Bama opens 2022 season against Mountain West champ
And the season is finally here…place collective sigh of relief, and utter joy, here.
By: Dave in Tuscaloosa
Photo via Athlonsports
After an interesting off season of coaching changes, NIL controversy, and impactful conference realignment, we can finally turn our full attention to the field. Pre-season number one Alabama opens its campaign to regain the national championship lost to Georgia last January on Saturday at Bryant-Denney with an interesting non-conference tilt against Utah State. The Aggies are the defending Mountain West champions and are coming off an impressive 11-3 season in 2021 that saw them defeat Oregon State 24-13 in the LA Bowl.
Utah State is led by 3rd year head coach Blake Anderson. He has some impressive weapons, especially on the offensive side of the football, where 7 starters return. Senior quarterback Logan Bonner, who stands 6’1’’ and weighs 230 pounds, is coming off a monster ‘21 campaign where he passed for 3,622 yards and connected on 36 touchdowns. Overall, the unit ranked 22nd in the nation, amassing an average of 445 yards and 32.6 points per game.
The Aggies need to replace their top three receivers from a year ago, yet they do return a line with four starters as well as senior running back Calvin Tyler, who gained 919 yards and scored 7 touchdowns last season. Senior placekicker Connor Coles returns after hitting on 20 of 29 field goal attempts. Defensively, the Aggies return 5 starters from a unit that ranked 77th nationally, yielding an average of 392.7 yards and 24.4 points per game. The strength of the defense lies in their line, who helped the Aggies lead the MW with 113 tackles for loss. Overall, the Aggies are an experienced squad who added several playmakers in the offseason through the transfer portal, most notably wide receivers Brian Cobbs (Maryland) and Xavier Williams (Alabama) as well as safety Gurvan Hall (Miami).
The defending SEC champion Crimson Tide are coming off of a 13-2 campaign and return 12 starters from their national runner-up 2021 campaign, and all signs are pointing towards a huge year in ‘22. Last season, the Tide averaged 39 points and 488 yards per game, good enough to finish as the 7th most prolific unit in the country. Leading the way on offense is Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, who passed for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns, both single-season Alabama records. A rebuilt offensive line looks to improve upon an inconsistent ‘21 season and looks to pave the way for a deep and talented backfield led by juniors Trey Sanders, Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, and Georgia Tech transfer Jahmyr Gibbs, who has drawn rave reviews during fall camp.
Senior tight end Cameron Latu (8 touchdowns) is poised for a big season and a deep, yet young, wide receiver room will look to continue the Tide’s tradition of exceptional receivers. Look for transfers Jermaine Burton (Georgia) and Tyler Harrell (Louisville) to have big seasons along with returning lettermen Ja’Corey Brooks and Traeshon Holden. Keep an eye on freshman Aaron Anderson, who has a chance to break into the lineup early. Senior placekicker Will Reichard returns and is dependable and steady, hitting on 40 of 49 field goals in his career. Defensively, the ‘21 unit was inconsistent but still gave up only 304 yards and 20 points per game, finishing as the 7th best unit in the nation. Leading the way are dominant linebackers Will Anderson, Dallas Turner, and Henry To’o To’o. Defensive lineman DJ Dale, Byron Young, and Justin Eboigbe are solid. The biggest improvement on the Tide D should come from the secondary, as returners Jordan Battle, DeMarco Hellams, and Kool-Aid McKinstry join impact transfer Eli Ricks (LSU) to form one of the most dominating secondaries in the country.
Utah State opened last Saturday with a 31-20 victory over UConn and was led by Bonner (281 yards passing, 3 TD’s), Tyler (161 yards rushing), and Cobbs (78 yards receiving and 1 TD). Needless to say, the Huskies are not the Tide. Look for Utah State to put up a fight early, maybe even extending the game into the second quarter. Eventually, Bama’s veterans on both sides of the ball will settle in while the new additions find their footing. By the second half, the Tide’s depth should prove too much for the Aggies and Bama fans should get their first glimpse of players that have populated the last two exceptional recruiting classes, including highly touted freshman Jeremiah Alexander (Edge), Emmanuel Henderson (RB), Jihaad Campbell (DL), Isaiah Bond (WR) and we may get a look at freshman five-star quarterback Ty Simpson. The Tide roll in their 2022 opener against a quality opponent and set their sights on the Texas Longhorns next week in Austin.
ALABAMA 44
UTAH STATE 13