Happy Thursday everyone! Nate Oats' team faced a tough challenge last night at North Dakota. As a Devils Lake, North Dakota native, Nelson shared his thoughts. "We got yelled at like we should have," he said. "I'm sure we'll continue to get yelled at this week. But they played really great. It's a great team and I think they'll win a lot of games."

Coach Oats' Frustration with Defense

Alabama coach Nate Oats was particularly disappointed with his team's defense. North Dakota scored 52 points in the second half, averaging 1.486 points per possession. "I give North Dakota credit; they wanted this game," Oats said. "They were ready for it. Great environment. Crowd was great. And our guys didn't really come out ready to play. Our matchup on (Treysen) Eaglestaff wasn't great to start. I don't know that we really ever found the matchup." 1: This loss serves as a wake-up call for the team. They need to step up their defensive game and be more prepared for tough opponents. It's clear that they have some work to do if they want to succeed in the SEC this year. 2: The high number of points allowed in the second half shows that there were some breakdowns in the team's defensive strategy. Coach Oats will need to analyze these issues and come up with a plan to improve.

Running Back Situation

In Alabama's most recent non-College Football Playoff bowl game, running back Jahmyr Gibbs received the majority of the carries, recording 76 yards rushing and 66 yards receiving on 17 touches. But three other backs - Miller, Jase McClellan, and Roydell Williams - combined for nearly half of Alabama's total carries. 1: Kalen DeBoer is excited for Richard Young to get his chance. DeBoer described Young as a "strong running back" with many tools to work with. He should get his share of touches to end 2024. 2: The competition among the running backs shows the depth of the position on the team. Each back brings something different to the table, and it will be interesting to see how they perform in the upcoming games.

Wide Receiver Situation

Alabama is down to four healthy wide receivers after the transfer portal season, with only Rico Scott and Jaren Hamilton behind starters Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard. There is little reason that Jaylen Mbakwe will not get a look if he wants it. 1: The loss of some wide receivers has created an opportunity for others to step up. Rico Scott and Jaren Hamilton have shown potential, but Mbakwe's addition could provide a new dimension to the offense. 2: The coaching staff is excited about the potential of Rico Scott and is looking forward to seeing him in action in the bowl game. He has shown that he can make plays and execute at a high level.

Defensive Additions

On Monday, DeBoer began to flip the momentum with Alabama landing former Florida defensive lineman Kelby Collins. The Crimson Tide kept things rolling on Tuesday with former Utah cornerback Cam Calhoun committed to Alabama. 1: These transfers add depth and talent to the Alabama defense. Kelby Collins and Cam Calhoun are both highly rated players and will be valuable additions to the team. 2: The addition of these players shows that the coaching staff is actively working to improve the defense. They are looking for players who can make an immediate impact and help the team succeed.

NCAA Rules and Player Eligibility

NCAA rules typically allow players a total of five years to play four seasons, but the current crop of college players have been granted an extra year due to the disruption of the coronavirus pandemic. Diego Pavia won an injunction that will almost assuredly not be resolved by next season and thus will be eligible to play again. 1: This ruling has significant implications for Alabama players like LB Justin Jefferson. If he wants, he now has some additional years to play. 2: The NCAA's decision to grant an extra year of eligibility has created some uncertainty for teams and players. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the future.That's about it for now. Have a great day.Roll Tide.