TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– Even with Cam Robinson declaring for NFL Draft, University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban knows who will replace the unanimous All-American. It’s almost a guarantee that the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff will flip Jonah Williams from right tackle to left tackle, securing experience on that side.
Williams started all 15 games in the 2016 season, clearing the way for four 500-yard rushers and a 1,000-yard back in Damien Harris. The five-star was solid in protecting quarterback Jalen Hurts, as he allowed one sack.
Behind Williams, Hurts tossed for 2,780 passing yards (62.8 percent completion clip) with 22 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Should Williams move to left tackle, a four-man battle will happen at right tackle.
While Lester Cotton and Matt Womack both have a year of playing experience, 2017 commits Alex Leatherwood and Elliot Baker make up would could be Saban’s best signing class to date.
Listed below is breakdown detailing all four players and which one shall receive the nod.
Lester Cotton, Junior, Tuscaloosa (Ala.)
Cotton has been Cam Robinson’s understudy at offensive tackle for two seasons, despite Saban transitioning him to offensive guard in 2016. The 6-foot-4, 319-pounder was a unanimous four-star prospect from Central High School, upon signing in the Tide’s 2015 recruiting class.
He’s played in 17 career games, including five starts last season. Cotton’s blocked for nine 100-yard rushers, but after seeing what his friend and fellow Tuscaloosa native Bo Scarbrough did against Washington—19 carries, 180 yards, two touchdowns—he wants to set the edge for him.
Matt Womack, RS Sophomore, Hernando (Miss.)
Don’t let the three-star rating fool you, Womack is the real deal.
He was Robinson’s backup through 15 games in 2016, but now the Mississippi native eyes a starting role up front. The 6-foot-7, 316-pounder was a highly-touted offensive tackle prospect in the 2015 recruiting cycle.
Womack saw action in eight games, with all coming at the tackle position.
Alex Leatherwood, Freshman, Pensacola (Fla.)
Former standouts Chris Samuels (1996-99) Andre Smith (2006-08) both fared well at offensive tackle as true freshmen. Cam Robinson (2014) and Jonah Williams (2016) continued the regime, and Leatherwood hopes to take it to a new level for the Tide in the fall of 2017.
Leatherwood, a five-star recruit, is one of 12 early enrollees from the Tide’s 2017 class. The 6-foot-6, 327-pounder helped the team prepare for Clemson’s defense in the College Football Playoff national title game.
Elliot Baker, Junior (JUCO), San Francisco (Calif.)
With the exception of Charles Baldwin, both James Carpenter and Dominick Jackson did well on the offensive line for Alabama as junior college transfers. Baker comes in as a four-star prospect and the No. 2 JUCO prospect from the College of San Francisco. His lighter than the other three participants (295 pounds), but still carries a solid 6-foot-7 frame. Along with Leatherwood, Baker is on campus getting a feel for the offense.
Prediction for right tackle: Lester Cotton
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
