Alabama’s edge group took another hit Wednesday night, with the Crimson Tide ruling out both outside linebackers Desmond Umeozulu and Justin Hill for Saturday’s game against South Carolina.
The first SEC availability report of the week also listed DT Jeremiah Beaman, ILB Cayden Jones, CB Nick Sherman and CB Jorden Edmonds as out. That leaves Alabama short on multiple levels as it turns the page to the Gamecocks.
Hill’s injury came against Florida State, and the school said Wednesday evening through its NIL entity Yea Alabama that he is “expected to miss a few weeks.” Umeozulu’s return remains up in the air after he suffered a turf-toe injury in that same game, according to the school.
Umeozulu, a senior who transferred from South Carolina this offseason, started Saturday’s game at defensive end. He has logged 65 defensive snaps this season, which ranks 12th on the team. Hill has played 50 defensive snaps and has one sack.
With both unavailable, Alabama’s top “Wolf” outside linebacker remains Yhonzae Pierre, while Devan Thompkins stays atop the depth chart at “Bandit” defensive end. The next men up are fifth-year Fatutoa Henry at Bandit and seventh-year Jah-Marien Latham at Wolf.
Latham is no stranger to this matchup. He played 49 snaps, the second-most of his career, two years ago against South Carolina, though he missed last season’s game because of an injury. Henry, meanwhile, set an FBS career high with nine defensive snaps against Florida State last weekend.
There was at least one positive update for Alabama’s defense: safety Zavier Mincey, who did not play against Florida State, was not listed on Wednesday’s report and is available for Saturday.
Beaman is out for the season with a knee injury, while Jones is also done for the year with an undisclosed injury. Edmonds was no longer on crutches on the sideline during the Florida State game, but Sherman was still using crutches.
Coach Kalen DeBoer also said Monday that running back AK Dear and wide receiver Noah Rogers would both be available to make their season debuts.
In Other News...
Alabama Suddenly Has A Fan Tension Problem It Can't Ignore
Alabamas offense has been under enough scrutiny already, and Ryan Grubb only added to the conversation when he apologized for remarks he made about fans booing after the units struggles. It was the kind of public back-and-forth that tends to linger around a program like this, especially when expectations are high and the margin for patience gets smaller the longer the offense goes through uneven stretches.
There is at least some football business to distract from the noise. Injured offensive players AK Dear and Noah Rogers are expected to be available for the upcoming game against South Carolina, although their exact roles remain unclear, and the October 3 trip to Mississippi State will come in an early kickoff window. Alabama also picked up a recruiting development worth watching, with two committed prospects from other schools decommitting and expected to visit, giving the staff another chance to keep momentum moving while the fan tension around the offense still hangs in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Suddenly Needs More From A Freshman In A Tough SEC Spot
Alabamas defensive front is already dealing with a new test heading into South Carolina, and the ripple effect is pretty clear. Edge defenders Justin Hill and Desmond Umeozulu are both listed out after getting hurt in the previous game, and both are expected to miss multiple contests, leaving the Tide thinner at a spot that usually depends on rotation and disruption.
That opens the door for freshman Xavier Griffin to take on a much bigger role sooner than planned, with the staff now needing him to hold up in a difficult SEC setting. Caleb Woodson could also be used more as a pass rusher as Alabama sorts through the depth chart, but the bigger question is how quickly the young pieces can settle in while the Tide waits for reinforcements. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Pass Rush Faces Its Trickiest Test Yet Against South Carolina
Through three games, Alabama has already shown it can get after the quarterback, joining a small group of SEC teams with at least 10 sacks as the defense settles in under Kalen DeBoer. The early production has been helped by the additions from the NCAA transfer portal, and it has given the Crimson Tide a clearer identity up front as they move deeper into conference play.
South Carolina now offers a different kind of challenge, with LaNorris Sellers giving Alabama a quarterback who can change the game with both his arm and his legs. DeBoer pointed to the need for a strong pass rush, but just as important is keeping lane integrity so the pressure does not open escape routes for a dynamic player who can punish even a small breakdown. [Read more 🡒]