Alabama entered Week 1 without Jam Miller and Jaeden Roberts on offense and missing preseason second-team All-American defensive lineman Tim Keenan III. Those losses have had a major impact on the Crimson Tide’s Week 1 performance, falling behind Florida State, and the injury issues have continued to add up.
In the fourth quarter, as Alabama attempts to come back against the Seminoles, sixth-year senior defensive lineman Jah-Marien Latham had to be helped off the field after sustaining an injury. Latham was one of defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s most important replacements for Keenan, and his absence leaves the Tide very thin in the trenches.
After Latham left the field, Florida State continued to drive down the field and extended its lead to 14 points with a rushing touchdown from former Alabama running back Roydell Williams.
Last season, Latham played 441 defensive snaps across 13 games. Most of those snaps, 308 to be exact, came on the edge, but the near 300-pound defensive lineman displayed the versatility to slide inside, and was forced to play there with the loss of Keenan. Keenan's absence was felt massively in Week 1 with Florida State running the ball with ease.
Alabama had no answers for the FSU attack led by Thomas Castellanos, a dual-threat quarterback, and run-heavy offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. The Seminoles rushed for over 200 yards and four touchdowns at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday.
Latest Jah-Marien Latham injury update
Latham was unable to put weight on his left leg and went straight to the injury tent on the Alabama sideline after his fourth-quarter injury.