Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 89 days

On3 imageby:Clint Lamb06/06/22

ClintRLamb

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 6, that means we are only 89 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 89 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 60 days away.

Who currently wears the No. 89?

As of right now, a scholarship player isn’t wearing the No. 89 for Alabama. That leaves Grant Krieger, a senior walk-on, as the only No. 89 on the roster. The wide receiver out of Pine-Richland High School in Pittsburgh (Pa.) has now been in Tuscaloosa for three seasons, but he has yet to see any playing time.

Who’s a noteworthy former player to wear it?

The No. 89 is one of the most difficult numbers to identify a noteworthy contributor from the past. Despite switching his number to 18 prior to the 2020 season, the only player worth mentioning here is former defensive lineman LaBryan Ray, who is now a member of the New England Patriots.

Coming out of Madison (Ala.) James Clemens in 2017, Ray was rated as a five-star prospect and a top-20 player nationally, according to the On3 Consensus. Unfortunately, a run of various injuries and ailments prevented the star high school defensive lineman from ever reaching his potential in Tuscaloosa.

In the end, Ray spent five seasons at Alabama.

Three of those seasons saw him play in five or less games, however, due to those nagging injuries. During his lone healthy season back in 2018, Ray played in all 15 games with one start. That led to 39 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks, a respectable statline. In his other four seasons, he combined for 37 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks.

Despite his injury woes, Ray is still on an NFL roster after being signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agents soon after the 2022 NFL Draft. Hopefully, he’s able to stay healthy and contribute to a defensive front that also includes former Alabama defensive lineman Christian Barmore, who was the team’s second-round pick in 2021.

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.)

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