Enrollees: Another Look at the Top Players Participating in Alabama’s Postseason Preparation

The Alabama Crimson Tide have begun preparations for their high-profile clash with No. 1 Michigan in the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal.

The fourth-ranked Crimson Tide has lost a few players to the transfer portal in recent weeks, including wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks and defensive linemen Anquin Barnes and Isaiah Hastings. Alabama also suffered the loss of quarterback Tyler Buchner.

However, the Crimson Tide (12-1, 9-0 SEC) is not without departures. Alabama has a good number of should-be-high-school seniors on campus. Over the weekend, 11 people joined, and more are on their way.

Of course, this youthful talent will not be available to Nick Saban for the College Football Playoff, but it is beneficial for them to become acquainted with the existing roster.

Here’s another look at the best of the Crimson Tide’s newest arrivals:

JULIAN SAYIN, QB

Where else would this list begin?

Julian Sayin, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound quarterback from Carlsbad, Calif., is perhaps Alabama’s top recruit this cycle. Sayin is ranked third in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports, while he is the only quarterback ranked first by On3.

For the past three years, he has been one of the most talented high school quarterbacks in the state of California. Sayin first appeared on the scene during his sophomore year. During his senior year at Carlsbad High School, he was responsible for 28 touchdowns and only one interception.

He was named MVP at the 2023 Elite 11 Finals.

Sayin, like Bryce Young, a California native, is a little undersized at quarterback, but it has no effect on his playing.

With the football in his hands, he makes split-second decisions. He’s a really strong passer mechanically, and he’s also quite athletic. Sayin will have to wait his turn in Tuscaloosa, as Jalen Milroe has announced his return to the club for the 2018-19 season.

ZABIEN BROWN, CB

As a true freshman at Alabama, Zabien Brown will be 20 years old. That’s great news. Brown played a lot of football at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. Yes, the aforementioned Young appeared there from 2018 to 2019. Brown is a competent outside corner who can play both man-to-man and zone defense. He’s 6-foot-1 and weighs more than 180 pounds.

In April, the Crimson Tide will very certainly lose all three of its starting cornerbacks, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Terrion Arnold, and Malachi Moore, to the NFL. There will be plenty opportunities for younger players like Brown to make an immediate impression.

CALEB ODOM, TE

Alabama has a thing for athletic tight ends.

Amari Niblack’s younger self? Caleb Odom is one of the top players in Alabama’s 2024 recruiting class. 247Sports ranks Odom as the third-best tight end in the Class of 2024. He is ranked second in On3’s player rankings.

Odom was born in Carrollton, Georgia. He has also been a fantastic basketball player throughout his childhood, garnering college scholarship offers.

Odom was used a lot in high school, as one would anticipate. He’s an inside volume target with the speed to make spectacular plays. Extremely high vertical.

JEREMIAH BEAMAN, DL

Jeremiah Beaman is already a formidable opponent. He has the potential to be a terrific player at Alabama if he is accepted into the school.

Beaman, listed at 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, is one of the top defensive players from the state of Alabama in the 2024 cycle.

Beaman is exceptionally quick off the edge for his size, but he also has the power to play through double teams if necessary. He’s a similar prospect to Chris Braswell, who has emerged as one of Alabama’s top players this season.

There was talk that Beaman, from Birmingham, would finish up alongside Hugh Freeze at Auburn, but with his arrival, that conjecture has been put to rest.

CASEY POE, OG

Casey Poe is the kind of player one wants in their program.

He’s a fundamentally sound inside offensive lineman on the field. He’s not large enough to play outside in the SEC, but he’s a formidable force on the interior.

Poe, from Lindale, Texas, is On3’s No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the Class of 2024, while 247Sports ranks him fourth.

Poe has been Saban’s right hand man off the field, encouraging other talented athletes in his class to join him at Alabama. He is extremely proud to represent the Crimson Tide.

OTHER EARLY ENROLLEES

• Peyton Woodyard, S
• Sterling Dixon, EDGE
• Joseph Ionata, OG
• William Sanders, OG
• Cayden Jones, LB
• Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., CB