The Bryce Youngs, Will Andersons and Christopher Allens of the world weren’t the only ones generating buzz during practices and scrimmages this spring at Alabama.
Here are five lesser-known Crimson Tide players who were also among those generating some buzz this spring (listed alphabetically):
Sophomore outside linebacker Chris Braswell
Let’s play a game. Do you remember who was ranked as the No. 1 weak-side defensive end nationally in last year’s recruiting class? You should. It was the aforementioned Anderson, who enters this season as one of the top defensive players in the SEC. But do you remember who was ranked just behind him at No. 2? Maybe not. It was Braswell, who didn’t play at all in 2020 but flashed this spring some of the skills and pass-rushing ability that helped make him one of the top 20 overall players in that 2020 recruiting class within the 247Sports Composite rankings. The Baltimore product closed out the spring with three sacks during the Crimson Tide’s spring game while working against the first-team offense, including a strip-sack that produced a defensive touchdown.
Freshman wide receiver Agiye Hall
During the 2021 recruiting cycle, Alabama signed four of the 10 top wide receivers in the nation according to the 247 Composite rankings, including three who are already on campus for the Crimson Tide. That includes Hall, who has gotten off to the fastest start among that freshman receiver group. The 6-foot-3 Florida product stood out at times throughout the spring and was then one of the stars of the Tide’s spring game while working with the second-team offense. He finished with four catches, 72 yards and a couple highlight reel worthy grabs.
Redshirt junior tight end Cameron Latu
The one-time outside linebacker did on Saturday what he had done during each of the previous two spring scrimmages — get in the end zone. After scoring a combined three touchdowns in those first two scrimmages, Latu had a 59-yard touchdown catch on a pass from Young during the second quarter of the spring game. The development of Latu has the Tide feeling good about its one-two at tight end with the combination of Latu and high-upside junior Jahleel Billingsley.
Senior inside linebacker Jaylen Moody
For three years, Moody has been a backup and special teams contributor. Now, Moody — a late addition to the team’s 2018 signing class — is getting a chance to be a starter and finishes the spring as the leader in the competition for the starting inside linebacker job next to Christian Harris. During Alabama’s spring game, the South Carolina native had seven tackles, a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. That came after the former three-star recruit tallied at least one tackle for a loss during a dominant performance from the first-team defense in the Tide’s scrimmage on April 11.
Sophomore running back Roydell Williams
While Williams was just a fourth-string running back last season, the Hueytown product impressed enough behind the scenes that an Alabama source threw out a big compliment at one point last year — that Williams reminded him some of former Crimson Tide star Josh Jacobs. A lofty compliment? Yes. But Williams further impressed throughout the spring while quietly building a case for playing time in what’s going to continue to be an intense competition for action at running back. With Brian Robinson not available for the spring game, the 5-foot-10, 210-pound Williams was the lead running back with the first-team offense. He accounted for 108 scrimmage yards, including 65 yards on four catches.
Matt Zenitz is a senior SEC football reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mzenitz.
