Alabama's 5 best returning players in 2016
Alabama, which beat Clemson to win the national championship Monday night, is losing a lot of big names to the NFL or graduation.
Quarterback Jacob Coker, linebacker Reggie Ragland, defensive lineman Jarran Reed, running back Kenyan Drake, cornerback Cyrus Jones and center Ryan Kelly are among Bama’s seniors we know who have played their last game for the Crimson Tide.
Meanwhile, there are also some Alabama juniors who look like they are bound for the 2016 NFL draft: running back Derrick Henry, defensive linemen A’Shawn Robinson and Jonathan Allen and tight end O.J. Howard.
As of Jan. 12, with those early-entry projections in mind, here are the five best returnees for the Crimson Tide in 2016.
5. SS Eddie Jackson: The junior from Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., has had a career year, leading Alabama in interceptions and pick-sixes. He had a key interception in Monday’s title game. His return to the secondary is critical when you consider that Bama is losing fellow starters Jones and Geno Matias-Smith to graduation. But Jackson and teammates Minkah Fitzpatrick and Marlon Humphrey are slated to return, which should help make life easier for new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.
4. LB Ryan Anderson: The Daphne, Ala., product has been impressive as a junior, finishing the season as one of three Crimson Tide players with double-digit tackles for loss. Plus, he was second on the team in sacks, behind fellow linebacker Tim Williams, who would have made this list, but seems to be on the fence about whether he wants to return to Alabama.
3. LT Cam Robinson: With Kelly’s departure, the 6-foot-6, 326-pound sophomore from Monroe, La., becomes the most important member of Alabama’s 2016 line. Robinson won’t have to do it alone however, as starting guards Ross Pierschbacher and Alphonse Taylor are expected to return. Also, three freshmen (Brandon Kennedy, Richie Petitbon, and Matt Womack), two sophomores (J.C. Hassenauer and Bradley Bozeman) and junior Brandon Greene should all compete for snaps along with members of Bama’s 2016 recruiting class.
2. LB Reuben Foster: With Ragland completing his stellar college career, Foster seems poised to take over as the leader of Alabama’s defense. The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder just completed a terrific junior year in which he finished second on the Tide in tackles behind Ragland and matched defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick for the team lead in pass breakups. Replacing Ragland won’t be easy, but Foster has Alabama in good shape.
1. WR Calvin Ridley: Ridley was a non-factor Monday night, but his eight-catch, 138-yard and two-touchdown performance against Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl helped him break the single-season receiving yards mark for an Alabama freshman, previously held by Amari Cooper, when he had exactly 1,000 yards in 2012. The Crimson Tide will obviously have to find its next starting QB, but at least Coker’s replacement won’t have to worry about his No. 1 receiver.