Most of its draft-eligible juniors are on offense.
Upon the conclusion of the Iron Bowl, one emotion was evident: frustration. After previously dropping a game to LSU, a two-loss Alabama team had no hopes of appearing in the College Football Playoff for a sixth consecutive time.
With the playoff garnering all the attention, student-athletes from the Crimson Tide could have decided not to play in the Citrus Bowl.
For the talented class that enrolled in 2017, this group is unselfish.
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A draft status does not matter to them. Would they much rather be competing for a national championship?
Of course, but what is more important to them is making sure the “Alabama factor” is restored going into next season.
While two defensive veterans will not play, every draft-eligible offensive piece (aside from Tua Tagovailoa) will see action versus Michigan.
In hearing him speak on Sunday at Media Day, Steve Sarkisian credits the spirit of excellence and the quality of character this team has on offense as reasons why he takes much joy in coaching this group.
“Well, obviously, having been here for a year now, you start to learn not just the player in the jersey, you start to learn the character of the players we have, especially on offense, the guys I deal with the most,” Sarkisian said.
“They work extremely hard every day. They come to meetings attentive, attention to detail. But at the end of the day, it is the competitive spirit I think all these guys have. And for us to have all these guys playing in the game offensively are needed. We are going against a very good defense.”
Throughout bowl prep in Alabama and in Florida, the group of Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs III, Jedrick Wills, Alex Leatherwood and Landon Dickerson have all been full participants in practice. Of the group, Jeudy, Ruggs and Wills have been regarded as first-rounders for the 2020 NFL Draft by various draft analysts.
Jeudy posted a tweet via social media on Dec. 13 that captured his mindset on the situation.
I’m playing in the bowl game. There’s no reason to not play!!!!
— JJ⁴ (@jerryjeudy) December 14, 2019
Since then, he and everyone else have been focused on trying to finish the year strong and defeat the Wolverines at Camping World Stadium. A victory will set the Tide back at the forefront of conversations involving national title talk for next year. Sarkisian feels good about this unit facing Don Brown and Michigan’s defense on Wednesday.
“I am proud of the work that they’ve done all year and I’m excited to have these guys go out and play and perform and compete on the first,” Sarkisian said.
Alabama and Michigan will kickoff at 12:00 p.m. CT to start the New Year.
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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.
