BamaCentral 22 for ‘22: Who Will Alabama’s Team Captains Be This Season?

After falling one win in need of including a nineteenth nationwide title final season, Alabama will look to rebound and take the following step this 12 months. The Crimson Tide returns a loaded roster, together with reigning Heisman winner Bryce Younger and a rebuilt offense in addition to one of the vital proficient defenses within the Nick Saban period.

Alabama will open its season on Sept. 3 when it hosts Utah State inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. To assist go the time, BamaCentral’s Joey Blackwell, Tony Tsoukalas and Katie Windham will talk about 22 matters and questions in regards to the 2022 season.

Following Alabama’s Leadership Lake Day, we proceed our collection by predicting who Alabama’s crew captains can be this season.

Blackwell’s take

First issues first: quarterback Bryce Younger and out of doors linebacker Will Anderson Jr. will each actually be amongst this 12 months’s everlasting captains, a feat that each completed in 2021 as sophomores.

Now with that dynamic management duo out of the best way, let’s check out who might compete for the ultimate two spots.

In comparison with final season, the 2022 Crimson Tide boasts a considerable improve in management. On offense, lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr. and tight finish Cameron Latu are the 2 names that seem most frequently when discussing management. On protection, two extra gamers emerge in linebacker Henry To’oTo’o and security Jordan Battle, with each gamers equally deserving a spot as one of many crew’s 4 captains.

This season, although, I am predicting two from all sides of the soccer. On offense, I am choosing the plain choice in Younger alongside Ekiyor. On protection, it is a a lot nearer race behind Anderson, however I am choosing Battle to only edge out To’oTo’o for the management function.

Tsoukalas’ take

Assuming Alabama sticks to its standard mannequin of 4 everlasting crew captains, half of the work is completed right here. Bryce Younger will definitely repeat as a crew captain as will Will Anderson Jr. Each our fairly apparent decisions contemplating they’re arguably the perfect gamers on their respective sides of the ball and already maintain positions of management on the crew.

It will get just a little extra attention-grabbing from there. Security Jordan Battle, inside linebacker Henry To’oTo’o and defensive sort out D.J. Dale all return for his or her senior seasons and would be the leaders of their respective place teams. To’oTo’o is getting into his second 12 months because the signal-caller of the protection, which is a management function in itself. All three gamers often converse with the media and are good representatives of the college. Whereas this isn’t normally an essential issue when it comes time for fellow gamers to pick everlasting crew captains, it will probably solely be assumed that the trio reveal an identical presence within the locker room.

There are additionally a number of worthy choices on the offensive aspect of the ball, particularly redshirt seniors Emil Ekiyor Jr. and Cameron Latu. Just like the defensive trio I discussed above, these two carry themselves properly and can maintain essential roles subsequent season.

In the end, I’m going to stability this out and decide two gamers on all sides of the ball. On offense, Younger and Ekiyor get the nod whereas Anderson and Battle spherical issues out on protection. To’oTo’o is a detailed No. 5 for me.

Windham’s take

Let’s get the plain ones out of the best way. Bryce Younger and Will Anderson Jr. had been each captains final season as true sophomores, and I can not see any purpose whereas they will not get that honor from their teammates for the second 12 months in a row. 

Whereas Younger and Anderson had been the 2 most proficient gamers on the crew, they had been additionally praised by their teammates for his or her management final season. One other participant who’s management is usually recommended by his teammates is Henry To’oTo’o. Final season, he acclimated himself as a switch within the coronary heart of the Alabama protection because the beginning inside linebacker. I consider he’ll construct on that function and be named a crew captain. 

For that fourth and ultimate spot, it comes right down to Cameron Latu or Jordan Battle. Latu has put within the work in his 5 years in this system, beginning out at linebacker earlier than transitioning over to tight finish and dealing his method up the depth chart. Battle has seen constant enjoying time since he was a real freshman and will have left after his junior 12 months to be a excessive NFL Draft decide. As an alternative he selected to return for his senior season to move up the again finish of the Alabama protection. I believe both participant may very well be chosen by their teammates as a captain for the 2022 season. 

Earlier Questions

Which Alabama Switch Will Have the Finest Season?

Which Alabama Data Will Bryce Younger Break This Season?