Greg McElroy reacts to Alabama's ranking in Preseason AP Poll: 'Too far down'

Alabama came in at No. 8 in the Preseason AP Poll that was released on Monday, which was the lowest that they’ve entered a season in seventeen years since 2008. That, though, according to Greg McElroy, was too low of a ranking when it came to the Crimson Tide.

McElroy reacted to the Preseason Top-25 yesterday on ‘Always College Football’. When it came to Alabama, McElroy thought the Tide, considering the overall talent of the roster entering the second season of this tenure, was too lowly rated in the top-ten as the eighth-best team per the Associated Press.

“‘Bama at eight? To me, a little bit too far down,” said McElroy.

“Questions at quarterback, for sure…but, if you look at the rest of the roster, I think ‘Bama, right now? Their roster is about as good as anybody that’s listed right in front of them. And, year two with Kalen DeBoer? I think that group has a chance to be much more cohesive.”

For reference, McElroy had Alabama three spots higher at No. 5 in his own Preseason Top-25 last week. Paul Finebaum also called out the rating of the Tide as “too low” at No. 8 on Tuesday morning.

However, since this episode from McElroy, ‘Bama has an answer, to an extent, to their lone question at quarterback as they named QB Ty Simpson as their starter on Monday night, winning the competition over QBs Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. That said, Simpson is still inexperienced with sixteen appearances as a backup over the past three seasons, where he’s completed 58% of his throws for 381 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

Still, around him, Alabama has as much as just about any team in the country. Names like WRs Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard, OLs Parker Brailsford and Kadyn Proctor, RB Jamarion Miller, and defenders, among several, like LB Deontae Lawson, DE LT Overton, and DBs Bray Hubbard, Zabien Brown, Keon Sabb, and Domani Jackson all back, with both sides of the ball being or becoming as experienced as they are talented around whoever their selection at quarterback was to be.

The Preseason AP Poll was as low on Alabama this season as they’ve been in nearly two decades since entering their second year under Nick Saban. Still, based on how he sees everything going into this fall in Tuscaloosa, McElroy believes ‘Bama should be closer to the top-five than just being in the top-ten.

“I feel like they’re a little bit too low,” said McElroy.