Alabama Football: 4 Freshmen Who Will Start in 2012

With 12 starters gone off the lineup that started in the BCS National Championship Game against LSU, Alabama would seem like an ideal place for incoming freshmen to step up and fill one of many vacancies. 

However, when you consider players like former Crimson Tide stars like Trent Richardson and Dre Kirkpatrick—former 5-star talents that turned into All-Americans—played as true freshmen, even they couldn’t crack the starting lineup in their first collegiate season. 

While Alabama is bringing in the country’s top collection of incoming talent, according to 247 Sports, a bumper crop of talented prospects—like linebackers Trey DePriest and Adrian Hubbard to name a few—from previous classes have gained experience as backups and are ready to transition into starting roles this fall. 

Still, Nick Saban will not be reluctant to plug in a true freshman if his ability warrants him being on the field immediately.

The odds may be stacked against the incoming freshmen due to the wealth of talent that Saban has accumulated, but a select few are in a position to make a run at finding a starting position at some point this fall.

Here are four freshmen who will have a chance to start in 2012.

Amari Cooper

Alabama lost both of its starting pass catchers from last season, and despite the presence of veterans like Kenny Bell and Kevin Norwood, Saban lured Cooper and fellow Sunshine State product Chris Black as early enrollees to add an explosive element to their offensive attack. 

Black fared better in the spring game, but it was Cooper that was singled out by Saban in the post-game presser as the receiver with a chance to make an impact this fall, according to AL.com.

Both players will have a chance to get on the field early, but the 6’1”, 183-pounder’s ability to stretch the field will help him in his quest to crack the starting lineup.

TJ Yeldon

For those who may have considered that Yeldon would have a quiet freshman season at Alabama, those thoughts were blown to bits after his breakout performance in the A-Day game.

Yeldon made the most of his 21 touches (16 rushes, five receptions) by accumulating 179 yards of total offense (88 rushing yards, 91 receiving yards) and recording a 50-yard catch and run for a touchdown en route to claiming game MVP honors. 

Considering the way Alabama likes to use their backs—and with projected starter Eddie Lacy missing the spring due to injury—Yeldon is likely to play a major role in the offense this season regardless of whether he cracks the starting lineup.  

Ryan Anderson

Three of Alabama’s four starting linebackers have to be replaced this season, but each hole has a talented 2011 class member ready to step in. 

The 6’3", 250-pounder—a high school teammate of Yeldon and fellow early enrollee—could be a candidate to battle Adrian Hubbard and Xzavier Dickson to fill one of the outside linebacker slots manned by Courtney Upshaw and Jerrell Harris last season.

Anderson racked up 14.5 sacks during his senior year at Daphne (AL) High School in 2011, and on a team that does not return a player that recorded more than two sacks last year, his pass-rushing skills could be his ticket to logging valuable minutes this fall.  

Geno Smith

With Dre Kirkpatrick and De’Quan Menzie off to the NFL, Saban will likely be relying on a new face to start opposite veteran Dee Milliner at cornerback. 

While JUCO transfers Deion Belue and Travell Dixon have had the benefit of going through spring drills, the 5’11”, 185-pound Smith will arrive in the summer ready to throw his hat into the race for a starting job.

Smith—the second ranked corner in the class of 2012 according to ESPN—recorded eight interceptions as a junior at St. Pius X high school in Atlanta, according to 247 Sports.

That kind of ball-hawking ability should help him find some minutes as a backup—but could ultimately earn him a full-time spot by season’s end. 

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