Alabama football had national championship expectations this season, especially having Bryce Young, Will Anderson, an exciting 2022 recruiting class, and getting several names from the NCAA transfer portal.
The dream did not happen, but the team has an opportunity to finish with 11 wins in the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
RELATED: Alabama running back wants to end 2022 right with first victory in bowl game
No one opted out of the postseason matchup against Kansas State, and the Crimson Tide can send a message to the college football world that next season is the year to watch. Nick Saban is working on another No. 1 signing class for 2023, but an Alabama running back provided interesting news before Wednesday in today’s presser. Jahmyr Gibbs is excited to participate in his first-ever bowl game. Georgia Tech failed to make postseason action in his two years there. He looks forward to putting on a show, but the junior also highlighted some young names he feels will be very impactful versus the Wildcats on New Year’s Eve.
Gibbs named Tyler Booker (offensive lineman), Isaiah Bond (wide receiver), Kendrick Law (wide receiver), and Kobe Prentice (wide receiver) as players that have stepped up in bowl practices. All four names have been impactful for the Tide.
“All of those guys are going to step up big in this game,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs has enjoyed running behind Booker.
RELATED: Alabama OL gives back to his community with youth Christmas Toy Drive
As a former five-star from Connecticut, he has rotated at both guard spots — playing 11 games. Booker earned a spot on the Freshman All-Southeastern Conference Team from the league’s coaches. He received Freshman All-American honors from Pro Football Focus after allowing one sack. The 6-foot-5, 332-pounder had 26 knockdown blocks in 367 snaps to help the nation’s fifth-best scoring offense (40.8 ppg). Gibbs raved about Booker’s physicality and how well he has played throughout the year.
“He practices very hard,” he said of Booker. “He’s a very hard worker who does everything the right way. He’s physical and we need that on the offensive line. He has done a good job since he’s been in. I am expecting the same thing from him.”
Prentice, a former four-star, leads the trio of receivers Gibbs mentioned for receptions (30).
He has 290 yards receiving and a touchdown. Bond has 16 catches while Law has eight.
Derrick Henry, a Crimson Tide alum, exploded onto the scene in the 2014 Sugar Bowl as a freshman. Alabama suffered a 31-45 loss to Oklahoma, but Henry took the world by storm with 100 yards rushing, 61 yards receiving, and two touchdowns. His impact allowed him to become a Heisman Trophy winner in 2015 and lead the Tide to a College Football Playoff National Championship that year. We will see which young player takes advantage of the moment against Kansas State before going into the offseason.
Click here to follow the Bama Elite Podcast
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*
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.
