Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 36 days
If you can believe it, we are officially under the 40-day mark until Alabama is back on a live-game football field. After coming up short in the national championship game against Georgia back in early January, the Crimson Tide will once again be searching for its seventh title under Nick Saban.
This year’s season opener will be against the Utah State Aggies on Sept. 3 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
With today being July 29, that means we are only 36 days away from the return of Alabama football. The team here at BamaOn3 is ready to celebrate every day of the countdown standing between now and the start of football season. Let’s focus on a player — both past and present — who represents — or has represented — the No. 36.
*Note: BamaOn3 is also doing a Countdown to Fall Camp, which is only 6 days away.
Who currently wears the No. 36?
Walk-on wide receiver Bret Bolin will once again wear the No. 36 for Alabama this season. As a fifth-year senior, the 6-foot, 176-pound pass-catcher is one of the most seasoned players on the roster. Ian Jackson is probably the more recognizable name for fans, however.
Coming out of Prattville (Ala.) Prattville in 2021, Jackson was rated as a four-star prospect. According to the On3 Consensus, he was also the No. 268 player nationally, No. 31 linebacker and No. 9 player from the state of Alabama. He chose the Crimson Tide over programs such as Auburn, Oklahoma, Georgia and LSU.
Jackson didn’t see any action this past season. Will 2022 be any different? That’s difficult to say, as Alabama returns Henry To’oTo’o. And as of right now, it looks as though senior Jaylen Moody and fellow second-year linebacker Deontae Lawson will battle it out to start next to To’oTo’o.
More than likely, Jackson will need to wait until 2023 to make his move.
Who’s a noteworthy former player to wear it?
Johnny Dwight was the victor for the No. 36, but there weren’t a lot of great choices. Markail Benton and Chris Jordan also wore the number during the Saban era, if that tells you anything. Granted, Dwight was a good rotational piece along Alabama’s defensive front.
Dwight only produced 16 tackles, but five of those were for a loss. He also added 1.5 sacks and a pass deflection. Those numbers aren’t enough to write home about, but they were at least good enough to earn him some time in the NFL with the Houston Texans after going undrafted in 2019.
Maybe Jackson can work his way into the mix here before all is said and done.
2022 Alabama Football Schedule
Sept. 3 vs. Utah State Aggies (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Sept. 10 at Texas Longhorns (Austin, Tex.)
Sept. 17 vs. UL-Monroe Warhawks (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Sept. 24 vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Oct. 1 at Arkansas Razorbacks (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Oct. 8 vs. Texas A&M Aggies (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Oct. 15 at Tennessee Volunteers (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Oct. 22 vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Oct. 29 – OPEN WEEK
Nov. 5 at LSU Tigers (Baton Rouge, La.)
Nov. 12 at Ole Miss Rebels (Oxford, Miss.)
Nov. 19 vs. Austin Peay Governors (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Nov. 26 vs. Auburn Tigers (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Dec. 3 – SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (Atlanta, Ga.)
