One of Alabama’s most buzzed-about freshmen this fall is 5-star Xavier Griffin, and the early chatter around him keeps getting louder.
For most of the recruiting process, Griffin’s game was tied to former Tide linebacker Jihaad Campbell. That’s already a big-time comparison, especially with Campbell going in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles and then turning in a strong rookie season. But former Georgia pass rusher Marcus Howard just raised the ceiling on the conversation.
Speaking to Charlie Potter of BamaOnline, Howard put Griffin in the same lane as one of Alabama’s modern defensive stars, saying his burst and suddenness remind him of Will Anderson.
Pass rush specialist sees a former Alabama All-American in freshman linebacker Xavier Griffin.
"He's explosive and twitchy like Will (Anderson)," @Mhoward38 tells BamaOnLine. "... I can see a lot of similarities."
🔗 https://t.co/2DtdOhfyw8 (On3+) pic.twitter.com/uNs4z3bz2w
- Charlie Potter (@Charlie_Potter) July 14, 2026
That kind of praise changes the conversation fast. If Griffin really carries that kind of juice, Kane Wommack may not have the luxury of easing him in.
Anderson was an instant starter for Nick Saban as a freshman in 2020 and helped drive Alabama to the national championship. He followed that with dominant seasons before becoming the No. 3 overall pick to the Houston Texans, and the Texans later backed that up with a 3-year, $150 million extension.
Griffin’s versatility gives Alabama options. He can work on the ball or off it in Wommack’s system, and there’s a path where he splits time between both roles. But if Howard’s read is the right one, the cleaner answer is obvious: get him after the quarterback.
That would fit a defense that already has some pieces in place. Yhonzae Pierre is coming off a breakout 2025 season and could make a run at the SEC sack lead.
Justin Hill is back as a rising sophomore, and Alabama also added South Carolina transfer Desmond Umeozulu through the portal. If Griffin hits quickly, the Tide could end up with a real collection of edge threats.
The offseason work has been there, too. Griffin has added the weight needed to handle SEC football, and he looked quick and explosive in the A-Day scrimmage. He can still push for the starting linebacker job next to Caleb Woodson, but the clearest path to early impact appears to be on the edge.
If that’s where he lands, Alabama may have one of the most disruptive freshmen in college football in 2026.
In Other News...
Alabama's QB Battle Just Became The Story Of Fall Camp
Fall camp has turned the quarterback race into the main event in Tuscaloosa, with Keelon Russell and Austin Mack both pushing to make their case for Alabamas top job. The conversation around the position has shifted from spring intrigue to a genuine battle, and the staff now has a decision to sort through as practices get underway and the offense starts taking shape.
Russell brings the kind of upside that can change the ceiling of the unit, while Mack offers the steadiness and experience that coaches tend to trust when the margin for error gets thin. Even with the opener against East Carolina approaching, the picture still feels fluid, and the next few weeks should tell a lot about whether this settles quickly or stretches deeper into September. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas SEC Media Days Picks May Have Revealed DeBoers Leaders
Alabamas annual summer trip to SEC Media Days has long been more than a routine stop on the league calendar, especially under Kalen DeBoer as he continues shaping the programs leadership group. The Crimson Tide will head to Tampa with DeBoer and three players in Ryan Coleman-Williams, Zabien Brown and Bray Hubbard, a set of representatives that gives an early look at which voices are carrying weight inside the locker room.
The selection also fits a familiar Alabama pattern, because the players sent to Media Days have often ended up being the same names trusted to lead once the season begins. There is still the old Denny Chimes tradition waiting in the background for the eventual captains, and this summers choices only add more intrigue to how DeBoers first full leadership picture is coming together. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Star WR Faces Real Pressure To Justify The Hype In 2026
Ryan Coleman-Williams enters his junior season at Alabama with the kind of rsum that still commands attention, even after a sophomore year that did not match the early buzz. The wide receiver flashed as a true freshman, earned several honors along the way and remains central to the Crimson Tide passing game, but the expectations around him have only grown as Alabama reshapes its offense for 2026 with new questions at quarterback and running back.
The pressure is real because the next step for Coleman-Williams is not just about being productive, but about proving he can be the reliable featured target Alabama needs. His second season brought a noticeable dip in output, and the Tide will be asking a lot from him as they sort through a quarterback battle and try to settle into a new offensive rhythm, which makes his role one of the most important storylines to watch heading into the fall. [Read more 🡒]