3 Alabama football players that must step up to win the SEC

Slade Bolden needs to emerge as Alabama’s No. 2 option at wide receiver

One of the things that made the Alabama offense so compelling the last few years has been the plethora of wide receivers. Usually, the Crimson Tide has a pair of top-flight receivers ready to take flight at the next level. 2019 gave us Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III. 2020 saw DeVonta Smith take home the Heisman Trophy and Jaylen Waddle electrify on his way into the first round.

While it looks like John Metchie III is next up in Tuscaloosa as the No. 1, he really needs Slade Bolden to be his No. 2. Though Agiye Hall offers a ton of promise, he is only a true freshman. Nick Saban will have to count on Metchie and should have no problem doing so. However, Bolden needs to have his best year at Alabama this fall with him approaching 50 catches for 500 yards.

Alabama will only go as far as starting quarterback Bryce Young takes them

No player on the 2021 Crimson Tide will be more scrutinized than true sophomore quarterback Bryce Young. The former five-star recruit from California replaces Davey O’Brien winner Mac Jones under center. Young played sparingly last year backing up Jones at Alabama. With the amount of upside he offers, he has the potential to be All-SEC this fall and be a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Young is not alone in being a first-year starting quarterback for a traditional power with serious College Football Playoff aspirations. However, he may have to do more than most signal-callers in his shoes to not only elevate the talent around him but overcome playing a brutal SEC schedule. While he does not have to be the best quarterback in the SEC, Young has to be top-three this fall.

Overall, this will be a very difficult season for the Crimson Tide to repeat not only as national champions but as SEC champions. Teams like Georgia and Texas A&M may have deeper and more experienced rosters over the Crimson Tide. If Alabama does win back-to-back national titles this year, it will have been the greatest reloading season we will have ever seen during the Saban era.

Regardless, Alabama is still a contender to win the SEC and make it to the College Football Playoff.

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