Alabama’s offensive tackles are in for its biggest test at this point.
Kadyn Proctor and Elijah Pritchett will face two vicious edge rushers for South Carolina.
Kyle Kennard, a senior, will line up against Proctor while Pritchett has to face Dylan Stewart. Stewart, a freshman from Washington, D.C., is a 6’6″ and 248-pound physical specimen. He is one of the best pass rushers on the Gamecocks’ defense and his mindset to make life difficult on Saturday for Jalen Milroe. Stewart has 12 total tackles, including 5.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks.
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He has three quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles. Stewart averages over one tackle for loss and a sack per game.
Proctor is better at pass protection that Pritchett is, regardless of Pritchett’s improvement. Stewart has a chance to get by the redshirt sophomore multiple times and send a message to Milroe. His passing numbers have been strong through five games, but Milroe has been sacked seven times. South Florida got him three times and Vanderbilt got him twice, including a strip sack in Alabama’s 35-40 loss to the Commodores. Stewart does a good job of timing the snap count well and exploding off the ball.
Alabama may need to have CJ Dippre or Robbie Ouzts as an extra blocker to help Pritchett.
If he has to defend Stewart one-on-one, it could be a difficult game for Pritchett.
Stewart is a star edge rusher so Pritchett must be on his A game.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
