At the University of Alabama too much talent is becoming problematic. Not only does UA have excellent recruiting power, but there are many young athletes that desire to come here for different reasons.

University of Alabama is a sure way to get noticed by the NFL scouts. UA is on TV almost every Saturday from the end of August until the play-off games on December 31 and more times than not, one more huge television audience the first week of January for the National Championship. So for the athletes that wish to play on the next level in the NFL, Alabama is the place to play your collegiate football.

Another reason athletes want to come to Alabama, they are almost guaranteed a National Championship during their four or five year tenure there. I’m not being arrogant just stating facts as we have known them since Coach Saban took the helm. The years 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2017 the Tide has won the National Championship. The years 2009, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Alabama was the SEC champions. Young men love to be winners and they want to use their talents where it is most advantageous to themselves. Isn’t this what we all try to do?


So when it comes to recruiting, it is pretty easy to get the best recruits, no matter where that athlete is located.

The new Red-Shirt and Transfer Rules the NCAA has implemented is going to change the complexion of Collegiate Sports as we know them.

The Red Shirt Rule- Allow’s Division I football players to play up to four games in a season and still Redshirt.

The Transfer Rule – Division one athletes will have the ability to transfer to a different school and receive a scholarship without asking permission from their current school.

Players that transfer must still sit out one year, unless they are Graduate students.



There is a huge quarterback competition going on at University of Alabama and this is where we might see these two new rules used first. Let’s look at the players involved #1. Jalen Hurts – 2018-Junior. Came out of high school a four-star recruit. He is 6’2 – 218 lbs. Duel threat quarterback. Hurts is 26-2 as a starter as he threw for 2,081 yards, 17 touchdowns to one interception and ran for 855 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Hurts won the starting position in the 2016 season. He became the first true Freshman to start as quarterback at Alabama in thirty two years.

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2. Tua Tagovailoa – 2018-Sophomore. Five-star recruit out of high-school. Tua is 6’1 – 215 lbs. Duel threat quarterback. Named Offensive MVP after going 14-of-24 for 166 yards, three scores through the air and 27 yards on the ground, all in the second half of the National Championship game his Freshman Season.

3. Mac Jones - 2018- Senior – Will be the back-up for either quarterback. 6’2’ - 198 lbs. Pro-style quarterback. Four-star out of high-school and red-shirted his first year.


Chances are neither will transfer before the season begins. Hurts is going to graduate in December, 2018. Under the new rules, he could play up to four games and then red-shirt. After this season he could transfer as a graduate student and play immediately with two seasons left in his eligibility. In a quote to Bleacher Report, Hurts father said,”if his son loses the starting job to Tagovailoa that, “he’d be the biggest free agent in college football history.”

Not as easy for Tua. As an undergraduate, he would be required to sit out one year after transfer if he plays this Fall for Alabama. Tagovailoa was quoted as saying, “Even throughout my football season, I wasn't the starter," I wanted to leave the school. So, I told myself if I didn't play in the last game, which was the national championship game, I would transfer out.”

Both of these great quarterbacks are making threats to leave if they are not satisfied with their on field playing time. How will Coach Saban respond to these threats? I believe he will let them fight it out on the practice field and may the best man win. He may hope to keep both, but it probably won’t happen.


In the Running back position there is a clamor for a starting position between men that are well qualified.

Damien Harris - Senior - 5’11” - 211 lbs.-Harris’ choice to return to Tuscaloosa is nothing but positive for the Tide. He has had 2,197 yards rushing with 14 touchdowns in three seasons with Alabama. He had 1,000 yards rushing with 11 touchdowns last season. He also had three games with at least 100 yards rushing during 2017. Damien states, “But at the end of the day, I just wanted to come back and be a part of this team for another year. You can only be a part of something this special for so long. And I know it’s a great privilege and it’s a blessing to be able to play at the next level. But I just really wanted to continue to live in this moment and be a part of such a great team.” Both Damien and his mother wanted him to come back one more season to earn his degree.

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Najee Harris- 6’2”- 227 lbs. - No. 3 overall prospect of the class of 2017, 247 Sports as the number 2, while Rivals has him as the number 1 overall - 5 Star Running back out of high school. Najee has exceptional running ability. Najee is unhappy with his playing time and has thought about leaving Alabama as he stated to the San Francisco Chronicle, "The only thing I can tell you is, I hope I'm on the field more," Harris said. "Last year was the worst feeling. That whole season was mentally challenging."

Josh Jacobs – 5’10- 212 lbs. Four star recruit out of high-school. His Freshman Season he rushed 85 times for 567 yards and four touchdowns to average 6.7 yards per carry, a total that ranked second among Tide backs (Behind Derrick Henry)... also added 14 receptions for 156 yards . His Sophomore season was plagued with injury. He was still able to run for 284 yards on 46 carries and caught 14 passes for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Josh stated he was “Lowkey nervous about having surgery. I've been playing on a broke ankle since week 5. It’s definitely been hard playing knowing that any play could be your last. I'm grateful and blessed to had finish the season much more coming soon.” That’s determination! Is coming back 100% for the 2018 Season.

Brian Robinson – This could actually be the break out back of 2018. 6’1- 220lbs – 4 star out of high school. He runs very aggressively. Although smaller than Bo Scarborough, Brian has been said to have the same body physique and running style. Brutal. Both are natives of Tuscaloosa and grew up loving Alabama football.

As if this weren’t hard enough, the 2019 Season will see Taulia Tagovailoa and Paul Tyson. One is Tua’s little brother and the other is Coach “Bear” Bryant’s great grandson. Taulia is a 4 star commit. 5’11” - 203 Lbs. - Paul Tyson- 4 star commit 6’4.5”- 217 lbs. - both are “hard” commits for 2019.

The Running back future is equally impressive with Jerome Ford, a four-star all-purpose ‘back from Florida, is arriving late this Summer. Also these two fantastic backs are leaning towards Alabama. Keilan Robinson- four stars – 5’9 – 184 lbs. and Trey Sanders a 5 star recruit who is 6’ 216 lbs.


So who will it be? To have this kind of talent at one school is amazing. Again, who will Coach Saban name as his starting running back. Will the others stay if they don’t get enough playing time. We will see.