5. Cameron Latu’s position change to TE may be permanent
Due to a lack of depth this spring, the coaching staff experimented with moving Cameron Latu from outside linebacker to tight end. That switch might be permanent as Latu has impressed on offense, culminating in a pretty strong A-Day game. He caught two passes for 37 yards, making a nice grab in the redzone and a catch down the field.
Latu was listed with the starters and currently looks like the No. 2 tight end on the roster behind redshirt junior Miller Forristall. Junior Kedrick James has talent, but he’s working his way out of the Nick Saban doghouse after a violation that forced him to miss the College Football Playoff last season, and will also spill over into a four game suspension in 2019.
Giles Amos, Major Tennison and Michael Parker have no real game experience, and they haven’t obviously made much of an impression in practice for Latu to flip to offense and immediately jump up the depth chart.
Incoming freshman Jahleel Billingsley will arrive in the summer, but he’ll need to work hard in the strength and conditioning program to bulk up if he wants to make any kind of impact as a true freshman. He could be in line for a redshirt season to add the necessary weight to play tight end at this level.
Another factor that could lead to Latu staying at tight end is Alabama’s strong depth at his natural position of outside linebacker. Redshirt junior Terrell Lewis was limited during the spring and sat out A-Day, and sophomore Eyabi Anoma used that to his advantage. He jumped into the starting lineup alongside redshirt senior Anfernee Jennings, and Anoma looked outstanding all spring long, culminating in a strong showing at A-Day.
Anoma flirted with a transfer this offseason, but decided to stick it out. He put his head down and worked hard this spring, and he should be a real difference maker for Alabama on defense in 2019. With Jennings, Lewis, Anoma, and redshirt sophomore Christopher Allen, the Tide has quality depth and talent at outside linebacker that should wreak havoc in opposing backfields.