Alabama A-Day spring game recap
The boys are just fine. New faces show up in Alabama’s spring game and put fans at ease.
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Photo: Gary Cosby, USA TODAY Sports
Spring football games are hard events to seriously gauge. They tend to be more celebration, pomp and circumstance than season preview, yet they are a lot of fun for fans and they do give the rabid fan a bit more than a casual glance into the upcoming football season.
For this year’s Alabama spring game, called “A-Day,” 47,000 fans filled Bryant-Denny Stadium on a glorious spring day and were able to witness a brief glance into the future of the defending national champions. With a bevy of new coaches on staff and a bulk of heroes from the 2020 title team moving on to the NFL, one would expect to see a squad that was entirely different than last year’s version. Despite missing several key cogs of the ‘20 title team, including those that graduated and starting wide receiver John Metchie, running back Brian Robinson, and linebackers Will Anderson and Christian Harris who are recovering from injuries, the scrimmage went just fine. Few people know, or care, that the White team beat the Crimson 13-10. There were a few scores, many offensive drives stalled due to a simple playbook, and for old time’s sake, there were actually a few missed field goals. However, much looked the same as the players played hard, Coach Saban, who was miked throughout the scrimmage, seemed as intense and focused as ever, and fans witnessed several impressive performances that did little to raise doubts about the potential of the 2021 Crimson Tide.
All eyes were on the quarterback position, as last year’s starter Mac “Daddy” Jones will be moving on to the pro ranks and former 5-star sophomore stud Bryce Young is the slated starter. Young did not disappoint, as he was named game MVP after completing 25 of 44 passes for 333 yards and one touchdown, a nice 59 yarder to junior tight end Cameron Latu (who has drawn rave reviews for his work this spring) to lead the White team. Young showed command of the offense, as he was calm and cool in the pocket, delivered some exceptional passes downfield, and showed smooth mobility. Around Bama circles, people are calling Young a right-handed Tua...not a bad comparison to have. Back-up quarterbacks Paul Tyson and Braxton Barker both looked fine, but it appears clear that this will be Young’s team in the fall.
Led by Metchie, Slade Bolden and Jaheel Billingsley, the Tide has a loaded wide receiver room, and freshman early-enrollee Agiye Hall will add to it as he had a terrific A-Day, showing flashes of a combination of DeVonta Smith and Julio Jones by hauling in 4 passes for 72 yards, including a nifty 37-yard catch while being double-teamed from third-string quarterback Braxton Barker. Saban has called the 6-3, 175-pound receiver talented and explosive, and he should be a factor on the field in September. Sophomore Traeshon Holden showed flashes as well, catching 9 passes for 89 yards.
Similar to the receivers, the running back room is loaded. Sophomores Rodell Williams, Jace McClellan, and Keilan Robinson all ran the ball well on Saturday. Sophomore back Trey Sanders did not play, as he is still recovering from an injury that kept him out of the majority of last season. The offensive lines for both squads looked solid, and fans got a glimpse of the top recruit in the 2021 recruiting class, guard Tommy Brockermeyer, as the early-enrollee earned a few reps.
Defensively, the overall unit looked just fine, and linebackers Chris Braswell and Jaylen Moody stood out, with Moody returning a fumble for the Crimson’s lone score. Look out for freshman corner Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry, who was the top-rated player from Alabama and the top cornerback in the nation last year, contributing to a loaded secondary.
If there was a downer, junior Will Reichard, who was a perfect 14 for 14 on field goals last year, hit on only 2 of 5 kicks on Saturday. Before the panic button is hit, Reichard hit on all 5 attempts in a scrimmage a week before A-Day.
Saban has called the spring extremely productive, and it was good to see the Crimson and White play in front of more fans than they ever did last fall. Bama fans have to be encouraged with the play of Young and some of the young players that were given the chance to shine during A-Day.
With the spring now in the rearview mirror, the countdown to the opener in Atlanta against the Miami Hurricanes on September 4th has officially begun!