Alabama spring game 2018: Players and storylines to watch

Players to watch

Tua Tagovailoa

Of course, the biggest name to watch for in spring is Tua Tagovailoa. By virtue of playing the quarterback spot and being the hero of the National Championship Game, he’s got all eyes firmly planted on him.

He’s not going to be just handed the job and he’ll have to earn it over Jalen Hurts. He’s probably not going to play on Saturday, after a suffering a broken finger in spring practice, but he’s going to be given every opportunity to win the job.

He showed off his arm in the championship game and his ability to scramble out of the pocket. What was impressive is the fact that he didn’t let the big moment get to him and he maintained his poise.

The battle between the two is likely going to have to be something that extends into the summer if Tagovailoa can’t go. It seems like a common story with the Tide and quarterbacks. One wins the competition while the other transfers.

Najee Harris

While quarterback is the discussion point for Alabama right now, the running back is the position that has made the program go for years. It’s time for Najee Harris to shine and the former top recruit in the nation got some burn on the field last year.

He might not be the starter with Damien Harris returning, but he should see plenty of more carries in his sophomore season. The numbers he put up as a freshman were impressive in limited fashion.

Harris had 370 yards on 61 attempts last season and three touchdowns. He got some big carries in the National Championship Game as well. He would finish the evening against Georgia with 64 yards on six carries in an impressive performance.

The sample size for Harris thus far isn’t the largest, but he got enough carries that people can probably feel great about what he can bring to this offense. With a quarterback competition in front of him, Harris can make the life of whichever quarterback wins a lot easier by slotting in and putting up some big numbers.

Having a one-two punch with Damien in front of him should give Alabama yet another lethal running game and one of their best yet. A senior running back with the future behind him will be tough for defenses every week.

Raekwon Davis

Everyone knows who Raekwon Davis is because of his monstrous size and the fact that he’s impossible to block. At 6’7″ and 308 pounds, Davis is a nightmare for any offensive line that has to face him.

With the Crimson Tide having to replace plenty of starters on defense, Davis is one of those budding stars that will be next in line to be a monster up front. He had 8.5 sacks last season and has already had some huge games to his credit.

As he continues to take that next step as a defensive lineman, he’s going to draw comparisons to the players that came before him for the program. He was one of the most productive players on defense last year for the Crimson Tide.

With so many players leaving for the NFL Draft and moving on, Davis is going to be one of those players that is counted on to step up and hold the fort down while some of the other new starters step in and find their footing.