Ready For Impact: Alabama freshmen who can become household names this fall

Have you heard the name Ryan Williams ? It doesn’t seem like a day has gone by since the start of fall camp the former five-star has been mentioned for his progress and potential impact for the University of Alabama this fall.

Another former five-star, Zabien Brown , has also been one of the bright spots of the team since his arrival. Brown shined at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio earlier this year. He now has an opportunity to potentially start for the No. 5 team (Preseason AP Poll) to begin this season.

This feature isn’t about these two players, however. This is about some of the others, freshmen or redshirt freshmen, who will have a great chance to help the Crimson Tide in Coach Kalen DeBoer’s first year at the helm.

BOL senior team reporter Charlie Potter previously provided his take on ‘ Second-Year Surge ’ and ‘five potential break-out candidates ’. The players (if redshirted) were excluded from this list ( Wilkin Formby , Qua Russaw ). New names, but still ones who can shine.

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Cole Adams , RS Freshman, Wide Receiver

One has to feel good about a chance to make an impact when your position coach gives you the nickname, ‘Mr. Reliable’. That’s exactly what JaMarcus Shephard called Adams last week. He was an early commitment for Nick Saban in the ’23 class before suffering a shoulder injury during the first half in the first game of his senior season (7 catches, 144 yards).

Adams will also have a chance to make an impact in the return game since he has been fielding kicks along with others during the fall practice. He’ll have a chance to become a household name.

“If we looked at the stat sheet, it’d be almost every receiver catching balls,” Coach DeBoer said after the first scrimmage. “So it’s not like one guy had five to seven catches. They all walk away from the day, like today, probably a little disappointed, and there’s no reason to be disappointed. It’s just because everyone gets involved. Everyone gets their touches.”

The biggest hurdle for Adams this fall is the distribution of wealth. The Crimson Tide has several playmakers with the opportunity to shine in Coach DeBoer’s offense. It’s possibly a game-by-game approach as to which receiver gets the most targets. Alabama fans will put their trust in Mr. Reliable when he gets a chance to make plays this season.

Richard Young , RS Freshman, Running Back

Alabama signed the best RB class in ’23 which included Young and Justice Haynes. There has been a lot of attention and discussion on Haynes. He is in line to get a heavy work load in the backfield this fall. How Alabama intends to dish out the number of carries for the unit this fall remains a little bit of mystery.

Haynes, along with Jam Miller who enters his junior season, are viewed as 1A and 1B. Young appears to have cemented himself as the third option, and one who should receive plenty of opportunities. He’s a physical back who’ll bring a different element to the group with his 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame. While Adams may have the ‘reliable’ sticker attached to his name, Young is the RS frosh with the ‘Consistency’ tag.

“He’s consistent, Coach DeBoer said after the Tide’s fourth practice. “…I think that’s a good word for him. Consistent. He’s taken that step from this spring, learning the offense, he’s out there getting lined up, doing his job, doing it at a high level, and doing it over and over again.”

The running back room isn’t discussed enough from a national, or even conference standpoint. Mainly because there isn’t a returning player at the position who has rushed for more than 200 yards in a season since arriving in Tuscaloosa. That changes this fall, and look for the current third option (Young) to have more yardage than that this fall.

Keon Keeley , RS Freshman, Bandit

There were high expectations for Keeley after the former No. 2 overall recruit in the ’24 class signed with the Crimson Tide. Many saw him as the next in line elite pass rusher Alabama fans had started to grow accustomed to with the likes of Will Anderson and Dallas Turner . Could Alabama have its next first rounder on the EDGE?

Keeley received a redshirt during his freshman campaign and then saw Nick Saban retire, and all who recruited him dissipate. The Tampa native, who likely could have named his school if entered the portal earlier this year, decided to stay. He’s now 6-foot-5, 277-pounds (arrived at 240) and has moved into the Bandit role on the defensive front.

“Keon has a very special skill set,” DC Kane Wommack said last week . “He’s very strong at the point of attack. He’s very twitchy to be that big. We made that transition from him being an outside linebacker, which when you see his frame at this level and the next level, he most certainly is going to be more of that rush defensive end.”

The biggest thing for Keeley is consistency. The talent is there, and he remains a unicorn as far as his size, length and the athleticism. Alabama will have a few players looking for an impact role at this position including Jah-Marien Latham and LT Overton . The ability to rotate fresh players-ones who can get the job done is important in Coach Wommack’s defense in year one in Tuscaloosa. The extra coaching Keeley has received during open media viewing sessions is evident the staff hopes it can click, and the former five-star can show why he was such a highly-coveted prospect.

Red Morgan , Freshman, Husky

Nick Saban didn’t leave Alabama empty-handed when it came to the freshmen DB class. While it’s a concern for most to rely on players without any live game experience in the SEC this isn’t your typical freshman class. Morgan, who arrived at UA in December, started drawing heavy praise for his performance during spring practice, and the A-Day game.

He helped his Central-Phenix City High School team to the Class 7A state championship last season. Morgan has been on the heels of redshirt junior DeVonta Smith for the starting role at the position. It’s one where the expectation is for Smith to receive the initial starting nod, but with Morgan ready to pounce as soon as his number is called.

“ Red Morgan has really impressed me,” Coach Wommack said regarding the Husky position group . “It’s always fun to watch freshmen from where they were in the spring to where they are headed and that jump that they make through the summertime. I think he’s probably made a huge jump in that regard.”

Morgan, who arrived in a stacked DB class, wasn’t household name as a senior in high school. The highest ranking was No. 171 per On3 Sports . There are older players on the depth chart, but it’s clear he will, at the very least, be in the rotation. Morgan is already proving on the practice field he will outperform his high school ranking, and an impact player for the Tide early in his career.

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Jaylen Mbakwe , Freshman, Cornerback

Mbakwe was leading his Clay-Chalkville team to the Class 6A state title seven months ago. He was also starring at quarterback despite zero expectations of playing on the offensive side of the ball at the next level. He was recruited for two years to play cornerback for the Crimson Tide. The limited time spent at the position last season hasn’t seemed to hinder his ability to perform at a high level since arriving at Alabama in December.

There may have been a little bit of an adjustment period for ‘Bak’ during the spring as he was getting his ‘DB’ legs back under him. He’s certainly been one of the bright spots of fall camp including days where he has received first team reps at corner.

“I’ve been so impressed with just his level of confidence, not really playing the position day in and day out in high school,” Coach Wommack said after the Tide’s 11th practice . But the strides that he’s made from spring ball to where he is right now, I would argue that he’s made as many strides as anybody in our defense.”

Alabama has a stacked young group, and even if he doesn’t earn an immediate starting role it does appear he will receive quality PT this fall, and we can’t wait to see his skills on display.

Three more to watch:

• Caleb Odom , freshman, wide receiver
• Zay Mincey , freshman, cornerback
• Olaus Alinen , redshirt freshman offensive lineman

Odom is right there as far as one of the players who commands attention. It’s just a deep wide receiver room. So how often will he have a chance to make big plays? The move from tight end to WR is an easy one for Odom as the 6-foot-5, 227-pounder was the go-to receiver in the Carrollton HS (Ga.) offense the last two seasons.

Mincey is another rookie DB for the Crimson Tide who flashed during the spring, and he has also performed well in fall camp. His 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame, to go along with his length, provides onlookers with a similar stature of former Alabama All-American Pat Surtain II.

“They don’t look like freshmen out there in terms of what they’re doing from a fundamental perspective in their footwork, hand placement,” Wommack said on Tuesday . “Very detailed, very organized and very intentional about their individual time, and I think it’s showing up in practice right now.”

Depth is important on the offensive front- while the hope is your top five players will remain healthy throughout the season. You better also have players who can jump in as soon as needed. Alinen has worked at left guard behind Tyler Booker, and has drawn praise. This is a big year for the Finland native to gain experience as a back-up to the All-American and potentially become the replacement for Booker next season.

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