Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 87 days

If you can believe it, we are officially under the 100-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 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 June 8, that means we are only 87 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 then.

With opening week 87 days away, let’s focus on a player — both past and present — who has represented that number.

*Note: BamaOn3 is also doing a Countdown to Fall Camp, which is only 58 days away.

Who currently wears the No. 87?

At this time, there are no Alabama players wearing the No. 87. After former tight end Miller Forristall vacated the number following his departure at the beginning of 2021, it was picked up by incoming freshman Caden Clark, who was originally part of the 2020 signing class. The Ohio native only lasted one season with the program before electing to transfer to Akron.

Who’s a noteworthy former player to wear it?

We could’ve discussed Forristall here, but we’ll go even further back in history. Former linebacker Dwayne Rudd played for Alabama from 1994 to 1996. Despite his abnormal number playing the position, the Batesville (Miss.) native had a tremendous amount of success in Tuscaloosa.

Rudd then went on to be selected in the first round (No. 20 overall) in the 1997 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.

The 6-foot-2, 242-pound defender spent the next four seasons with the franchise, accumulating 325 tackles, 10.0 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries. Rudd also set the single season record for most fumble return yards (157) back in 1998, which still stands to this day.

From there, he spent two seasons with the Cleveland Browns — where he had 162 tackles — and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Unfortunately, he’s most known for — at least on the NFL level — prematurely celebrating a Browns victory over Kansas City in 2002.

After believing he’d sacked Chiefs quarterback Trent Green on a final play in a 39-37 game, Rudd threw his helmet in celebration before realizing that Green had actually lateraled the football to offensive tackle John Tait. Rudd removing his helmet during play resulted in a penalty, setting Kansas City up for a game-winning field goal that ended with a final score of 40-39.

Still, Alabama fans will remember Rudd as a do-it-all linebacker who could hit, cover and put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. From 1994-96, the Crimson Tide had a 30-7 record with two SEC championship appearances and two bowl victories.

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.)