The Moody defender becomes the Crimson Tide’s first Class of 2027 commit.
Alabama’s football coaching staff has officially begun recruiting for the Class of 2027. According to On3 Sports, Ba’Roc Willis revealed his decision to commit to the Crimson Tide on Tuesday.
Willis is an unranked edge rusher and linebacker in the Class of 2027 from Moody High School in Moody, Alabama. The rising sophomore stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 220 pounds. He chose Alabama over Georgia, LSU, Auburn, and other offers.
The linebacker announced his decision after attending Alabama’s Champions Cookout in Tuscaloosa over the weekend, but nothing is written in stone because he still has 29 months before he can sign his letter of intent.
He is the Crimson Tide’s only commitment to the Class of 2027 so far.
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Alabama Football Special Teams will be the SEC’s best
The Alabama Crimson Tide possesses the most game-changing special teams in the SEC.
The 2024 Alabama football schedule is full of challenges. A good season will most likely boil down to winning a few close games. Close games frequently come down to whose team wins the kickoff game. In that game component, the Crimson Tide outperforms the rest of the SEC.
No SEC football team can equal Alabama’s special teams. One reason is that the Crimson Tide is stocked with youthful players who will only play on special teams. It is widely acknowledged that Alabama Football boasts the most talented roster in college football.
Linebackers, defensive backs, and other athletically gifted players waiting their turn for larger roles became special teams staples.
Special teams units have numerous crucial positions, some of which receive little attention from fans. Fans focus on five crucial positions: placekicker, punter, long snapper, kick returner, and punt returner. No SEC club can compete with Alabama for those five slots.
Three Alabama Football Specialists
Miami of Ohio transfer Graham Nicholson, who takes over as placekicker for Will Reichard, was the 2023 Lou Groza Award winner after making 27 of 28 field goal attempts. The only SEC kicker comparable to Nicholson is Auburn’s Alex McPherson, who was perfect last season with all 13 field goals made. However, a medical issue may affect McPherson’s availability for the upcoming season.
James Burnip is expected to be the top punter in the SEC. Last season, Burnip ranked 5th among all FBS punters with an average of 47.56 yards per punt. Vanderbilt’s Matthew Hayball, who averaged 47.6 yards, is now in the NFL. Although the Ray Guy Award Watch List has yet to be released, Burnip is likely to be a leading contender.
Alabama Crimson Tide long snapper Kneeland Hibbett is already on the 2024 Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List, with eight SEC players included. Hibbett is considered a top contender for the award.
Alabama has several speedsters vying for the kick returner and punt returner positions. Kendrick Law is favored as the kick returner due to his impressive speed and power, though Washington transfer Germie Bernard is also a strong candidate. The punt returner role is more open, with Bernard and Emmanuel Henderson as possibilities, along with the chance for one of Alabama’s standout freshmen, such as wide receiver Ryan Williams, to step up.
In terms of impactful special teams players, no SEC team has more potential game-changers than the Alabama Crimson Tide.
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