18 for 18: Who will be Alabama’s team captains?
Alabama is set to take part in SEC Media Days on Wednesday, marking the unofficial start to the Crimson Tide’s 2018 season. Before head coach Nick Saban or any of the Alabama players take the podium at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, BamaInsider.com will pass the time counting down 18 important questions as the Crimson Tide looks to repeat as champions and claim an 18th national title this season.
Who will be Alabama’s team captains?
Last week we learned which three players will represent Alabama during SEC Media Days as running back Damien Harris, offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher and outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings will all accompany head coach Nick Saban in Atlanta.
This year’s trio falls in line with previous selections as all three players are upperclassmen and are well-versed in Saban’s process. Harris and Pierschbacher are seniors, while Jennings is in his fourth year at Alabama as a redshirt junior. All three are comfortable in front of the camera and aren’t a risk to provide potential bulletin board material at an event that typically generates quite a few headlines.
Beyond that, each representative Alabama is sending, is projected to hold a leadership role on the team this season. Harris elected to forgo the NFL Draft and return for his senior season as he attempts to become the first Crimson Tide back to rush for 1,000 or more yards in three straight seasons. Pierschbacher heads into his fourth season as a starter and will be switching to center to fill the void of Bradley Bozeman. Jennings, who started at Jack linebacker last season, saw his role grow exponentially last week as fellow outside linebacker Terrell Lewis tore his ACL in what appears to be a season-ending injury.
All three players are solid bets to earn permanent team captain honors at the end of the season. In fact, history says its pretty much a guarantee one of them will. While being an SEC Media Days representative doesn’t guarantee captain status, 10 players have gone on to achieve both in the past five years.
2017
Team captains: Bradley Bozeman, Rashaan Evans, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Shaun Dion Hamilton
SEC Media Days representatives: Bradley Bozeman, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Calvin
2016
Team captains: Cam Robinson, Jonathan Allen, Reuben Foster and Eddie Jackson
SEC Media Days representatives: Jonathan Allen, Eddie Jackson, O.J. Howard
2015
Team captains: Jake Coker, Derrick Henry, Ryan Kelly, Reggie Ragland
SEC Media Days representatives: Reggie Ragland, Ryan Kelly, Kenyan Drake
2014
Team captains: Landon Collins, Amari Cooper, Jalston Fowler, Blake Sims
SEC Media Days representatives: Amari Cooper, Landon Collins, Christion Jones
2013
Team captains: AJ McCarron, C.J. Mosley, Kevin Norwood
SEC Media Days representatives: AJ McCarron, C.J. Mosley, Anthony Steen
While there’s no telling the events and players who will shape the coming season, here’s an early look at Alabama’s candidates for permanent team captains.
Not a subscriber?
Subscribe and get 30 days FREE (Use Code RollTide)
New Users: Go to our SIGN-UP PAGE and enter the special coupon code: RollTide
Already registered: Use this sign-up page and enter the coupon code: RollTide
Any questions, just email us at Kyle@BamaInsider.com.
Premium Message Boards
Talk with thousands of Alabama fans inside the Talk of Champions Forum