More tough injury news has arrived for Alabama football.
After losing running back Jase McClellan (knee) for the season, Nick Saban updated reporters on Drew Sanders in Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference. The sophomore outside linebacker sustained a hand injury that needed surgery and is listed as “game-to-game” for a few weeks. He recorded five tackles and two quarterback hurries versus Mississippi.
RELATED: Alabama LB Drew Sanders ‘probably out’ for Texas A&M game
Per Saban, Sanders will ‘probably’ be out for Saturday’s game against Texas A&M.
Dallas Turner and King Mwikuta are the next up at strong-side “SAM” linebacker. Christopher Allen earned the starting job during preseason camp, but a foot injury knocked him out for the season. A mishap to Sanders has the microscope on Turner and Mwikuta. When the Tide released its week one depth chart for Miami, Turner was the co-backup (Chris Braswell) at outside linebacker behind Will Anderson Jr. Braswell will serve as the backup at JACK while Turner should get a chance at SAM.
The Crimson Tide was developing Turner all summer and considered him next in line after Allen got hurt.
Turner, who stands at 6’4″ and weighs 245 pounds, arrived on campus as a five-star.
He is a talented South Florida native who played at American Heritage High School and St. Thomas Aquinas High School. The true freshman won state championships and national championships in high school.
Turner had 25 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in his final high school season. He chose Alabama over Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Ohio State, and Oregon. Turner has four tackles and a quarterback hurry across four games.
During his recruitment process, he said Will Anderson’s freshman year was the motivating factor for him to sign.
RELATED: Alabama players are focused on taking the crowd for Texas A&M out the game
Photo of Alabama OLB King Mwikuta (#30) at practice comes via Rodger Champion of Alabama Athletics
Mwikuta is in his junior season at Alabama. He came as a four-star in 2019 from Georgia. The 6-foot-5, 238-pounder has athleticism, speed, power, and quick-twitched abilities as an edge rusher. Mwikuta has contributed more on special teams; however, he had a big tackle for loss against Mercer. He’s waited for a marquee opportunity to show what he can provide.
8/21/21 MFB Practice
Alabama linebacker Chris Braswell (41)
Photo by Kent Gidley
Alabama could also look at Chris Braswell to play at SAM. The sophomore from Maryland added 20 pounds to his 6’3″ frame during the summer to sustain better at the mesh point.
He’s now at 240 pounds and possesses the ability to play the run and pressure quarterbacks.
After the spring game, Saban told reporters the team had to create a role for Braswell in the fall.
We will see how Saban plays this out, but Turner is in a position to rise and help.
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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.
