Alabama
Alabama lands 4-star DB Jameer Grimsley
Alabama football recruiting momentum continued Saturday evening with 2024 four-star defensive back Jameer Grimsley committed to the Crimson Tide. He’s the second commitment this week, joining three-star defensive lineman Isaia Faga. Here’s what you need to know:
- Grimsley, listed at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds is a Tampa, Fla., native and is the No. 19 rated cornerback, according to 247sports.
- He’s the second defensive back in Alabama’s 2024 class joining five-star Jaylen Mbakwe.
- With Grimsely’s commitment, Alabama holds 10 commitments and is the No. 29 rated class by 247sports, with eight commits holding a four-star ranking or higher.
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What it means for Alabama
Grimsley’s commitment is a big one as defensive back is a position of need in Alabama’s 2024 class. The Crimson Tide lost three defensive backs during spring practice: Khyree Jackson, Tre’Quon Fegans and Jahquez Robinson. They’ll likely lose junior cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry to the 2024 NFL Draft. Jaylen Key, Malachi Moore and Kristian Story all have senior eligibility as well.
Grimsley is technically classified as an athlete, playing cornerback, safety and wide receiver as a junior last season. His versatility on defense, combined with his size makes him a viable candidate for all three positions in Alabama’s defense (cornerback, safety and star), but will start his career at cornerback.
Alabama has a few other defensive back targets to watch for, including five-star safety KJ Bolden who will decide in July or early August, four-star cornerback Zabien Brown, who will decide in July. Alabama is also working to flip Georgia commits Ellis Robison (cornerback) and Peyton Woodyard (safety), both blue chip recruits.
Required reading
(Photo: Robin Alam / Icon Sportswire via AP Images)
Alabama
Oklahoma DC Zac Alley Alabama Postgame
Carson Field has worked full-time in the sports media industry since 2020 in Colorado, Texas and Wyoming as well as nationally, and he has earned degrees from Arizona State University and Texas A&M University. When he isn’t covering the Sooners, he’s likely golfing, fishing or doing something else outdoors.
Twitter: https://x.com/carsondfield
Alabama
Alabama Football at Oklahoma Injury Updates
NORMAN, Okla.–– The Alabama football team stayed relatively healthy in last week’s game against Mercer after suffering a few season-ending injuries in the weeks before with guys like Cole Adams and Que Robinson.
Adams, Robinson and defensive back on Keon Sabb are the only three Crimson Tide players who have showed up on the official SEC availability report this week as Alabama prepares to face Oklahoma on Saturday night. However, the Sooners have a long list of players on the report
Follow along for injury updates throughout Saturday’s game between the Crimson Tide and Sooners.
In-game injury updates
First Quarter
- 11:30- Overton is back on the field for Alabama’s second defensive series.
- 14:30- Alabama defensive tackle LT Overton goes down on the first drive of the game. He is brielfy looked at by medical staff, but is able to walk off the field on his own. However, he headed straight for the injury tent.
Pregame
Alabama Final Availability Report
- Keon Sabb, DB – Out
- Cole Adams, WR – Out
- Que Robinson, LB – Out
Oklahoma Final Availability Report
- Jayden Gibson, WR – Out
- Jalil Farooq, WR- Out
- Nic Anderson, WR – Out
- Andrel Anthony, WR – Out
- Gentry Williams, DB – Out
- Kendel Dolby, DB – Out
- Geirean Hatchett, OL – Out
- Jacob Sexton, OL – Out
- Jake Taylor, OL – Out
- Deion Burks, WR – Out
- Jovantae Barnes, RB – Game-time decision
- Joshua Bates, OL – Out
Read more: What Happened to the Players who Transferred From Alabama Last Year?
Why One Alabama Assistant Has Been Losing Sleep this Week
Where Alabama Football Ranks in the College Football Playoff Poll
Alabama
Oklahoma-Alabama GameDay Preview: Under the Radar
These can feel like grasping at straws sometimes, but in this case, I really think Jacob Jordan can be the difference for the OU passing game. Deion Burks probably isn’t going to play. Jalil Farooq has already been downgraded to questionable after he gave it a try two weeks ago at Mizzou. The return of those two players — for better or worse — did almost nothing for the offense in Columbia. Meanwhile, as the coaching staff inserted their stars back into the lineup, it came at the expense of Jordan, the true freshman walk-on who had blossomed in a three-week stretch, catching six passes for 86 yards against South Carolina, six for 38 and a touchdown at Ole Miss and three for 36 against Maine. At Mizzou? Jordan got to play one snap and was relegated to the end of the bench. OU defenders say he’s a frustrating player to cover because he runs such precise routes and catches almost everything. Also, when Jackson Arnold was benched and running the scout team, he developed some chemistry with Jordan. The Sooner staff would be wise to utilize him against the Crimson Tide.
— John E. Hoover
Alright, a Butkus Award semifinalist and the heartbeat of Oklahoma’s football team is probably too high-profile to qualify as “under the radar,” but it’s Senior Night and I’m going to bend the rules. Stutsman was everywhere against Missouri, totaling 19 tackles and preventing the Tigers from having much of a rushing attack at all. He’s going to say all the right things, but Stutsman’s final game on Owen Field means a great deal to him and his family, and I expect we’ll see another fantastic outing from the talismanic linebacker. And Oklahoma will need it. Jalen Milroe’s ability on the ground makes Alabama’s entire offensive operation go. The teams that have had success bottling him up, Vanderbilt and Tennessee, were able to upend the Crimson Tide. Any path to a shock OU victory runs through a night to remember for Stutsman — something he’s completely capable of on Saturday.
— Ryan Chapman
Even though Saturday marks Senior Day in Norman, the Sooners will be leaning heavily on a true freshman against the Crimson Tide. Coming off a career-high 56 yards on nine carries against Missouri, running back Xavier Robinson said he’s burning his redshirt seems to be in line for an increased share of the team’s carries this week when Alabama comes to town. If the Oklahoma City product has another strong performance, it could be enough to spark Oklahoma’s offense and keep the Sooners in contention against a formidable opponent who has been able to light up the scoreboard this season.
— Randall Sweet
The Sooners will need explosive plays to have a chance to take down Alabama. With receiver Deion Burks injured and sidelined again, the speedy Brenen Thompson might be OU’s best chance at a big play. Thompson has reached the end zone twice this season, and the last time was a 54-yard touchdown connection with Jackson Arnold, proving what Thompson is capable of if he and Arnold get the time they need. Alabama might also overlook the 5-foot-9 receiver and focus on a bigger threat like Jalil Farooq, possibly freeing Thompson, if even for one big play.
— Dekota Gregory
Oklahoma’s wide receiver room has been a hot topic of conversation all season long. The Sooners have been banged up and the passing game has been extremely quiet. Whether it’s the quarterback spot, the offensive line, or the short handed receiver group, it’s been an all-around failure. Jalil Farooq has been injured for most of the season, but returned to the lineup against Missouri two weeks ago. He was expected to have a breakout campaign, but injuries have hampered his time on the field. Farooq looked rusty in his first week back, and it looked like he might not fully trust his foot yet. With a bye week in the past, this is the time for Farooq to make a difference, though. Oklahoma will desperately need him with no other starting receivers healthy, and could force feed him early and often.
— Ross Lovelace
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