Alabama lands 2 players on ESPN’s ranking of the nation’s best true freshmen in 2025
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Alabama suffered a tough loss to Oklahoma in its last outing in Week 12. The Crimson Tide aren’t out of the College Football Playoff picture yet, but they need a few dominoes to fall to get there as an at-large team. A spot in the SEC Championship Game isn’t out of the question, either, but a lot will need to fall into place.
The Tide shouldn’t have trouble with FCS Eastern Illinois in Week 13 ahead of the Iron Bowl at Auburn on Nov. 29. And while they may not control their own destiny as far as a Playoff berth is concerned, they’ve at least enjoyed solid production from a pair of freshman.
In his ranking of the top 20 freshmen in college football after the first two months of the season, ESPN’s Billy Tucker ranked offensive lineman Michael Carroll at No. 11 and defensive back Dijon Lee at No. 13. On Carroll, Tucker says:
He has impressed Crimson Tide coaches with his versatility and football acumen despite his inexperience. A four-star and the No. 1 offensive guard in the rankings out of high school, Carroll pushed for more playing time at right tackle and made his debut as a starter in a win over Tennessee.
On Lee, Tucker writes:
He knows how to use his size to his advantage and has clearly earned the trust of Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack. Lee is a big reason why the Crimson Tide have arguably the stingiest pass defense in the SEC, holding opponents to a conference-best 161.5 yards per game. He has been targeted 20 times and only given up eight receptions.
We’ll see what role Caroll and Lee play down the stretch for the Tide as the regular season comes to an end.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
