2019 has been a bit of an unusual experience for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Instead of having units full of upperclassmen, the team has been handed a group of talented who have been working to adjust to SEC play all season. Well, now it seems as if some of the young talent is going unnoticed as three freshmen have been named to the Midseason Freshman All-American Watch List by the Football Writers Association of America.
Redshirt freshman Shane Lee, true freshman Christian Harris and Evan Neal make up the trio. Each for a multitude of reasons have had to step up and fill some big roles. Lee and Harris have been tasked to man the middle of the defense as the Crimson Tide lost senior Joshua McMillon as well as the heart and soul of the unit Dylan Moses to injuries.
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Despite a couple of bumps in the road the two men in the middle have performed admirably for Pete Golding’s defense. On the year Lee has recorded 44 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss with Harris reeling in 34 tackles with five tackles for loss.
On the flip side, Neal’s path to playing has been a little bit different. At first he was believed to just be filling in for the suspended Deonte Brown but since has played well enough to stay in the starting lineup. Lately, the 6’7″ guard and the rest of the offensive line have been on a tear.
The unit just posted back to back games with a 100-yard rusher and have only allowed nine sacks on the season and Neal has played a large role in that.
Even if building your team around freshman isn’t always the path to success, this particular group has done its fair share to pull its weight. And now the entire country is aware
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
