Alabama Football: 3 Breakout Candidates for 2022
By Kathryn Rose
![Alabama running back Trey Sanders (6) follows a block by Alabama wide receiver Traeshon Holden (11) as he runs the ball against Cincinnati during the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal game at the 86th Cotton Bowl in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Alabama defeated Cincinnati 27-6 to advance to the national championship game. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]College Football Playoffs Alabama Vs Cincinnati](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F7fde1331f5a82a0299f861cfc9eca70220546cacc9d3d541b849c23d6b102c24.jpg "Alabama running back Trey Sanders (6) follows a block by Alabama wide receiver Traeshon Holden (11) as he runs the ball against Cincinnati during the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal game at the 86th Cotton Bowl in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas Friday, Dec. 31, 2021. Alabama defeated Cincinnati 27-6 to advance to the national championship game. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]College Football Playoffs Alabama Vs Cincinnati")
Alabama football has been defined by blue-chippers all over the field for the entirety of Saban’s 15 years as head coach. Rebuilding, in Alabama terms, is watching a crop of new players become champions.
Indeed, in 2021, Alabama football saw such incredible talent waiting in the wings once more. First-year starting quarterback Bryce Young won the Heisman Trophy, and wide receiver Jameson Williams became the ultimate slasher of pass coverage.
Of course, the Alabama story for last season ended in disappointment, if winning the program’s 29th SEC title can be such a thing. Williams went down with an ACL tear in the second quarter of the title game, and the Tide offense was never the same since.
Those weren’t the only guys to make a name for themselves though. Brian Robinson finally got the nod as starter after Najee Harris left for the NFL, and had a casual 1,343 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns on the ground.
Even with the emergent talent on offense, it was defense that probably saw the most gain. Will Anderson was pretty darn good as a true freshman, but in 2021, he should’ve been a Heisman candidate given his freakish 17.5 sack, 101 total tackle performance that year. There was also Phidarian Mathis stepping up as an interior stopper, and true freshman Dallas Turner recording 8.5 sacks at linebacker.
Alabama football, like most years, is a consensus top two pick in the way-too-early rankings released by various media outlets. Here are the three guys who will step up and return the Tide to a national title.