Alabama's season opener could not have gone any better. In a dominating victory, Alabama would defeat Western Kentucky 63-0 as the Kalen DeBoer era gets underway. Overall, Alabama looked physical, confident, and expressive as they claimed their first victory of the season.
Though the team effort was off the charts, there were four players who stood out the most from Saturday.
1. Keon Sabb
Talk about an instant impact. Keon Sabb, the transfer Safety from Michigan, recorded 2 INTs in his season debut with Alabama.
Sabb has been praised all offseason for his relentless effort and leadership abilities. Most experts believed he was a big name to watch for on Saturday, and he delivered.
On Sabb's second INT, which you can see here , Western Kentucky was putting a solid drive together as they approached the red zone. Sabb jumped the route and picked off T.J. Finley for the second time in just the first quarter.
If this has any significant implications, it's that Sabb will be a major QB nightmare for the opponents left on the schedule.
2. Ryan Williams
Speaking of instant impacts, 17-year-old freshman Ryan Williams did just that.
The former five-star recruit tallied 2 TDs on two catches and 139 yards. On his first TD, Williams broke free in the secondary and caught a bomb from Jalen Milroe, and all he had to do was trot into the end zone. You can view this highlight here .
What we saw from Williams on Saturday is just a peak at what he could produce in his career for the Tide. If he can provide that consistent production, this offense is set to be very frightening.
3. Jalen Milroe
Jalen Milroe has gained both popularity and criticism since his season last year. Many say he is an early Heisman finalist, while others still believe he is not a true quarterback.
The game on Saturday should be studied in depth when it comes to Milroe. From the eyes of the fans, it was clearly seen that Milroe seemed more comfortable, attentive, and more like himself. His decision-making can't go unnoticed, and his throwing accuracy also looked much better.
Milroe tallied five total TDs on Saturday, two on the ground. Milroe had 200 passing yards in only nine attempts and an additional 79 on the ground. His performance showed that he is more ready for this season than some had foreseen and is beginning a strong case to receive an invitation to New York for a possible Heisman award.
4. Justice Haynes
In a sneaky performance, Justice Haynes had a massive highlight in Alabama's dominance on Saturday.
On just four carries, Haynes tallied 102 yards rushing, with 85 of them coming on a huge TD run. You can view that highlight here .
Haynes fills the RB depth chart with Jam Miller, Daniel Hill, and Richard Young. Haynes tallied the most rushing yards in Saturday's game, however, and showed off his acceleration in the gap on that 85-yard TD run.
All in all, Alabama looked very sharp in DeBoer's debut. However, there is room for improvement. One area that fans are haunted by is the inconsistent snaps.
Milroe saw a few snaps go over or under him and had to rally to avoid turnovers. Unfortunately, one bad snap resulted in a turnover. This was the only turnover committed by the Tide on Saturday. Penalties also flooded the Tide, as they committed seven penalties that resulted in 59 yards given up. Discipline was always one of Nick Saban's priorities during his tenure, and fans expect to see that cleaned up as the season progresses.
On a good note, however, Alabama's offensive line looked stellar. It only gave up one sack, allowing Milroe time to throw and creating massive running lanes in the run game. Alabama looked solid all around, and fans are excited for more as Week 2 is upon us.
Related: Kalen DeBoer Provides Major Injury Update
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