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Alabama football: evaluating 2019 replacements

By Damon Bair

SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during warm ups against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - JANUARY 07: Tua Tagovailoa #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during warm ups against the Clemson Tigers in the CFP National Championship presented by AT&T at Levi's Stadium on January 7, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 03: Nick Brossette #4 of the LSU Tigers tries to avoid the tackle of Dylan Moses #32 of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half of their game at Tiger Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 03: Nick Brossette #4 of the LSU Tigers tries to avoid the tackle of Dylan Moses #32 of the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first half of their game at Tiger Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Linebackers/Defensive Backs

Linebackers

Losing: Christian Miller and Mack Wilson

Returning Starters: Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Lewis, and Dylan Moses

Returning Back-Ups: Ben Davis, Christopher Allen, Joshua McMillon, Ale Kaho, Cameron Latu, Eyabi Anoma, and Markail Benton

New Faces: Shane Lee – The number one inside linebacker in ESPN’s 2019 recruiting class will definitely be competing for some immediate playing time, as Alabama football looks to find their new starting inside linebacker, replacing Mack Wilson. Christian Harris will also be in the mix at the inside linebacker position, and Khris Bogle is an intriguing six-foot-four outside linebacker.

Defensive Backs

Losing: Saivion Smith and Deionte Thompson

Returning Starters: Trevon Diggs, Xavier McKinney, Patrick Surtain Jr., and Shyheim Carter

Returning Back-Ups: Jared Mayden, Josh Jobe, Keaton Anderson, Nigel Knott, and Kyriq McDonald

New Faces: Arguably the deepest Alabama football has ever been in the secondary, Alabama has four incoming defensive backs who rank top ten in ESPN’s 2019 recruiting class at their respective positions. The Tide’s two biggest defensive back recruits flipped on signing day: Jordan Battle flipped from Ohio St, Jeffery Carter flipped from A&M.

Analysis

Anytime you’re returning more players at a position than you’re losing, it’s a win. We got a glimpse of the Alabama football defense without linebacker Christian Miller in the National Championship game, but the defense does return three veteran linebackers including Terrell Lewis, who missed the entire 2018 season due to injury. The veterans plus the handful of talented 2019 recruits leave the linebacker position at Alabama in good hands. Also, is it Ben Davis time? (The six-foot-four top inside linebacker from the 2015 recruiting class)

A year removed from losing Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama football does not have to worry about losing too much in the secondary in 2019. The two best players from the secondary are returning, Xavier McKinney and Trevon Diggs, who was injured the entire second half of the Alabama football season. Let’s be honest, Alabama fans aren’t too disappointed to see Deionte Thompson and Saivion Smith leaving the Tide in 2019, as both struggled in what would end up being their final game in Crimson.

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