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McKinstry may be too talented to keep off the field for a defense replacing first-round NFL draft pick Patrick Surtain II. "Kool-Aid" (he just struck an endorsement deal with the beverage maker) is 6-foot-1 and 180 pounds and will likely compete for early playing time with no real experienced starting cornerback listed opposite of Josh Jobe. He also practiced with the Southeastern Conference champion basketball team some last season after enrolling early and planned to play both sports. "He is what we thought he was, but I thought he was more physical." defensive coordinator Pete Golding said. "I think with any freshmen that's very talented — and Kool Aid is no exception — is still the same thing of the consistency." - AP College Football

(DS#5 CB) Jr/2024

CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
News Source: AP College Football
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08/16/21 - *Evan Neal, Jr/2022, Alabama, 6-8, 345 (DS#1 OT) + More +

Alabama's top prospect for the 2022 NFL draft is a little lighter these days. Offensive lineman Evan Neal, who played last season as a sophomore at 360 pounds, is down to about 345 this season, he revealed Monday. "I'm definitely a lot more light on my feet, light on my toes and I like this weight that I'm at right now," he said. Neal's 6-foot-7 frame has helped propel him to being discussed as a potential top 10 pick in next spring's NFL draft. After starting at guard as a freshman and right tackle in 2020, Neal has transitioned to left tackle this year and is in prime position to become the Tide's fourth consecutive offensive lineman taken in the first round.

Jonah Williams (No. 11 in 2019), Jedrick Wills (No. 10 in 2020) and Alex Leatherwood (No. 17 in 2021) have combined for over $51 million guaranteed as part of their rookie contracts. For Neal, losing a few pounds could mean earning a few more dollars at the next level. "He spent a lot of time getting his body right, because he used to be even bigger than he is now," coach Nick Saban said Sunday. "But now he can sustain better." Even at 360 pounds, Neal's athleticism opened eyes last summer when a brief video of him box jumping went viral. That happened in June when Neal showed off his 48-inch jump. "When you coach in the NFL, you see guys like that on occasion and we had a few through the years," Saban said. "But Evan is very unique in terms of he has great size, he's got great athleticism." - Birmingham News

(DS#1 OT) Jr/2022

OT *Evan Neal, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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08/16/21 - *Will Anderson Jr., Jr/2023, Alabama, 6-4, 253 (DS#1 DE) + More +

New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings is still impacting Alabama football. A Crimson Tide linebacker from 2015-2019, Jennings' play has been the focus of a current elite pass rusher: Will Anderson. The sophomore said Tuesday that he watches a lot of old film, specifically that of Jennings. "He was a great player and very talented," Anderson said. Some of the things that Anderson admires: Jennings' ability to shed blockers, rush the passer and defend the run. In his freshman year of 2020, Anderson already is putting up comparable numbers to Jennings.

Anderson finished with seven sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss as a freshman. Jennings had eight sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss in 2019, his last season with the Crimson Tide as he earned a spot on the All-SEC first team. Jennings is in his second year with the Patriots. He played in 14 games in 2020, tallying 10 total tackles. He was named to the All-SEC freshman and All-SEC second team in 2020. Junior linebacker Christian Harris said Anderson has grown each and every day since he arrived. "He's really a leader on our team as well, especially on our defense, just by really how he attacks each and every day, each rep," Harris said. "He never takes a play off and it kind of motivates everybody else to give that same effort." - Montgomery Advertiser

(DS#1 DE) Jr/2023

DE *Will Anderson Jr., Alabama
News Source: Montgomery Advertiser
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08/16/21 - *Bryce Young, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-10, 204 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Another college football season will start with everyone chasing the Tide. Alabama is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll for fourth time in the past six seasons. Coming off its sixth national championship under Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide enters the season loaded with potential replacements for the record-breakers and NFL draft picks who have moved on, including Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith.

Alabama received 47 of 63 first-place votes from the panel of sports writers and broadcasters in the poll presented by Regions Bank. Oklahoma is No. 2, just ahead of No. 3 Clemson (each received six first-place votes). Ohio State, which lost to the Tide in last season's championship game, is No. 4 after receiving a first-place vote. Georgia received three first-place votes and rounds out the top five. - AP College Football

(DS#2 QB) Jr/2023

QB *Bryce Young, Alabama
News Source: AP College Football
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08/15/21 - *Jahmyr Gibbs, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-09, 199 (DS#2 RB) + More +

Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs has put on weight and added strength since the end of last season. The gains aren't lost on offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude. "He's got (trapezius muscles) and he's got a chest and he's got triceps and he's got muscles (where) he never thought he had muscles," Patenaude said Monday following the team's third preseason practice. "So we're not afraid to roll him inside the (offensive) tackles at all. Because he's learning how to run with his pads down and pound the ball."

Saturday, Gibbs said he added about 10 pounds from his playing weight last year, putting him now at 201 pounds after playing last season between 190 and 193 pounds. He can bench press 225 pounds 16 times, up from 11. As Patenaude mentioned, the added strength and weight make Gibbs a more viable ball carrier on the inside, which adds to his ability as a threat on the perimeter. A year ago, Gibbs proved himself one of the top running backs in the ACC, finishing fourth in the league in all-purpose yards at 138.3 yards per game. "He's gotten bigger," quarterback Jeff Sims said. "It's really helpful because he can run up between gaps now, and it's dangerous." - Atlanta Journal Constitution

(DS#2 RB) Jr/2023

RB *Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
News Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution
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08/14/21 - Brian Robinson Jr., rSr/2022, Alabama, 6-2, 224 (DS#7 RB) + More +

Don't expect Alabama running back Brian Robinson to play the position like his predecessor, Steelers running back Najee Harris. Harris made plenty of highlight reels with his ability to leap over defenders. But Robinson, a Hillcrest alumnus, said he's not a big hurdle guy and that's not really part of his game plan. "I have my own style of how I run the ball," Robinson said Monday. "I like to break tackles and make people miss. Whatever way I can do that, just being instinctive. That's how I'm going to do that. More than likely it will be lowering the shoulder or dropping my pads." For reference, here's a preview of that style from the national championship game: Robinson finished 2020 with 91 carries for 483 yards and six touchdowns. As a redshirt senior, he's expected to lead the running back room filled with talented youngsters this season. - Montgomery Advertiser

(DS#7 RB) rSr/2022

RB Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama
News Source: Montgomery Advertiser
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08/14/21 - *Evan Neal, Jr/2022, Alabama, 6-8, 345 (DS#1 OT) + More +

Evan Neal's gone viral a few times now with his offseason training videos. At 6-foot-7, 350ish pounds, the Alabama offensive tackle's athleticism to size ratio is, well, notable. Last August, a 2-second video from Crimson Tide director of sports science Matt Rhea showed Neal doing a box jump inside the football complex. This summer, he posted a video on his social media doing a similar jump but with pads clearly taller than last year's. That clip has been viewed north of 593,000 times as of Aug. 9 as the legend of Neal's sheer athleticism grows. The box jumps were new to Neal last year when Rhea and David Ballou took over the strength and conditioning program. The lineman on Monday said he hit 36 inches last summer. That number is up to 48 inches in 2021. "Shoot," Neal said, "I really have no one to thank but my parents for my genetics on that one. But I'm just thankful we have great strength coaches to help us." - Birmingham News

(DS#1 OT) Jr/2022

OT *Evan Neal, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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08/13/21 - LaBryan Ray, rSr/2022, Alabama, 6-4, 287 (DS#28 DT) + More +

Opening preseason practice Friday, Alabama's football roster was fairly healthy after several starters missed spring with injuries. The exception, Nick Saban said Sunday, was LaBryan Ray. The senior defensive lineman will be out for a few weeks with a "pretty significant groin injury," Saban said in his first news conference of the preseason. Ray has missed time to injuries in each of the previous few seasons but his final season in Tuscaloosa begins with a setback Saban said occurred late in the summer. "Hopefully we'll get him back and he'll be confident in his ability to play and we'll just wait to see day-to-day how that goes," Saban said. Saban was also asked about a few players coming back from previous injuries. On Trey Sanders, Saban said the running back is "very close to 100%" and can see the burst returning to his running after being injured in a car wreck last fall. "The issue always with a player who has a significant injury like he had is how's he going to respond when he actually starts having to play football and gets hit and has to hit other people. That's an unknown that we'll just have to wait and see because we've only been in shorts and helmets so far so we've had very limited contact." - Birmingham News

(DS#28 DT) rSr/2022

DT LaBryan Ray, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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08/08/21 - Kool-Aid McKinstry, Jr/2024, Alabama, 6-0, 199 (DS#5 CB) + More +

Alabama had the highest-rated recruiting classes in the history of 247Sports ranking recruiting classes. That said, the top few guys were offensive linemen -- important players but not ones who'll necessarily attract attention in the preseason unless something breaks down. McKinstry checked in as the No. 18 overall recruit on the 247Sports board coming from nearby Pinson. He has some of the flash reminiscent of a young Dre Kirkpatrick who came to Alabama as the No. 14 overall recruit in the 2009 class. McKinstry, named male national high school athlete of the year by USA Today, flashed some of his potential on A-Day with an interception. Freshmen have won starting jobs at cornerback including Patrick Surtain, fittingly a first-round pick in April whose spot could be in play this August. - Birmingham News

(DS#5 CB) Jr/2024

CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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08/04/21 - Kool-Aid McKinstry, Jr/2024, Alabama, 6-0, 199 (DS#5 CB) + More +

The Crimson Tide has options, and camp will likely help sort out who earns the most time. Of course, the type of coverage Alabama is in will dictate how many defensive backs are on the field, too. Some of the contenders who could see time in that second spot and/or playing time in general include, but are not limited to, Banks, Armour-Davis and McKinstry. He not only has maybe the best name on the roster, but McKinstry is also a five-star recruit who could play early for the Crimson Tide.

As for the star position, Moore and Branch both have experience there and will likely each see the field this season. At the safety spot, Battle is expected to start again and Hellams and Wright will compete for the spot next to him. Hellams earned starts in big games late last season and made the most of them. He tallied 12 tackles against Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl. - Montgomery Advertiser

(DS#5 CB) Jr/2024

CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
News Source: Montgomery Advertiser
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08/03/21 - Henry Too Too, Sr/2023, Alabama, 6-1, 227 (DS#3 ILB) + More +

Alabama's roster is filled with talent across the board, but the linebacking group might take the crown for most talent. The departure of Moses leaves the spot next to him open. To'o To'o, a transfer from Tennessee this offseason, will be competing for that spot. But he sounds to have already made a strong impression the way coach Nick Saban talked about him at SEC Media Days. The veteran coach called To'o To'o one of the best defensive players in the conference while he was with the Vols. Saban added that his new linebacker can be a quarterback type guy on defense. That doesn't sound like the description of a guy who's going to spend most of his time on the sideline. - Montgomery Advertiser

(DS#3 ILB) Sr/2023

ILB Henry Too Too, Alabama
News Source: Montgomery Advertiser
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07/29/21 - *Jahmyr Gibbs, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-09, 199 (DS#2 RB) + More +

Georgia Tech running back Jahmyr Gibbs was his team's lone selection to the preseason All-ACC team, which was announced Tuesday. Gibbs was named to two spots on the team, as an all-purpose back and a return specialist. Gibbs' 968 all-purpose yards last year as a freshman (460 rushing, 303 receiving and 205 on kickoff returns) were 13th in the ACC. He compiled the total in seven games, while every player ahead of him played either 11 or 12 games. His 138.3 all-purpose yards per-game average ranked fourth in the conference. Gibbs also was named last week to the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top running back, along with teammate Jordan Mason. - Atlanta Journal Constitution

(DS#2 RB) Jr/2023

RB *Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
News Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution
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07/26/21 - *Bryce Young, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-10, 204 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Alabama was picked to win the SEC in 2021 in the conference's annual preseason media poll, released Friday. The Tide received 84 first-place votes, nearly doubling up Georgia's 45. Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Florida, Kentucky and South Carolina each received one first-place vote to win the SEC. It is the sixth consecutive year the media has picked Alabama to win the SEC. The last preseason poll topped by a different school was Auburn in 2015. Alabama was picked to win the SEC West, receiving 130 of 134 first-place votes for their division. - Birmingham News

(DS#2 QB) Jr/2023

QB *Bryce Young, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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07/23/21 - *John Metchie III, Jr/2022, Alabama, 5-11, 189 (DS#12 WR) + More +

When Alabama football receiver Jaylen Waddle suffered an injury last season, then-sophomore John Metchie III was forced to step up and into one of the main receiving slots for the Crimson Tide. Metchie played alongside Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith and was able to learn off his technique, especially as far as "minor little details," things only receivers work on or really notice, Metchie III said at 2021 SEC Media Days on Wednesday. But the most valuable takeaways, he said, came from just being Smith's teammate and observing him off the field. "Biggest thing was just worth ethic, bringing in your best self day in and day out and just being consistent," Metchie III said.

Metchie III exploded into the national college football scene after he delivered a standout performance against Texas A&M last season. With Waddle's injury expanding his role, Metchie totaled 916 yards and six touchdowns on 55 catches. Metchie III continues to take after Smith and stress the importance of his mindset. He said part of why he is such a solid and tough receiver is his competitiveness and ability to put his mind to something and do it. - Montgomery Advertiser

(DS#12 WR) Jr/2022

WR *John Metchie III, Alabama
News Source: Montgomery Advertiser
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07/22/21 - *Bryce Young, Jr/2023, Alabama, 5-10, 204 (DS#2 QB) + More +

Alabama coach Nick Saban said Tuesday that sophomore quarterback Bryce Young, the team's presumptive starter in 2021, has already earned close to $1 million in endorsement deals. "Certain positions, probably, enhance opportunities to create value, like quarterback, and our quarterback (Young) already has approached ungodly numbers -- I'm not going to say what they are -- and he hasn't even played yet. Hasn't even started," Saban said at the Texas High School Coaches Association's annual convention on Tuesday, according to The Athletic. "... It's almost seven figures. And it's like, the guy hasn't even played yet. But that's because of our brand."

Young signed with CAA, one of the most powerful agencies representing NFL players, for his marketing deals. As of July 1, college athletes in Alabama and several other states have been legally able to earn revenue from their name, image and likeness. NCAA rules have also loosened to allow professional representation for those deals. "Everything in high school and college football has always been equal for everyone. It's not going to be that way anymore," Saban said Tuesday, according to 247 Sports. "Aaron Rodgers makes $24 million a year and probably several million more in endorsements because he's the quarterback. The right guard probably makes a million a year and he doesn't get anything from endorsements. The same thing is going to happen to our team." Young has one of the largest followings on social media among Alabama players, and has signed deals with companies such as Cash App. - Birmingham News

(DS#2 QB) Jr/2023

QB *Bryce Young, Alabama
News Source: Birmingham News
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