DrewD’s Key Performers For Alabama vs La. Monroe
By: Drew DeArmond
ESPN 97.7 The Zone & The Blitz Sports Radio
Offense:
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MVP: Jahmyr Gibbs
The junior transfer running back from Georgia Tech did not disappoint in his third game with the Crimson Tide. The dynamic all-purpose back finished with 158 total offensive yards, averaging an impressive 17.5 yards per touch. The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket had 9 total touches (4 rush, 4 catches & 1 KOR). His TD came after he caught a check down out of the backfield from Bryce Young, raced up the left sideline, then juked a defender before breaking a tackle to score from 37 yards out to give Alabama a 42-7 lead with 8:41 left in the 3rd quarter.
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Newcomer Game Ball: Amari NiBlack
The true freshman from St. Petersburg, Florida, made his presence felt in the red zone with his first career touchdown on a 15 yard TD strike from Bryce Young with 52 seconds in the first half to cap the Drive of the game (6 plays 93 yards in 1:05). NiBlack was an underrated prospect out of high school that blossomed as a senior and was discovered by Nick Saban’s staff. The 6-4 225-pounder has great length plus freakish athleticism that should lead to more reps & a potentially bigger role as the season progresses.
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Unsung Hero: Cameron Latu
The redshirt senior tight end returned to the lineup vs Texas after missing time in fall camp and the season opener vs. Utah State with a torn meniscus. His stat line against the Longhorns: 4 catches for 28 yards & the Utah native followed that with 3 receptions for 51 yards, including the above contested catch of a beautifully thrown ball by Bryce Young for a 38 yard gain (The longest play of the game offensively) that led to the NiBlack touchdown before the half. Latu is a veteran that has a good rapport with Young that will be a valuable part of the Alabama offense moving forward.
Defense:
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MVPs: Will Anderson Jr. & Henry To’oTo’o
The senior To’oTo’o set the tone with his instincts and physicality finishing with 8 tackles, (2 solo), 1 sack & 2 TFL. The California native is a leader of men who led the team in tackles a season ago after transferring from Tennessee & is considered the quarterback of the defense in his final season.
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Anderson got his first career interception and touchdown on the above play in the first quarter. The junior from Hampton, GA, caught the deflected Chandler Rogers pass after seeing the football ricochet off a Warhawk helmet & then raced 25 yards down the right sideline, breaking a tackle along the way before reaching the end zone before being mobbed by his teammates. The All-American finished with 5 tackles (1 solo), 1 sack & 1.5 TFL.
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Newcomer Game Ball: Jaheim Oatis
For the second time in three weeks Oatis gets the newcomer game ball for his first career start along the defensive line for the Crimson Tide. The native of the magnolia state had a modest stat line of 2 tackles, 1 QB hurry & .5 TFL but helped lead the way for an Alabama run defense that held the Warhawks to 78 yards on 40 attempts (2.0 yards per carry).
The redshirt freshman from Mobile, Alabama, saw extensive action at Will Linebacker rotating in for the senior Jaylen Moody, who also slid over to the Mike spot to play next to the talented young player from Mobile Christian. Lawson finished with five tackles (4 solo) & a pass defensed. He was extremely active and the Crimson Tide defense did not skip a beat production-wise with #32 on the field in Crimson.
Special Teams:
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MVPs: Kool-Aid McKinstry & Brian Branch
The sophomore from Pinson Valley High School (pictured above) led a record-breaking punt return effort for Alabama this past Saturday against the Warhawks. The sophomore returned five punts for 136 yards (27.2 average), while the junior Branch showcased his speed & explosiveness returning an early 4th quarter punt 68 yards for a touchdown to stretch the Crimson Tide lead to 56-7 with 12:36 left in the game. Alabama set a school record with eight punt returns for 262 total yards (33 yards per return), breaking the previous mark of 204 vs. LSU in 1947.
https://youtu.be/m6Uw9hA-58w
The sophomore from Miami first earned his stripes last year playing hard on special teams and has continued in that role early in this 2022 season. Brooks returned a punt for 21 yards and also caught a first quarter pass for 29 yards on the opening drive that resulted in a 33-yard Bryce Young to Traeshon Holden touchdown strike. But the biggest and most impactful play of the game for Brooks took place around the halfway point of the first quarter. With the Crimson Tide already staked to a 14-0 lead, the young receiver crashed through to block the Warhawks punt, which was then scooped up for a 3-yard touchdown by Malachi Moore with 8:50 remaining in the opening period. Brooks propensity to make big plays at key times continues early in this 2022 season for Alabama.
It had been a big recruiting week for Alabama football as Nick Saban’s 2023 group added two important Lonestar State pieces. First, Edge defender Jordan Renaud of Tyler (TX) Legacy High School became the 22nd member of the nation’s consensus top-ranked class choosing Alabama over Oklahoma on Monday.
The 23rd pledge soon followed on Wednesday afternoon when Longview (TX) High School wide receiver Jalen Hale chose the Crimson Tide over the in-state Longhorns. Texas A&M and Georgia were also considered finalists for one of the most explosive wide receivers in the 2023 cycle.
Next Up For 2nd-ranked Alabama: The SEC opener at Bryant-Denny Stadium as Clark Lea’s Vanderbilt Commodores travel to Tuscaloosa for a 6:30 pm kickoff under the lights on SEC Network.
Prediction: Alabama 52 Vanderbilt 7
