The Alabama Crimson Tide has long been recognized for producing exceptional pass rushers, so seeing no Bama players on lists of 2024’s best pass rushers is almost astonishing.
No commodity in college football has been more undervalued than the 2024 Alabama Crimson Tide. More than two months after Nick Saban announced his retirement, Alabama’s prospects for the following season remain uncertain.
This concept is supported by numerous rankings of the best 2024 players organized by position group. On the most popular Top 10 lists, no Crimson Tide wide receiver, tight end, or cornerback can be found. PFF presents an example with cornerbacks from lesser programs Kansas, Louisville, and Virginia Tech represented but not the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Another such list for pass rushers cannot be challenged for accuracy. No Alabama player is included on ESPN’s Top 10 list for good reason. No returning Crimson Tide player has yet earned such distinction.
ESPN estimates that Tennessee Vol pass rusher, James Pearce Jr. will be 2024’s best. Three more SEC players were listed in the Top 10; Texas Longhorn, Trey Moore, LSU Bengal Tiger, Harold Perkins, and Ole Miss Rebel Princely Umanmielen.
Based on a calculation of votes, ESPN chose 15 ‘others’, including Deontae Lawson at No. 15. Lawson, when required is an outstanding pass rusher though in Nick Saban’s defensive scheme, Lawson had other more important duties.
It would be interesting for someone to do a deep dive into the 10 schools listed by ESPN as having the nation’s pass rusher – and see where each school would rank for its best three or four. Let’s do a deep dive into just one, the Alabama Crimson Tide.
First, a claim is made that Alabama Football has the best pass-rushing roster of players in college football. In detailing Alabama’s top pass rushers, no distinction is made between the Crimson Tide’s new Wolf and Bandit positions. An argument can be made that Alabama’s list should include seven or eight players. The Crimson Tide’s depth certainly warrants that number. Instead, we will focus on five Alabama players who have the potential to be the Tide’s best pass rushers in 2024.
