Nick Saban calls on three freshmen to elevate roles on Alabama defense

Alabama head coach Nick Saban highlighted three Alabama freshmen in Kool-Aid McKinstry, Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell as underclassmen expected to take bigger roles along the Tide’s defense through the rest of the season.

“I think that (Chris) Braswell and Dallas Turner are two guys we have a lot of high hopes for that we think are really good young players that are now going to get a greater opportunity to play because of Chris Allen, losing Chris Allen,” Saban said on Thursday’s ‘Hey Coach & The Nick Saban Show’. “Losing Chris was a big blow … but I think these other guys have a chance to develop and into being pretty good players and they’ll get more opportunity now to do that.”

Saban went on to mention Alabama freshman cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry as another young player who could see some more opportunities soon.

“Kool-Aid (McKinstry) I think, who will probably get some opportunities to play in this game this week,” Saban said. “Has a chance to be a pretty good player in the secondary. I think we have some other guys, it all depends on development.”

Alabama lost Allen in the Tide’s season-opening win over Miami to a foot fracture that will require surgery.

Sophomore linebacker Drew Sanders is expected to play a bigger role with the loss of Allen, but Braswell and Turner will also see more playing time in Allen’s absence.

Braswell is a second-year freshman who didn’t see playing time for Alabama in 2020. Coming out of high school, Braswell was a five-star linebacker from Maryland powerhouse St. Frances Academy.

Dallas Turner is a true freshman from St. Thomas Aquinas (FL.) Coming out of high school, Turner was s five-star prospect who finished with 36 total tackles as a senior, including 25 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.

McKinstry, the Alabama freshman cornerback, is the backup to starting cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis. The five-star prospect played both sides of the ball for Pinson Valley (AL.), leading the Indians to the Alabama 6A State Championship in 2020 and three titles in the last four years.

Alabama takes on Mercer in Tuscaloosa in Week Two of the college football season.

Christopher Allen suffers injury 

Saban commented on Monday on the injury to Allen 

“Chris Allen does have a foot fracture that will require surgery so he’s most likely out for the year,” Saban said Monday.

Allen finished Alabama’s season-opening win against Miami with three total tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble.

The redshirt senior linebacker had become one of the best pass rushers on the Alabama defense. In 2020, Allen led the SEC in tackles for a loss with 13 and tallied six sacks. Allen entered the season opening game with three career forced fumbles before adding another to his career numbers.

Allen’s injury could be a huge loss for Alabama’s linebacking corp, and to make matters worse, he wasn’t the only member to suffer an injury Saturday. 

Tennessee transfer Henry To’o To’o racked up seven tackles against Miami, but suffered an elbow injury. 

“Henry hurt his elbow, but he’ll be okay,” Saban said on Saturday in the postgame press conference.