The first three games of the season were eventful for some newcomers to the Alabama roster.
With five FBS transfers and a No. 2 signing class of freshmen, a handful have made significant contributions to Crimson Tide victories over Utah State, Texas and Louisiana-Monroe.
With Vanderbilt coming to Tuscaloosa on Saturday, let’s give a quick progress report on the new arrivals that contributed.
transfers
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs: Gibbs is by far the most influential new face, having the most receptions (14) and intoxication attempts (22). Although Jase McClellan’s 81-yard touchdown put him ahead of the team with 167 net rushing yards, Gibbs is the first option in both the running and passing games. He’s been leading the tide at receptions for the past two weeks while getting the go-ahead in Week 2 in Texas.
- WR Jermaine Burton: Saban named him the most consistent wideout in the preseason. In three games, he has the fourth most catches with 8 yards for 61 yards. After catching five in the opening game, he has only three in the last two games. Bryce Young brought him down with a safe touchdown early in the ULM win, but with Alabama looking for a downfield playmaker, the search continues.
- LT Tyler Steen: The Vanderbilt product will face his old teammates in his fourth game, starting in left tackle. While there is competition at the guard, Steen is the starter who has protected Young’s blindside since he arrived in the summer.
- CB Eli Ricks: A freshman All-American at LSU, Ricks was part of the four-man contest for the starting cornerback job. After three games, it doesn’t look like he’s still in that mix as Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold appear to have made an appearance for now. Ricks struggled with injuries in the preseason while working to master Alabama’s playbook.
- WR Tyler Harrell: At trackstar speed, the Louisville product was viewed as a potential Jameson Williams-style home run hitter in the passing game. But a foot injury has sidelined him since the start of the season. He has yet to pass in one game.
Freshman Contributors
- WR Kobe Prentice: The Calera product came out of goal quickly with a five-catch debut to share the team lead. He has a total of nine catches for 87 yards after winning the starting job at slot receiver with an injured JoJo Earle.
- WR Isaiah Bond: Although his two catches came for 23 yards in Week 2, Bond was part of the rotation in all three games.
- WR Kendrick Law: He didn’t play in Texas but had two catches for 22 yards in the opener.
- TE Amari Niblack: With his first catch, Niblack tallied a 15-yard touchdown catch just before halftime against ULM.
- Ol’ Tyler Booker: Booker started as a tackle, switched to guard and is now fighting for a starting spot, Saban said Saturday.
- DL Jaheim Hafer: Oatis, listed as a co-starter on the depth chart, has at least one stop in each of his three games with .5 tackles for losses and a quarterback rushing. He assisted in two tackles against ULM.
- RB Jamarion Miller: Miller comes off the bench in fifth and has 11 carries for 83 yards (7.5 average), mostly in cleanup time.
- QB Ty Simpson: Appeared as the No. 3 passer in the two home games. He’s a 1-on-2 pass for 10 yards.
Other newcomers who played
- LB Jihadd Campbell: 3 appearances, no stats
- LB: Jeremiah Alexander: 1 appearance, 1 tackle
- WR/RB Emmanuel Henderson: 3 games, 1 tackle
- WR Shazz Preston: 1 game
- LB Shawn Murphy: 1 game, 1 tackle
- DB Earl Little: 1 game
- DB Antonio Kite: 1 game
- DL Isaiah Hastings: 1 game, 1 tackle
- TE Elijah Brown: 1 game
- TE Danny Lewis: 1 game
Newcomers who haven’t played
- OL Elijah Pritchett
- DL Khurtiss Perry
- DB Tre’Quon Fegans
- DB Jake Pope
- WR Aaron Anderson