Alabama signed a host of explosive pass rushers in its 2020 recruiting class.
Will Anderson Jr., an outside linebacker, is the undisputed leader.
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He enters his junior season with aspirations of winning a College Football Playoff National Championship, a Heisman Trophy, becoming the school’s single-season sacks leader, and garnering No. 1 overall pick status for the 2023 NFL Draft. The Crimson Tide signed Chris Braswell, Quandarrius Robinson, Jamil Burroughs, Tim Smith, and Jah-Marien Latham in the same class.
Burroughs and Smith were impactful as freshmen. Both witnessed a CFP National Championship in 2020, but now they have an opportunity to be the reason for Alabama having a dominant defense. Smith, a native Floridian, arrived as a five-star defensive tackle in 2020. People thought he would be the next elite nose guard, but Smith has changed positions. He earned Alabama’s starting job at defensive end. The 6-foot-4, 304-pounder will pressure quarterbacks, opposite Byron Young.
Coach Nick Saban praised Smith’s growth throughout fall camp.
Burroughs, a native Georgian, came as a four-star defensive end. He totaled a sack in three games last year, but Burroughs delivered a good performance in spring practice. He recorded a sack on A-Day, and Saban highlighted him as the most improved lineman for Alabama. The 6-foot-34, 309-pounder is Smith’s backup, but Will Anderson gave Burroughs a glowing endorsement.
4/2/22 MFB Practice
Alabama defensive lineman Jamil Burroughs (98)
Photo by Kent Gidley
“Jamil Burroughs is a very good interior pass rusher,” Anderson said Monday during media availability for Utah State. “He has done a good job this offseason. I am excited for him to be with us.”
In Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference, Saban said Smith had a ‘good fall camp’ and Burroughs had a ‘really good spring.’
He wants to see both maintain consistency in gap control and not have mental errors.
Alabama is eight to nine players deep on its defensive line. It has the rotation to be the most exciting group in college football and help the Tide boast a top-five defense. Smith and Burroughs are looking forward to creating a marquee impact up front.
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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.
