Alabama’s 50-36 win over Florida State produced a strange little stat line that says plenty about how the Tide are using their young talent: freshman wideout Cederian Morgan needed exactly one offensive snap to make his mark.
Morgan came in on a first-and-10 on the 12th play of Alabama’s fifth offensive drive and turned that lone rep into a 21-yard touchdown catch. It was a surprise appearance, especially considering how little he had been used the week before at Kentucky, when he played just four snaps, all of them on the final drive while backup quarterback Austin Mack helped run out the clock. Morgan had logged 20 snaps in the season opener against East Carolina.
“CD is my guy,” teammate Lotzeir Brooks said. “I always tell him, just to stay ready.
When the moment get to him, it got to him. He just clicked on it.”
Morgan’s touchdown fits a broader pattern for Alabama’s freshmen. Running back EJ Crowell has been on the field for only 26 offensive snaps across three games, but he’s scored a touchdown in each one after adding another against Florida State. Fellow freshman back Trae’shawn Brown has three touchdowns in 65 snaps this season.
Alabama has been willing to get those young players involved in important spots, particularly near the goal line. That same approach shows up on defense, where coordinator Kane Wommack has leaned into heavy rotation since arriving in 2024.
Even in a game where the Tide defense gave up 471 yards and five touchdowns, the staff kept mixing personnel. Some of the unit’s top players - cornerback Zabien Brown, pass-rusher Yhonzae Pierre and safety Bray Hubbard - were not always on the field.
CBS Sports provided Alabama’s full offensive and defensive snap counts from the Week 2 win at Kentucky:
QUARTERBACK: Keelon Russell (66) (did not play: Austin Mack, Jett Thomalla, Tayden-Evan Kaawa, John Gazzaniga)
RUNNING BACK: Daniel Hill (30), Trae'shawn Brown (26), EJ Crowell (11) (did not play: AK Dear, Kevin Riley, Khalifa Keith)
WIDE RECEIVER: Ryan Coleman-Williams (62), Rico Scott (60), Lotzeir Brooks (39), Derek Meadows (3), Cederian Morgan (1) (did not play: Noah Rogers, Tyler Henderson, MJ Chirgwin, Maurice Mathis, Amari Sabb) (not in uniform: Aubrey Walker)
In Other News...
Danny Kanell Takes Another Shot At Alabama Over Weather Delay
Saturday nights Alabama-Florida State opener spent as much time in limbo as it did on the field, with multiple lightning delays forcing everyone to wait out the weather. The pauses quickly became part of the story, especially once CBS Sports analyst Danny Kanell jumped on social media to question whether the second delay was really necessary. His comments tapped into a familiar chord around Alabama, where outside takes on the Tide tend to travel fast and draw even faster reaction.
The bigger issue, though, was the standard being applied, not the optics of the moment. Weather professionals later stepped in to explain how lightning-related suspensions are handled, underscoring that these calls are made with safety in mind rather than on a feel test from the stands or a television studio. For Alabama, it was one more odd wrinkle in a season opener that already had enough drama before anyone could settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Gets An Early SEC Reality Check In New AP Poll
The AP top 25 shifted in a big way entering Week 4, and the SEC made its usual presence felt. Ole Miss got a major lift by beating LSU, a result that sharpened its case as a real contender in the league race, while Florida played its way into the rankings after a win at Auburn. Around the conference, the weekend reminded everyone how quickly the pecking order can change once league play starts to bite.
For Alabama, the new poll offered an early reality check on how unforgiving the SEC can be once the schedule toughens. Texas A&M took a hit after a loss to Kentucky, a setback that raised more questions about the Aggies consistency on both sides of the ball, and the broader movement around the rankings underscored how little margin separates the conferences top teams from the ones trying to chase them. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Defensive Turnaround Put One Wommack Question Front And Center
Yhonzae Pierre was one of the players who helped Alabama settle in after a rocky start against Florida State, finishing with five tackles in the Crimson Tides 50-36 win. The linebacker pointed to defensive coordinator Kane Wommacks halftime message as a key reset, with the emphasis on staying united and keeping the energy up when the game was still hanging in the balance.
The second-half response was noticeable enough that head coach Kalen DeBoer singled out the defenses improvement, and that puts Wommacks role in an interesting light as Alabama moves deeper into the season. The Tide got the result they needed, but the bigger question now is whether that halftime adjustment was a one-game fix or the first sign of a defense finding its footing. [Read more 🡒]