As the 2025 college football season begins, prospects are looking up for Alabama Football. A recent prediction by CBS Sports' Chip Patterson has the Alabama Crimson Tide winning the SEC Championship Game. Josh Pate predicted Alabama would not only win the SEC Championship Game, but the National Championship as well.
Throughout the offseason, numerous sources have rated the Crimson Tide highly based on a roster deep with talent. With only a few positions having question marks, Alabama is also deep with game-changing potential.
College football fans love game-changing sizzle; explosive performances that dominate social media. An 'Old School' perspective is that sizzle is great, but by itself, not enough. From that viewpoint, Alabama Football needs as many or more 'glue' guys than flashy performers.
An Alabama Football Glue Guy
The Alabama Crimson Tide has many glue guys who consistently get their jobs done. Fans sometimes overlook their essential work. A good example is Cole Adams. Adams has the tools to make splash plays, but he consistently brings more.
Alabama football fans are abuzz about the Crimson Tide's wide receiver position group. Most attention is focused on expected starters Ryan Williams, Germire Bernard, and Isaiah Horton. Others predicted as probable impact players are Rico Scott, Jalen Hale, Jaylen Mbakwe, and freshmen Lotzeir Brooks and Derek Meadows. Then there is the smallest wideout, who stands out in different ways.
Alabama Football OC, Ryan Grubb, recently praised Cole Adams, "Cole is a really savvy route runner. He knows how to get in and out of breaks. He understands how to play off the leverage of defenders, read coverages. In the last week and a half, has probably made more contested catches than anybody on the team. That’s one of the things I don’t think you’d necessarily think from a guy that’s a little bit smaller in stature, but he’s very competitive when the football’s in the air."
Other comments about Adams are that he always knows where to be during plays. Despite his size, he is a dependable blocker. He is also a reliable punt returner and capable kick returner.
As a freshman in 2023, Adams had two receptions for 11 yards. Last season his output increased to six catches for 94 yards. Due to injury as a redshirt freshman, Adams played in only seven 2024 games. His Alabama football career is only nine games. His impact should increase in 2025. He may excel as a punt returner and as a possession receiver, but most of all he will likely be one of the guys that holds things together - a glue guy.