Happy monday to everyone. With the baseball and softball teams eliminated from the NCAA Tournament this weekend, the doldrums of the summer offseason are officially upon us. There are only 89 days left until Alabama football begins the season against Western Kentucky.
The leader for the starting job is redshirt sophomore Caden Veltkamp, who after throwing just two passes all season, came off the bench in the Hilltoppers’ bowl game and led the team to the victory.
Veltkamp threw for 383 yards, five touchdowns and one interception while completing 40 of 52 passes, earning him the Famous Toastery Bowl MVP award. With that kind of performance, he appears primed and ready to take over Western Kentucky’s high-octane passing game.
He has competition, however, in the form of a familiar face to Alabama and SEC fans. The Hilltoppers took Texas State transfer quarterback TJ Finley, who previously spent time at both Auburn and LSU, and had Alabama on the ropes in the famous 4-overtime 2022 Iron Bowl. It remains to be seen whether Veltkamp or Finley will win the starting job.
It would be kind of funny if TJ Finley got his third chance at Alabama in Kalen Deboer’s first game.
It was a big recruiting weekend, and quite a few national analysts seem to believe that SMU QB commit Keelon Russell will move to Alabama.
“There are several interesting stories during the first full week of official visits, but Duncanville Top247 QB Keelon Russell’s trip to Alabama ranks among the top. The SMU commit took his official visit to the Mustangs last week, and Rhett Lashlee and his staff will likely get the minutes this weekend as Russell visits Tuscaloosa.
Alabama has been the most dangerous contender in this race over the past two months, and Kalen DeBoer has the ability to make a strong pitch after developing Michael Penix. “Russell has expressed his desire to play on a big stage and win at a high level, and the Crimson Tide could make the move on him with the best passer in the state of Texas this weekend.”
Russell is a top-40 overall prospect with high potential to move up the board in his senior season.
Alabama is ranked fifth according to KeynoteUSA FPI.
The KeynoteUSA Football Power Index (FPI) ranks Georgia as the nation’s top team for the 2024 season, with a rating of 26.8, which is the highest of any team and is 2.3 points higher than second. highest ranked team, the Oregon Ducks.
Although there are many unknowns about the 2024 Alabama football team, FPI ranks the Crimson Tide at No. 5 with a rating of 21.9.
The regular season is quickly approaching, which means the clock is ticking for DeBoer and his coaching staff to put together a team that will strive to win it all, which has become the standard in Tuscaloosa.
Another national writer has Nate Oats’ team in first place.
1. Alabama Crimson Tide
Nate Oats has built a burgeoning powerhouse in Tuscaloosa, with a pair of SEC championships and a Final Four to the program’s name in his last four seasons. This season might be the Tide’s best chance to cut down the nets. Mark Sears’ return to school after averaging over 21 points per game a year ago is huge, as is Grant Nelson’s earlier decision to spend another year with the Tide. Like any Oats team, this one has tons of shooters around its best players, and unlike last season, the Tide has an elite rim protector to anchor the defense in Clifford Omoruyi (Rutgers Scarlet Knights).
Lastly, Tyler Buchner will try his luck at WR in South Bend.
“I had to dig deep to realize that I would have to seek new goals there in Tuscaloosa. I had never played on a scout team before, but before LSU, I snapped out of my funk and volunteered to lead scouting. After the game, Coach Saban found me and thanked me for helping the team beat the Tigers. I discovered a new role on the team and recognized that one bad game would not define my contribution. “I learned to truly appreciate having shared goals in the common pursuit of excellence, even if I wasn’t playing.”
Buchner announced his transfer from Alabama to Notre Dame and also changed the sport from football to lacrosse. Buchner helped Notre Dame play for a national lacrosse championship.
Buchner announces that he will return to the Notre Dame football team, but as a wide receiver.
That’s all for today. Have a good week.
Rolling tide.
Keynote USA
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