Alabama Football Freshman getting rave reviews early on
By Nicholas Rome
One of the biggest question marks for the Alabama Football team is in the secondary heading into 2024. The group saw key contributors in Caleb Downs, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Terrion Arnold, and Jaylen Key all depart. The players that were slotted in as replacements hit the transfer portal; Earl Little, Trey Amos, Dezz Ricks, and Kristian Story. This has opened up unexpected roles that either true freshmen or incoming transfers will have the opportunity to fill.
The player that’s stood out early is true freshman Red Morgan, a four-star recruit from Phoenix City, Alabama who plays safety. The Freshman has made an easy transition to college football thanks in part to playing 7A Football in Alabama with daily practice battles against Auburn receiver Cam Coleman and Daylyn Upshaw a three-star recruit in the 2025 class.
Wide receiver Kobe Prentice had a strong comparison for the freshman safety:
“He is picking up the defense very well and its impressive. He reminds me of Caleb Downs. They have different playing styles but, for a young guy that’s come in dissected the defense, and looks the part when he’s out there. He reminds me of Downs.”
– Kobe Prentice
The ‘A Day’ scrimmage this Saturday will be the first massive stage for the true freshman defensive back. The scrimmage takes place right before the transfer portal opens up, meaning a solid performance may dissuade the new coaching staff from pursuing another safety.
Playing defensive back in the SEC is a difficult task, especially for a true freshman. We’ve seen a few players do it at Alabama with Minkah Fitzpatrick, Patrick Surtain II, and Kool-Aid McKinstry standing out. From the looks of it thus far at practice, Red Morgan is on the track to joining an exclusive list.
Which Freshman can impress at ‘A Day’
While Morgan will look to continue to impress at A-Day there are a few other defensive backs to watch in Zavier Mincey, Zabien Brown, and Jaylen Mbakwe who all may find themselves in contention for a starting job at cornerback. While Ryan Williams will only be spectating, the receiver to watch is Caleb Odom who has impressed in his transition to wide receiver. The last receiver to watch is Aeryn ‘Bubba’ Hampton who Nick Saban flipped on signing day. The four-star recruit is impressing early on in practice.
Watch for these five Alabama Football newcomers during the A-Day Game
The Alabama Crimson Tide has a large number of talented newcomers. Check out five to watch closely on Saturday afternoon.
By Ronald Evans
As of Wednesday night, the format for the Alabama Football A-Day Game had not been announced. It is believed it will not be significantly different from the Nick Saban years, but that is up to Kalen DeBoer.
The quarterbacks will certainly be protected with touch stops instead of tackles. That one modification from a normal game gives defenders an advantage. Even if it is ones vs. twos, a couple of position groups are thin enough that some second-unit guys may play with the ones.
It is expected there will be at least one carryover from past seasons. That is steak for the winners and beans for the losers.
Watch for Alabama Crimson Tide Newcomers
Wide Receiver – Caleb Odom
Alabama football fans are excited to see the freshman in game-like action. On rolltide.com, Odom is still listed as a tight end. At 6’5″ and 215lbs. he could play tight end but Kalen Deboer and his offensive assistants want Odom to play wide receiver. Spring reports are that even with his tall frame, Odom is a fluid route-runner with pass-catching skills as good as any wideout. Odom may not start this fall, but he is expected to rotate in frequently with the Tide’s other top receivers.
Wide Receiver – Germie Bernard
Germie Bernard is a newcomer to the Alabama Crimson Tide but not to college football. His first season was a Michigan State. Last year he played for Kalen DeBoer at Washington. Not quite as tall as Odom, Bernard is still a big, physical receiver. He is listed as 6’1″ and 203lbs. and will be a matchup problem for lighter-weight defensive backs. He caught 34 passes for the Huskies good for 419 yards and two touchdowns. Malachi Moore recently described Bernard as a “technician” and compared him to former Crimson Tide star, John Metchie III. Bernard and Kobe Prentice are probably the closest to starting locks for the fall receiving corps.
Defensive Backs – Red Morgan, Zabien Brown and Jaylen Mbakwe
All three of the freshmen defensive backs have a chance to start in the fall. Based on his spring work so far, the fall starter at Husky could be Morgan, but only if he can beat Devonta Smith.
It appears that USC transfer Domani Jackson is well ahead to start at one cornerback spot, possibly at Field Corner. The competition for Boundary Corner is intense. Freshmen Zabien Brown and Jaylen Mbakwe are competing with redshirt freshman, Jahlil Hurley. If Hurley wins out the freshmen are too dynamic to sit. Both will at least have special teams roles, including possible returner for Mbakwe.
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