For a moment, imagine how menacing Alabama football would be on defense if Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Lewis and Christopher Allen all were healthy for a whole season.
The dream can be a reality for Crimson Tide fans, as the trio returns next fall.
Jennings and Lewis displayed raw emotion out of respect for one another after the College Football Playoff National Championship win over Georgia, to end the 2017 season.
Both could have decided to turn professional; however, the bash brothers want one final year to create havoc on college football and go out together.
Jennings and Lewis are freakish athletes and during 2018, the former showed how great he can be when at full strength.
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Listed at 6-foot-3 and 266 pounds, Jennings finished the season among the team leaders in total tackles (50), tackles for loss (13) and sacks (5.5). He recorded a team-high 11 pass breakups with six quarterback hurries, one interception and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
His strength on the edge allowed him to affect opposing quarterbacks in more ways than one.
While he presents himself as an exceptional pass rusher, Jennings’ long arms and big hands can disrupt passing lanes – causing batted passes.
He was not himself during the first part of the 2018 season due to a knee injury; nevertheless, Jennings returned to form late in the year. His decision to come back for a senior season brings experience and depth to an outside linebacker position that can be the best in the nation.
Pairing him back with Lewis, Allen, Eyabi Anoma, and rising sophomores Cameron Latu and Jarez Parks spells nothing but trouble for offenses. This group still needs the coach to put in game-changing situations, but Jennings makes the outside ‘backer’ room scary in 2019.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
