The rankings are not yet complete, but here are some NFL Draft that are expected to be contenders for the top spot in the next five years. The Crimson Tide and the Golden Gophers are easy picks from the SEC West, respectively. Houston and Boise State are ranked just behind them. While any of these three could potentially finish in the top 25, they are far from being a lock.
The Crimson Tide are an easy pick in the SEC West
The Crimson Tide are the favorites in the SEC West heading into the 2022/2023 season. They will try to win the national championship for the seventh time in the last eight years, and they have the talent to do it. In addition to Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, the Crimson Tide have an explosive offense led by Georgia Tech transfer Jahmyr Gibbs. In addition to Gibbs, the Crimson Tide have Tyler Harrell and Jermaine Burton from the SEC. However, their offense has struggled with sacks, allowing 41 sacks last season.
Alabama’s schedule in 2022/2023 will be tough to predict. The Crimson Tide will play Texas in Tuscaloosa. Texas signed a home-and-home agreement before joining the SEC, so they will meet on a regular basis.
The SEC has 12 teams and three teams can win the conference. Texas A&M, LSU, and Alabama have experienced recent success, but their players must mature before they can contend for the league title. LSU and Florida, meanwhile, are rebuilding after losing their head coaches. They have Dan Mullen as their offensive coordinator under new head coach Urban Meyer, and LSU has Ed Orgeron as their new head coach. Both teams have plenty of talent, but it will be a big lift to win six games NFL Draft.
Crimson Tide Top 5: Defensive Linemen – Sports Illustrated
Alabama’s defensive line has been recognized as the best in the country. They have a star outside lineback in Will Anderson Jr., who would’ve been the first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. In addition, Kelee Ringo is back from injury and looks to be a star cornerback. He is massive and has good speed and good coverage instincts.
The offense has enough talent and depth at key positions. Alabama’s offensive line was one of the best in the country last season, allowing teams to score only 20 points per game. Their defense will be stronger in 2022 than they were last year. The slew of injuries on the offensive line makes it difficult to predict how much talent will be available in those positions.
The Crimson Tide have to replace star running back Tyler Badie and find a quarterback to take over the offense. Three quarterbacks are in the mix, including Brady Cook, who is the likely front-runner. They also have a five-star freshman at receiver and four returning starters in the offensive line a NFL Draft.
The Crimson Tide are picked No. 1 in college football
The Crimson Tide are the favorite to win the national championship in 2022. They have a roster stocked with future NFL talent. Many of these players have first-round potential and are likely to go early in the 2023 NFL Draft. In addition to the top-ranked QB, Alabama has a top offensive line unit in Richard Young, Justice Haynes and Dylan Lonergan.
The Tide lost two of their best wide receivers last year, but the team has plenty of talent behind them. The Crimson Tide have a pair of preseason All-SEC selections in Cameron Latu and Jermaine Burton. They also have a number of transfer prospects. One of these players could end up as a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Alabama is expected to stay at No. 1 in the polls for the fifth straight season. However, they will need to improve their offense to keep their No. 1 spot. They must improve around Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young, and they cannot continue to commit 15 penalties per game.
Early 2023 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings: Bryce Young
Young is the top prospect in the 2022/2023 PFF draft and the top quarterback prospect in the SEC. His play against Georgia last year was ridiculous and his stats were unlike anyone else in college football. It is important to remember that Young will need to gain 20 pounds before he is considered a top prospect in the draft. If he can continue his stellar play next year, he could end up a top-five pick.
The Crimson Tide have a top-notch recruiting class this spring. In addition to Bryce Young, they added a talented secondary. The Crimson Tide have picked up in-state picks such as Anthony Mitchell and Jahlil Hurley. They have also landed a top-rated safety in Downs, who will add a physical presence to their defense. Another player of note in the defensive backfield is Yhonzae Pierre, a speedster who is poised to develop into a disruptive edge defender.
The Crimson Tide have an excellent running back in Leonard Robinson. He has a great combination of vision and stutter-step balance, making him a top prospect for a first-round pick. He has scored 21 touchdowns in 19 games while on a college level.
The Crimson Tide are picked No. 4 in the football division
The Crimson Tide are scheduled to hold spring practices in March and April 2022. The team’s spring game is scheduled for April 16, 2022, in Tuscaloosa. The Tide also will host SEC Media Days in Atlanta from July 18-21, 2022. The SEC Media Days will feature Alabama head coach Nick Saban, quarterback Bryce Young, linebacker Jordan Battle, and wide receiver Will Anderson Jr. as well as the head coaches of each of the four divisional teams. The SEC Media Days will be televised on ESPN and SEC Network.
Alabama is favored to win the national title this season. It is currently ranked No. 1 in the Athlon Sports polls. Other teams are expected to finish in the top four. Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, and Georgia are among the top five teams in the SEC.
The Crimson Tide’s 2020/2023 nonconference schedule will include games against Houston, Memphis, and Gonzaga. In addition, the Tide will face Michigan State in the Phil Knight Invitational. They could also play UConn or Oregon in late January.
This Alabama Defense Could Be Something Special
The Tide’s defense is expected to be one of the best in the country, as the defensive line is stacked with talented players. The linebackers should be among the best in the country, led by star Will Anderson Jr.
In the 2022/2023 season, Alabama will play Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville. Though the Crimson Tide have been the best in the country during their season, they may not be at full strength for this SEC West tilt.
Athlon has ranked Alabama as the team to win the national championship. They return quarterback Bryce Young, who threw for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns last season. With a revamped offensive line and stronger receiving corps, Alabama is likely to be a contender for the CFP title.
Nick Saban’s team has consistently been in the National Championship game. The Crimson Tide have won three CFP title games in the last five years, and have only missed the College Football Playoff once. Last year, the Tide made the final, but lost to Georgia koora live.
The Golden Gophers are picked fourth in the football division
Last year’s offense had a great season, and the Gophers were able to average 25.5 points per game. However, the offensive line was not so great, and only one starter is returning from last year. As a result, the line surrendered 45 sacks. Additionally, the offensive line allowed 5.6 yards per play and allowed 26.5 points per game. Nevertheless, the defensive line remains solid, and is led by a senior named Dom Peterson.
The offense is a key area to improve, and the Golden Gophers are expected to improve on both sides of the ball. The team must improve its defense as they have allowed more than 30 points each of the last three seasons. Additionally, the defense had trouble stopping the run and finished eighth in pass efficiency defense in the Sun Belt. Additionally, the additions made through the portal should improve depth. On the offensive side, a great addition in Hatcher is expected to improve the ground game.
QB Brett Gabbert hopes to build on last season’s success
The RedHawks, led by junior quarterback Brett Gabbert, should be the conference’s favorite this season. They are looking to make the conference title game for the first time since ’19. Though Gabbert won’t have his favorite ’21 target Jack Sorenson, he will have plenty of quality receivers to throw to. The RedHawks return six starters from last year’s defense.
The Golden Gophers will face some tough tests in the season ahead. The defense is one area of concern, and Helton is expected to make significant improvements there. This will be a crucial factor in the team’s success in the conference.
The Huskies are another team to watch. They went 7-6 last season and beat Toledo, Georgia Tech, and Kent State in the MAC title game. In addition, they returned 17 starters from last year’s team. Their numbers should rise overall this season. There’s no doubt that this team can make the conference playoffs.
