This year’s Iron Bowl will not be about coaches, strategies, or schemes.
The matchup on Saturday between Alabama and Auburn comes down to the in-state products for the University of Alabama taking over the contest on Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Alabama has several in-state natives that grew up in this iconic rivalry, including Malachi Moore, Deontae Lawson, Que Robinson, Tim Keenan III, Jah-Marien Latham, James Smith, Qua Russaw, Kobe Prentice, Ryan Williams, Yhonzae Pierre, and others. It is their responsibility to show the coaching staff and their teammates the importance of playing in this game and not having Auburn clinch a bowl berth on the Crimson Tide’s watch.
Kane Wommack names Alabama’s new green dot communicator on defense with Deontae Lawson out
Jah-Marien Latham, a fifth-year senior, is from Reform, Ala.
He is alumnus of Pickens County High School and the University of Alabama as a defensive end.
The 6-foot-3, 280-pounder has played at “Bandit” or field-side end with LT Overton for 11 games and totaled 26 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, and two quarterback hurries. Latham was recruited in the 2020 class by Nick Saban as an end, but he has stepped up to help the defense in a different position. Alabama had a season-ending injury at WOLF with Que Robinson (upper body) and Keanu Koht entered the NCAA transfer portal after being suspended for the Mercer game.
Yhonzae Pierre, a redshirt freshman, has been banged up at the position. Latham transitioned to WOLF last week in preparation for Oklahoma and played well, according to Kane Wommack.
The Tide’s defensive coordinator is proud of one of his defensive leaders for stepping up.
“I thought Jah-Marien being able to move to the WOLF in one week, based off some of the injuries we’ve had and Yhonzae being banged up, did a great job in the week of practice and played well in the game,” Wommack said. “There are some similarities between the Bandit and Wolf position, but there are also differences and I thought he did a really nice job of making those adjustments throughout the week and was fairly consistent in his execution on game day. I appreciate him.”
Alabama has two players in Latham and Keon Keeley that can play either Bandit or Wolf on defense.
The depth is important for the Tide heading into the Iron Bowl against Auburn.
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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.
