| NEWS Freshman report: 11 Alabama true freshmen played vs. Tennessee

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No. 1 Alabama advanced to 7-0 (4-0 SEC) with its 35-13 win over Tennessee on Saturday. And in the Week 8 SEC game, a total of 11 true freshmen from the Crimson Tide’s No. 1 2019 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite, saw the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Of the 11 freshmen, four started on Alabama’s defense in defensive linemen Byron Young and DJ Dale and linebackers Shane Lee and Christian Harris. Evan Neal started at left guard for the seventh consecutive game. Will Reichard started at punter but left the game with an injury. He was replaced by another freshman in walk-on Ty Perine, who made his first appearance.

With the NCAA’s new redshirt rule, players are allowed to maintain a year of eligibility if they play in no more than four games in a season. On Saturday, Reichard, defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe and running back Keilan Robinson appeared in their fifth, eliminating the possibility of them redshirting this year. UA has had 14 freshmen to play in more than four games.


Here are all the freshmen that entered the game in Alabama’s Week 8 game against Tennessee.

CHRISTIAN HARRIS

No. 6 ILB, No. 110 overall in 2019 rankings

Harris started at Will linebacker and recorded a team-high eight tackles, including one tackle for loss.


SHANE LEE

No. 5 ILB, No. 78 overall in 2019 rankings

Lee started at Mike linebacker and recorded six tackles, one sack and one forced fumble, which was scooped and returned 100 yards by cornerback Trevon Diggs for a touchdown.

BYRON YOUNG

No. 8 DT, No. 77 overall in 2019 rankings

Young made his first career start at defensive end and recorded three tackles.


DJ DALE

No. 18 DT, No. 254 overall in 2019 rankings

Dale started at nose guard and recorded two tackles and one tackle for loss.

EVAN NEAL

No. 1 OT, No. 7 overall in 2019 rankings

Neal started at left guard for the seventh game in a row.

JORDAN BATTLE

No. 2 S, No. 43 overall in 2019 rankings

Battle was the sixth defensive back in Alabama’s dime package and was also used on kickoffs, kickoff returns and punt returns. The safety recorded two tackles.

WILL REICHARD


No. 1 K in 2019 rankings

Reichard made his first appearance since the Southern Miss game, but he was only able to punt once before reinjuring his hip and exiting the game. His lone punt traveled 33 yards.

“Will Reichard may have reinjured (his hip),” head coach Nick Saban said. “He said this thing never hurt him at all when punting. He was a little skeptical about kicking, even though he has kicked some and he kicked in pregame, punted in pregame fine. He might’ve reinjured himself. We don’t the extent of that injury, either.”

KEILAN ROBINSON

No. 15 RB, No. 244 overall in 2019 rankings

Robinson entered the game at running back in the fourth quarter and carried the ball three times for six yards.

JOHN METCHIE

No. 40 WR, No. 275 overall in 2019 rankings

Metchie entered the game as a reserve wide receiver in the first quarter and played on special teams, including on punt returns and kickoffs. He did not record any stats.

JUSTIN EBOIGBE


No. 5 SDE, No. 62 overall in 2019 rankings

Eboigbe entered the game at defensive end in the first quarter but did not record any stats.

DEMARCCO HELLAMS

No. 8 S, No. 84 overall in 2019 rankings

Hellams appeared on kickoffs and punt returns but did not record any stats.

TRACKING FRESHMEN PARTICIPATION

Below, we track how many games Alabama’s freshmen have appeared in in 2019.

1. Evan Neal (7) -- Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee

2. Pierce Quick (3) -- New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss

3. Jordan Battle (7) -- Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee


4. Justin Eboigbe (5) -- South Carolina, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee

5. Byron Young (7) -- Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee

6. Shane Lee (7) -- Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee

7. DeMarcco Hellams (7) -- Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee

8. Scooby Carter (3) -- Duke, New Mexico State, Southern Miss

9. Christian Harris (7) -- Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee

10. Marcus Banks (5) -- Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Ole Miss

11. King Mwikuta (5) -- New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Texas A&M

12. Braylen Ingraham (1) -- Ole Miss

13. Darrian Dalcourt (5) -- Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Ole Miss

14. Taulia Tagovailoa (2) -- Duke, Southern Miss

15. Keilan Robinson (5) -- Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee

16. DJ Dale (7) -- Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee

17. John Metchie (7) -- Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Tennessee

18. Tanner Bowles (1) -- New Mexico State

19. Jahleel Billingsley (3) -- New Mexico State, Southern Miss, Ole Miss

20. Will Reichard (5) -- Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, Southern Miss, Tennessee

*** True freshmen that have not played: Trey Sanders (foot), Ishmael Sopsher, Amari Kight, Brandon Turnage, Kevin Harris and Paul Tyson.
 
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