Alabama Freshmen Participation Through Four Games

Unless you have been on full media blackout the last few days, you have probably been hearing all the talk of the drawbacks of the new Four-Game Redshirt Rule. Despite a few high-profile upperclassmen taking advantage of the rule in order to find more playing time elsewhere, the rule should prove useful. The original intent was to allow some young players to gain a bit of live game experience as well as act as insurance in case of injury to starters that forces a team to play someone who was supposed to redshirt.

You may recall back in 2014, Tide starting center Ryan Kelly was injured in the Texas A&M game. True freshman J.C. Hassenauer entered the game in his place and never played another game that season. He burned his redshirt for a few dozen snaps. That will no longer happen with this rule.

With the Tide heading into Game 5, many redshirt questions will be answered this weekend against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Below are the participation stats for the Class of 2018.

GAME 1 - LOUISVILLE:

• Ale Kaho
• Cameron Latu
• Eyabi Anoma
• Jaylen Moody
• Jaylen Waddle
• Jerome Ford
• Josh Jobe
• Patrick Surtain
• Saivion Smith (juco transfer with 3 years to play two seasons)
• Skyler DeLong
• Slade Bolden
• Tevita Musika (juco transfer with 3 years to play two seasons)
• Xavier Williams

GAME 2 - ARKANSAS STATE:

• Ale Kaho
• Cameron Latu
• Eyabi Anoma
• Jaylen Moody
• Jaylen Waddle
• Jerome Ford
• Josh Jobe
• Patrick Surtain
• Saivion Smith
• Skyler DeLong
• Tevita Musika

GAME 3 - OLE MISS:

• Ale Kaho
• Emil Ekiyor (first appearance)
• Eyabi Anoma
• Jaylen Moody
• Jaylen Waddle
• Jerome Ford
• Josh Jobe
• Patrick Surtain
• Saivion Smith
• Skyler DeLong
• Stephon Wynn (first appearance, returning from fall camp injury)
• Tevita Musika

GAME 4 - TEXAS A&M:

• Ale Kaho
• Eyabi Anoma
• Jaylen Moody
• Jaylen Waddle
• Josh Jobe
• Patrick Surtain (started)
• Saivion Smith
• Skyler DeLong
• Tevita Musika

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

KEY CONTRIBUTORS

The following will not be redshirting.

• It should be clear to anyone with a pair of functioning eyeballs that Jaylen Waddle, Patrick Surtain, and Saivion Smith will not be redshirting this season.
• For better or for worse, Skyler DeLong is the Tide’s punter for the unforeseeable future.
• Linebacker Ale Kaho, who joined the Tide in early August, has been a stalwart on special teams. He has 3 solo tackles and an assist.

KEY RESERVES

Eyabi Anoma and Tevita Musika have played in four games and have proven valuable as back-up players on the defensive front. DB Josh Jobe and LB Jaylen Moody have also participated in all four games for the Tide. It is highly unlikely any of these players sit out the rest of the season.

Student Sports

THE JURY IS OUT

• Running back Jerome Ford played in the first three game, but not last week against Texas A&M. It is unclear why the Tide would burn his season with the stable of running backs ahead of him on the depth chart.
• Linebacker Cameron Latu has appeared in two games. He is listed third after Anfernee Jennings and Jamey Mosley at Jack linebacker. With all the injuries the Tide has seen at the linebacker position lately, it will be interesting to see how much he plays going forward.

ONE OR NO APPEARANCES

The following players will likely redshirt. They can play on Saturday versus UL-Laf and again in November against The Citadel while still retaining the fourth year of eligibility.

• OL/C Emil Ekiyor (1)
• WR Slade Bolden (1)
• DL Stephon Wynn (1)
• WR Xavier Williams (1)
• DL Christian Barmore (0)
• DB Eddie Smith (0)
• DB Jalyn Armour-Davis (0)
• LB Jarez Parks (0)
• QB Layne Hatcher (0)
• TE Michael Parker (0)
• OL Tommy Brown (0)