Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 55 days

If you can believe it, we are officially under the 60-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 July10, that means we are only 55 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. 55.

*Note: BamaOn3 is also doing a Countdown to Fall Camp, which is only 26 days away.

Who currently wears the No. 55?

Two different Alabama players are wearing the No. 55 in 2022. The first is a name you may not be as familar with in walk-on linebacker Bennett Whisenhunt, a junior in-state product out of Vestavia Hills. Of course, the other is redshirt senior offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr.

Ekiyor is one of only three Alabama players to break 1,000 snaps in 2021, joining quarterback Bryce Young and fellow offensive guard Javion Cohen. In total, the 6-foot-3, 307-pound lineman has been on the field for 2,038 snaps over 38 career games, 28 of which have been starts.

The Indianapolis native missed the spring due to an injury, but he’s expected to be back at his usual right guard spot when fall camp opens in a few weeks. With this being his fifth season at Alabama, Ekiyor is considered one of the team’s most seasoned offensive linemen.

Who’s a noteworthy former player to wear it?

There have been a lot of really good football players to wear the No. 55 for Alabama over the years, but of course we’re going to take the opportunity to highlight legendary pass rusher Derrick Thomas anytime we’re given the opportunity. The former superstar is still remains one of the most accomplished defensive players in school history.

From 1985-88, Thomas was an absolute terror for college offenses. Last year, current Alabama star Will Anderson produced 17.5 sacks. Yet, that’s only good for third-most in a single season. So, who holds the top two spots? Derrick Thomas. He broke the school record with 18 back in 1987 and then shattered his own mark a year later by adding 27 more.

For his career, Thomas put up a staggering 52 sacks. The next closest is former defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, who had 28 during his four years in Tuscaloosa. That’s how far ahead Thomas is than everyone else on the list for all-time sack leaders.

Naturally, Thomas earned unanimous All-American status for his performance in 1988. He also won the Butkus Award as the nation’s top defensive player before moving on and becoming the No. 4 overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1989 NFL Draft.

Did his success slow down any on the next level? I don’t know, you tell me.

• NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1989)
• Nine-time Pro Bowler (1989-97)
• Three-time first-team All-Pro (1990-92)
• Three-time second-team All-Pro (1993-94, 1996)
• NFL Man of the Year (1993)
• NFL sacks leader (1990)
• Two-time NFL forced fumbles leader (1990, 1992)
• NFL 1990s All-Decade Team

In 11 seasons with the Chiefs, Thomas played in 169 games with 157 starts.

He racked up 641 career tackles, 126.5 sacks, 41 forced fumbles, 19 fumble recoveries and four defensive touchdowns. His career numbers could’ve been even better, too, but he tragically passed away at 33 soon after the conclusion of the 1999 season. The cause of death was car accident that had led to a pulmonary embolism.

For his brilliant efforts on the field, Thomas was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2009.

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.)