Nick Saban encouraged by strong season opener from Cameron Latu

Alabama came into the 2021 season knowing that they had a monumental task ahead of it in replacing the talented offensive playmakers that did not return from last year’s team. Bryce Young took over at quarterback, but who would he throw the ball to?

Multiple players stepped up for Alabama, as six players caught three or more passes. Three different pass catchers found the endzone. Cameron Latu, a former defensive end and outside linebacker, is now a tight end, and he made a big impact for Alabama with two first half touchdowns.

Latu was one of the top pass rushers in the 2018 recruiting class. As a senior for Olympus High School in Utah, Latu totaled 43 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and six sacks. Latu was a unanimous four-star prospect and chose Alabama over Nebraska, Notre Dame and Oregon among others.

Latu’s strong season opener gives confidence to Nick Saban

Latu found the endzone twice in the second quarter in Alabama’s win against Miami. One was a 9-yard score and the other was from 25 yards out. Latu had a strong spring and preseason for Alabama. It appears he was able to carry that success into the regular season. In the game, Latu totaled three receptions for 43 yards and the two touchdowns.

With DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle both departing for the NFL, there were huge holes to fill in Alabama’s high-powered offense. Jameson Williams caught four balls for 126 yards and a touchdown. John Metchie hauled in six receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. If Latu can emerge into a consistent pass-catching threat, it will only help quarterback Bryce Young.

“You know, Cameron came to Alabama as an outside linebacker,” Saban said of Latu to reporters after Alabama’s win over Miami. “We had a need for tight end, he also played tight end in high school. I think before last season I said, ‘I think you have a lot better shot to be a tight end. You got good hands, you got great size, you’re a good athlete.’ He bought into it, and it’s taken a little bit of time for him to develop and feel comfortable and confident at the position.

“But I was encouraged and I think the success he had today will build confidence. And I think that’s really important, especially when you have a lot of new players that don’t have a lot of experience. When they get in the game and they have some success, that really helps their confidence and hopefully it’ll help them continue to develop and improve.”