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Plenty of freshmen expected to play early for Alabama

When Nick Saban says a lot of freshmen will play this season, it doesn’t exactly signal a cause for panic. It’s more like a flashing caution sign.

Face it, Alabama’s freshmen are different from most other teams’ freshmen, but, when is all accounted for, they’re still freshmen. And with freshmen comes mistakes and inexperience.

How well the UA coaching staff mitigates the risk of playing those freshmen and how quickly they get them ready, whether that be at running back, right tackle, quarterback or all over the field, will determine the kind of depth the Crimson Tide will field in 2016.

There is Jonah Williams, who is currently penciled in at right tackle. The 6-foot-5, 296-pounder from California, is athletic with good footwork and good hands. He’ll be expected to help upgrade the right side of Alabama’s offensive line, replacing Dominick Jackson.

Williams was a mid-year enrollee, having the benefit of enrolling in January and going through spring practice.

He brings versatility, able to play any of the five spots on the offensive line if needed. For this season, it appears he’ll stick at right tackle.

Then there is the potential of a true freshman at quarterback in Jalen Hurts, a two-way player who has worked mainly at safety in fall camp in Trevon Diggs and a few others who will be expected to provide depth.

“We’ll probably have more freshmen play this year maybe than we’ve had for a while around here,” Saban said. “We feel good about some of them.

“They got a long way to go, but we lost a lot of good players. Some of those guys are certainly adding depth at a lot of positions for us, and we need them to be able to have roles.”

Diggs, a true freshman from Maryland, was recruited in the 2016 class as a wide receiver, but the 6-2, 195-pound athlete has worked primarily at safety. While senior Eddie Jackson and sophomore Ronnie Harrison are the main safeties, in the dime defense Diggs could eventually see a role at safety.

“But Diggs is so talented, he’s pulled double duty, working on the offensive of the ball too.

“We have played Trevon Diggs on both sides of the ball, and he’s done very well, so that’s been very helpful,” Saban said.

How much of a role Hurts plays this season depends largely on the starting quarterback competition, but the talented true freshman, who also enrolled early, is a dynamic dual-threat athlete who doesn’t act like the moment is too big for him.

Freshmen running backs B.J. Emmons and Joshua Jacobs will most certainly have roles in this year’s offense.

Other freshmen who could play a role this year, including on special teams, include Shyheim Carter, Raekwon Davis, Quinnen Williams, Terrell Hall, Jared Mayden, Mack Wilson, Irv Smith Jr. and Miller Forristall.

Reach Aaron Suttles at aaron@tidesports.com or at 205-722-0229.

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