room, Bama appears to be set at safety for years to come.

This season has flown by, but Iron Bowl week is here and Coach Saban has the Tide rolling once again.