Alabama Football: 2017 Season preview and predictions
Defense
Who came in at No. 1 in our rankings of the top 50 players in 2017? Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. He’s a touchdown machine that plays on the defensive side of the ball. Opposing quarterbacks may be better served to avoid his side of the field entirely.
Related Story: Ranking the top 50 college football players in 2017
Outside of Fitzpatrick, the Tide have a lot of fresh faces in 2017. While they might not be that unfamiliar to Alabama fans, former role players like Marion Humphrey and De’Shawn Hand will become fixtures on the front seven this season.
Even with the turnover on the roster, the Crimson Tide will continue their run of dominance on this side of the football. Alabama was the No. 1 scoring defense in 2017 and went an entire month without surrendering a touchdown. You might want to read that last sentence again.
The Crimson Tide allowed 63.9 rushing yards per game, which included games against SEC teams that thrive on running the football. They completely dismantled LSU and Florida last season. When teams try to open it up, they fair a little better, albeit not by much. Alabama ranked No. 24 in the nation in passing defense last season. With Anthony Averett and Ronnie Harrison returning, they Tide will be tough to be through the air once again.