GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Teams like to try to take shots at Alabama cornerbacks Patrick Surtain II and Saivion Smith, but without much success. This week, Georgia sophomore Jake Fromm will try. He’s one of the most efficient passers in the country, having completed 161 of 233 passes (69.1 percent) for 2,236 yards, with 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Georgia’s dangerous wideouts include Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman, who will try to shake loose for the big plays needed to beat Alabama.
DRAFT SLANT
–RB Josh Jacobs isn’t the most noteworthy draft prospect for Alabama, but he has sneaky-good potential due to his physical, passionate play while sharing backfield opportunities with Damien Harris and Najee Harris. Jacobs, a junior, caught a career-high four passes for 53 yards last season, showing the all-around game that will increase his stock. Wrote NFLDraftScout.com senior analyst Rob Rang: “Should his breakout play continue, he elect to leave Tuscaloosa early and impress in pre-draft workouts — admittedly a big collection of ifs — Jacobs could emerge as one of the most coveted running back prospects available in the 2019 NFL draft, making him a rare underrated NFL prospect for the dominant Crimson Tide.”
ROSTER REPORT:
–OLB Terrell Lewis, who suffered a torn ACL over the summer during a workout, returned to practice Monday. He is trying to do what he did last year, when he returned after missing 10 games because of an elbow injury to help the Crimson Tide down the stretch, including having a sack in the national title game. Lewis could play at some point this season and not lose a year of eligibility because of new redshirt rules.
–CB Trevon Diggs, a starter, is out indefinitely because of a fractured foot but is not likely to return this season, coach Nick Saban said in mid-November.
–CB Jalyn Armour-Davis, a freshman who was the fifth cornerback on the depth chart, is out for the season because of a knee injury.
–S Daniel Wright, a sophomore, is out for the season because of a shoulder injury.
–OLB Chris Allen, a sophomore, is out for the season because of a knee injury.
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