SEC Football: Most important newcomers for each team in 2021

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

Anytime you bring in the highest-rated recruiting class in the history of recruiting rankings, take your pick on coming in as a true freshman and having an immediate impact early. The Crimson Tide signed seven five-star players coming off another national title.

Alabama did, however, suffer some heavy attrition on both sides of the ball. The Tide lose nine starters on offense and five on defense. There are a few places where young players could steal snaps. One place is running back. Despite being three-deep, there is not a game-breaker on the depth chart.

With Patrick Surtain II headed to the NFL, cornerback is another place where talented newcomers could compete for snaps. Heisman Trophy winner De’Vonta Smith’s departure could mean competition at wide receiver as well. These are three players at those positions who could compete for snaps.

• Camar Wheaton, RB: Though new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien could favor a running back-by-committee approach early, Wheaton’s game-breaking speed and explosive playmaking ability could be too much to deny. The Texas high school product has ready-made college size (5-foot10 and 190 pounds) and room to grow. Wheaton can run between the tackles or cut back in O’Brien’s zone-blocking scheme. The ferocity and physicality matched with the speed jump off of the tape. Wheaton can also contribute to returning kicks and punts.
• Ga’Quincy McKinstry, CB: With Patrick Surtain II gone, Ga’Quincy McKinstry has all the ability in the world to compete for snaps and even start as a true freshman like the aforementioned Surtain II. McKinstry is an elite athlete who also played basketball while in high school. McKinstry is remarkably polished for such a young corner. An Alabama standout, McKinstry has great feet that can mirror any type of receiver and has the speed to bait quarterbacks into thinking he got beat. McKinstry also played receiver in high school, so he has such good ball skills while the ball is in the air.
• Jacorey Brooks, WR: At 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, Brooks is a bit of a departure from the smaller sprinter-like receivers the Crimson Tide have had recently in De’Vonta Smith and Henry Ruggs III. Brooks, however, is an elite athlete who will definitely win more 50/50 balls than he loses. Brooks possesses a large catch radius but is aggressive with the ball in his hands. There is some concern about his top-end speed, but Alabama has the best development program in the country,y and according to the coaches at IMG Academy, Brooks is the hardest worker in the room.