Spring football returns next week to the University of Alabama, and one national outlet has a list of top returning players to college football at each position.
According to Pro Football Focus, a website that dissects analytics of college and pro football, four Crimson Tide players made its list for top returning athletes to the sport. Brian Robinson and Evan Neal were named offensively, while William Anderson and Josh Jobe represent the Tide on defense.
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Robinson was chosen as one of the top running backs, following a good performance last season.
He earned an 89.5 rushing grade from PFF on 91 carries and totaled a career-high six rushing touchdowns in 13 games. Robinson has been strong in a backup role, but he’s expected to have a big senior season.
Neal was a huge reason behind Alabama capturing its second Joe Moore Award.
The 6-foot-7, 360-pounder allowed 1.5 sacks in 810 snaps during the 2020 campaign. In his 13 starts at right tackle, Neal paced a 1,400-yard rusher (Najee Harris), a 4,000-yard passer (Mac Jones), and a 1,800-yard wide receiver (DeVonta Smith).
Neal’s protection led to Harris, Jones, and Smith being All-Americans and Heisman finalists.
The native Floridian allowed Jones to propel Smith to become the first receiver in school history to win the Heisman Trophy. Neal returns with 26 career starts — 13 at left guard, 13 at right tackle — and is expected to transition to left tackle.
Anderson, a native of Hampton, Ga., had a breakout year as a true freshman.
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He won the starting role at jack linebacker and totaled 52 tackles (10.5 for loss), seven sacks, eight quarterback hurries, and one forced fumble. Anderson was named Freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-American for his efforts. He is expected to have a bigger sophomore campaign.
Jobe had some good and bad moments at cornerback, but Pro Football Focus sees great things from him.
He recorded 55 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, 11 pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 2020. The 6-foot-1, 192-pounder has often been flagged for defensive holding and defensive pass interference; however, he intends on cleaning his technique and becoming a complete player. Hopefully, Jobe will be a consistent playmaker for the Tide against the opposition.
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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.
