🏈 Redshirted players for 2017-' 18.

[18Champs]

Ten players from the Crimson Tide’s top-ranked signing class of 2017 redshirted during UA’s 13-1 (7-1 SEC) campaign, including six offensive players, three defenders and one placekicker. Below is a list of the freshmen that redshirted and their high school rankings:

Tyrell Shavers -- rated No. 12 WR

Markail Benton -- rated No. 7 OLB

Phidarian Mathis -- rated No. 7 DT

Chadarius Townsend -- rated No. 5 ATH

Kendall Randolph -- rated No. 12 OF

*Elliot Baker -- rated No. 1 JUCO OT

Mac Jones -- rated No. 18 PRO QB

Kyriq McDonald -- rated No. 45 CB

Hunter Brannon -- rated No. 12 OC

Joseph Bulovas -- rated No. 6 K

* Baker is a junior but did not play this season.

Shavers, Mathis, Townsend and McDonald routinely sported scout-team jerseys for the top players on Alabama’s opponent’s roster. Randolph, Baker and Brannon also spent a lot of the media viewing periods of practice working on the scout-team offensive line.

McDonald, a native of Madison, Ala., created quite the buzz during Monday night’s title game, as he collapsed on the Tide sideline and was carted to the locker room inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The defensive back suffered from dehydration related to the flu.

Jones, one of two quarterbacks signed in 2017, made headlines prior to the LSU game when he was arrested for driving under the influence and possessing an improper ID for a minor. He was suspended for the LSU game and did not travel to Mississippi State.

Alabama’s freshman class is a talented group -- Nick Saban said as much immediately after winning his fifth national championship in nine years. And after sitting out their first seasons at UA, some of the 10 redshirts will join their teammates on the field in 2018.

“This was, I think, one of our best recruiting classes, this freshman class from last year, especially with offensive talent,” Saban said. “That's something we have to build on in this year's recruiting and continue to build on because we're going to lose a lot of good players who are seniors, probably have several players go out for the draft.

“So, our team turns over a little quicker, so it creates a lot of opportunity for younger players to get a chance to play.”

Alabama Crimson Tide Football: Which Alabama freshmen redshirted during 2017-18 season?

 

[Tidestalker]

Thanks for posting!

First time Saban has RS'd one of those JUCO line man... I love it. Maybe with a year under his belt Baker can push for a job, although he was super raw out of JUCO.

Mathis should be a nice addition to the DL group. We will need him for depth. Really liked Randolph out of high school, pretty deep competition in the OL though.

I think Benton has the best chance of all to play a lot. We could use his speed at LB