Kobe Prentice Has a Strong Showing in His Debut for Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Earlier than taking the sector towards Utah State, the phrase used to explain Kobe Prentice was “quick.” The true freshman from Calera proceeded to indicate why towards the Aggies, placing his pace, quickness and agility on show in his Crimson Tide debut.

Prentice’s first drive began modestly with a display go the place he squeezed out 5 yards, then gave three again when his subsequent display play ended behind the road of scrimmage. It was the second drive, nonetheless, the place his expertise have been on show, accounting for 2 receptions and 44 yards en path to a landing.

Fellow vast receiver Jermaine Burton might have sealed the deal for Alabama’s first landing of the season, but it surely was Prentice who was the catalyst of the offense, first with a 17-yard catch up the seam, then with a 25-yard catch down the sideline. 

“I believe Kobe is a good participant,” Burton mentioned about Prentice. “On the finish of the day, everyone has to get higher as a result of nobody is an ideal participant, however [Prentice] works arduous, and it is loopy, however I really feel like he has a brilliant future forward of him.”

Prentice had a robust first quarter, main all gamers with 5 receptions for 60 yards. Total, Prentice completed the sport with 5 catches, tied with Traeshon Holden for the game-high, and trailing solely Holden with 60 receiving yards.

“I believe he is been extraordinarily dynamic and versatile,” quarterback Bryce Younger mentioned of Prentice’s efficiency. “I used to be glad to see him have success and be capable to get on the sector.”

Younger applauded Prentice’s work ethic within the time main as much as the sport, noting his eagerness to study and his skill to take teaching. As a real freshman, Younger acknowledges he nonetheless has loads to study, however there’s a lot to stay up for with Prentice.

It was clear that a part of the offensive sport plan was to maximise Prentice’s pace and playmaking, utilizing him in screens and jet sweeps. A kind of performs, the place Prentice dropped his solely goal, had a robust probability of leading to a landing due to the open discipline in entrance of him.

Regardless, Prentice continues to benefit from alternatives that began with JoJo Earle’s harm. 

“Kobe’s executed a very good job – he did a terrific job within the sport,” Nick Saban mentioned of Prentice’s efficiency. “He is obtained a chance as a result of JoJo obtained harm a number of weeks in the past, and he is taken benefit of it.

Prentice wasn’t the one true freshman on offense to make the state sheet. Isaiah Bond and Kendrick Regulation had practically similar stat traces, with Bond catching two passes for 23 yards, and Regulation caught one other two for 22 yards, together with one the place he held on regardless of the defender’s greatest efforts to separate him in two.

Jamarion Miller obtained time at operating again, ending with 32 yards on seven carries, highlighted by a 23-yard run. Ty Simpson additionally crammed in at quarterback, going 1-for-2 for 10 yards. 

Saban mentioned that the objective was to get the youthful guys some expertise, and he did that, however Prentice is main the cost from the entrance, and he had good debut efficiency to show it.

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