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Alabama Football: 5 potential breakout candidates for spring 2019

By John Mitchell

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 03: Brian Robinson Jr. #24 and Kyriq McDonald #26 of the Alabama Crimson Tide take the field prior to their game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 03: Brian Robinson Jr. #24 and Kyriq McDonald #26 of the Alabama Crimson Tide take the field prior to their game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

2. Eyabi Anoma (OLB/Sophomore) 

It’s been a tumultuous offseason for Eyabi Anoma, the prized-jewel of Alabama’s 2018 recruiting class. The five-star edge-rusher wasn’t happy with his limited role on the team this past season, and with plenty of talent returning to Tuscaloosa for 2019, Anoma flirted with a transfer going as far as to enter his name in the NCAA’s Transfer Portal.

After a conversation with Nick Saban, Anoma elected to withdraw his name and stick it out with the Crimson Tide, but this will be a big spring for him as it pertains to his future at Alabama. A lot of players of Anoma’s talent, the high school superstars particularly, struggle with adapting to small roles early in their careers. Anoma could have gone to other schools and gotten more immediate playing time, but he chose Alabama, a place he knew he would be facing an uphill battle with the talent ahead of him.

Anoma saw spot-duty as a freshman and played significant snaps in the second half of the Clemson game as Alabama tried everything to manufacture a pass-rush against Trevor Lawrence. Even with Christian Miller’s eligibility being exhausted, Anoma isn’t likely to find a starting role on next season’s defense with the return of senior Anfernee Jennings and both Terrell Lewis and Christopher Allen coming back from ACL injuries.

Anoma will have the opportunity to push for more playing time, however, and could be utilized at times with his hand in the dirt as a defensive end in obvious passing situations. With Isaiah Buggs and Quinnen Williams off to the NFL, there’s two starting spots up for grabs on the defensive line, with numerous players who should be able to contribute in some situations.

Even with a starting spot unlikely, Anoma is too talented to be kept off the field, particularly if he cleans up his technique and gets more comfortable setting the edge in the run game. If he’s unable to make a move up the depth chart, however, it wouldn’t be a big surprise if he chose to re-enter the portal after the conclusion of spring practice.

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