{"id":45241,"date":"2022-08-14T16:50:40","date_gmt":"2022-08-14T16:50:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/what-saban-saw-from-wr-and-cb-battles-while-naming-freshman-standout\/"},"modified":"2022-08-14T16:50:40","modified_gmt":"2022-08-14T16:50:40","slug":"what-saban-saw-from-wr-and-cb-battles-while-naming-freshman-standout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/what-saban-saw-from-wr-and-cb-battles-while-naming-freshman-standout\/","title":{"rendered":"What Saban saw from WR and CB battles while naming freshman standout"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Alabama receivers and cornerbacks are engaged in an interesting battle.<\/p>\n

Beyond the obvious, both positions are engaged in their own competitions for playing time. And though each side had a key play out with an injury in Saturday’s scrimmage in Bryant-Denny Stadium, coaches got a shot to evaluate where the dueling competitions stand.<\/p>\n

Nick Saban called the receiver play \u201cinconsistent\u201d with too many dropped passes.<\/p>\n

At the same time, he made the rare move of naming a true freshman standout when spotlighting Kobe Prentice. The Calera product had five catches in his first scrimmage since he wasn’t among the newcomers who enrolled early for spring practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was probably the guy that stood out the most of the young players,\u201d Saban said. \u201cBut each and every day, there’s a different guy that shows that they have some ability to do some things in a really positive way. So I think if I was gonna evaluate the group, I would say we all need to play with more consistency.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prentice was the No. 78 overall recruit in the 2022 class and 12th among receivers, according to the 247Sports composite. He was the only receiver Saban mentioned by name<\/p>\n

The Tide receivers were playing without JoJo Earle, the sophomore who had a strong start to August before fracturing his foot this week. At tight end, starter Cam Latu has yet to practice after a minor knee injury and Saban said the young talent there is still learning the scheme.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere’s probably a lot of anxiety out there with a lot of the young players today, first scrimmage,\u201d Saban said. \u201cSo I can’t evaluate them just based on what I saw today. We do have some guys that can be effective pass-catchers, but I think that all young players have a long way to go to really understand the things they need to do, in the passing game especially, which takes a lot more precision so that they can get open, they can read the coverages.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the defensive side, Saban ran down a few names key to the competition.<\/p>\n

Sophomore Kool-Aid McKinstry was the first mentioned followed by Terrion Arnold who \u201chas done a really good job in camp so far.\u201d<\/p>\n

LSU transfer Eli Ricks \u201cis still trying to learn the defense so he can go out there and play with confidence,\u201d Saban said.<\/p>\n

And Khyree Jackson was out with a groin injury Saban said didn’t appear to be a long-term issue.<\/p>\n

On the freshmen, Saban said they moved Anniston High grad Antonio Kite to \u201chis natural position\u201d at cornerback.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, I’m sure if you asked them, they’d all say there were things they need to improve on,\u201d Saban said. \u201cAnd after I watch movie, I’m sure I’m going to be talking to them about what they need to improve on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the big thing is to keep people cut off and don’t give up big plays. That’s got to be a critical piece for what we have to do at the corner position.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter <\/i>@ByCasagrande<\/i><\/a> or ten <\/i>Facebook<\/i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n