Alabama got the home win it needed Saturday afternoon, knocking off Texas A&M 31-20, and the result came with a few breakout performances from players who were asked to do more because of injuries across the roster.
That was especially true on the edges and in the middle of the defense, where Alabama had to lean on players in bigger roles than they had seen in earlier weeks. It also showed up at wide receiver, where one of the Tide’s younger contributors turned in the kind of stat line that can change the way a game - and maybe a depth chart - looks.
Rico Scott delivered the biggest offensive pop of the day. The junior caught six passes for 156 yards, both career highs, and averaged 26 yards per reception.
His longest gain went for 48 yards. For Alabama, it was the kind of explosive outing that stands out immediately on a busy Saturday.
On defense, Fatutoa Henry made the most of a chance that wasn’t even certain to come. Henry had been listed as a question mark on the Availability Report earlier in the week, but he got on the field and made a real impact. He finished with four tackles, including three solo stops, and added two sacks and two tackles for loss.
Caleb Woodson rounded out the rise on the defensive side with a steady, high-volume performance from the inside linebacker spot. He led Alabama with 10 total tackles against Texas A&M, and his five solo tackles were tied for the team lead. Woodson also added 1.5 tackles for loss.
In Other News...
Alabama Fans Have A Real Reason To Watch Keon Sabb Closely
Keon Sabbs workload was one of the more notable subplots in Alabamas win over Texas A&M, especially because the safety was on the field and appeared to be moving normally before the game shifted late. When the final four defensive series arrived, though, Sabb did not log another snap, and sophomore Ivan Taylor along with freshman Jireh Edwards were the ones handling the work in his place.
Edwards also took over Sabbs spot on the punt return unit in the second half, a small but telling change for a secondary that was already being stretched by injuries, a suspension and an ejection. Alabama got through the game with enough depth to finish the job, but the late rotation at safety is the kind of detail fans will be watching closely heading into the next week. [Read more 🡒]
Former Alabama OC Suddenly Emerges In A Job Search Fans Should Watch
Tommy Rees is already back in the mix for a college head coaching job, and it is one Alabama fans know well. The former Tide offensive coordinator, now with the Atlanta Falcons, has been linked by insider Pete Nakos to the vacancy at NC State after the program fired Dave Doeren following a 3-4 start.
Rees has built a rsum that includes offensive coordinator stops at Alabama and Notre Dame, and he has already shown interest in getting back into the college game. Whether NC State becomes the place where that return happens is still to be determined, but it is a search worth watching closely for anyone keeping tabs on Alabama's recent coaching tree. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Still Has A Major Rotation Question Heading Into LSU
Noah Rogers barely factored into Alabamas offense against Texas A&M, logging only one official snap even as the Tide tried to get him more involved. The passing game has been in flux, and the rotation has only become harder to pin down with Ryan Coleman-Williams out, which has pushed other receivers into larger roles as the staff looks for the right mix.
Derek Meadows has been the clearest beneficiary so far, handling a much heavier workload over the past two games and giving Alabama one more option to lean on. Availability is still part of the equation, too, with EJ Crowell sidelined for the Texas A&M game because of a lower-body injury, leaving the Tide to sort through a changing group as LSU approaches. [Read more 🡒]