Alabama’s 48-10 win over East Carolina gave the Tide a first look at how much room there really is for freshmen in a schedule built around more power-conference games.
With the SEC now playing nine league games and still requiring a non-SEC power opponent, the margin for younger players to get on the field has shrunk. Instead of the old setup, where SEC teams usually had three games against Group of 6 FBS or FCS opponents, there are now only two. That means fewer late-game blowouts and fewer easy snaps once the starters come out.
Alabama already felt that shift last year by scheduling Wisconsin and Florida State in non-conference play. This season, though, the mandate for 10 power-conference games is fully in place, which makes Saturday’s matchup with East Carolina and the November game against Chattanooga the best chances for the backups to work.
The Tide did get to that point in the fourth quarter, but a rough third quarter - when ECU outscored Alabama, 3-0 - likely pushed back the moment when the starters were pulled and cut into the total number of snaps available for the younger group.
Still, several freshmen got meaningful run, and the snap counts from CBS Sports tracking showed how Alabama deployed its 2026 class, ranked No. 4 nationally:
Three-star RB Trae'shawn Brown: 25 offensive snaps
Four-star WR Cederian Morgan: 20 offensive snaps
Five-star LB Xavier Griffin: 14 defensive snaps
Five-star RB EJ Crowell: 12 offensive snaps
Four-star CB Zyan Gibson: 5 defensive snaps
Four-star OLB Jamarion Matthews: 5 defensive snaps
Two freshmen were unavailable because of injuries. Five-star CB Jorden Edmonds was on crutches after right foot surgery, while four-star S Jireh Edwards was in uniform for pregame warmups but out of uniform for the game as he continues to recover from an arm injury.
The freshmen who did not log any offensive or defensive snaps were not listed in the source.
In Other News...
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Alabama opened the 2026 season with a win over East Carolina, giving Kalen DeBoer a clean start to his third year on the sideline, but the game still offered an early read on where this team stands. Sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell made his first career start and looked composed enough to settle things down, using his athleticism to help keep the offense moving, while Ryan Coleman-Williams provided a real vertical threat with more than 100 receiving yards.
Even so, the Tide left with a few reminders that September can be revealing in ways a final score does not fully show. The defense looked more ready for SEC-level football than the offense did, and the issues up front on the offensive line were hard to miss as Alabama tried to sort out protection and consistency. Coleman-Williams big day also came with some costly drops, leaving the passing game with both promise and proof that there is still cleanup work to do before the schedule stiffens. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama's Young Offense Has One More Thing To Prove In Second Half
At halftime, Alabama has more than enough cushion against East Carolina, but the game has still offered a useful snapshot of where this young offense is growing and where it still needs work. The ground game has carried the day, the offensive line has given freshman quarterback Keelon Russell a clean pocket, and the defense has mostly done its job against the run while helping the Tide build a 38-7 lead.
The next step is a familiar one for Alabamas offense: making life easier on Russell by creating more separation on the outside and turning good protection into cleaner, quicker answers downfield. The defense has been sturdy in the trenches, but it has also shown a willingness to give up explosive plays when communication slips, which is the sort of detail that can matter more against better competition than it has in a lopsided first half here. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Faces A Familiar Worry With Its Most Explosive Receiver
The opening game of the season brought an old concern back into view for Alabama, as Ryan Coleman-Williams had another rough day at the catch point. The explosive receiver has been central to what the Crimson Tide want to do offensively, and his ability to turn chances into chunk plays remains a key part of Alabamas hopes heading into the rest of the year.
Coleman-Williams did spend the offseason trying to clean up the issue, making changes aimed at improving his hands and sharpening his reliability. Even so, the early signs were a reminder that Alabamas passing attack may have to keep living with a little volatility from one of its most dangerous weapons, which is not exactly the kind of tradeoff a contender wants to carry for long. [Read more 🡒]