#3 Alabama vs. #6 Tennessee: Bryce Young Injury Update, Hendon Hooker Praise, and Jahmyr Gibbs’ NFL Comp

The #3 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide meet the #6 ranked Tennessee Volunteers in an SEC showdown that will have playoff implications. Will Bryce Young play? Is Hendon Hooker ready to lead the upset? Can Jahmyr Gibbs carry the load if Young misses?

Injury Update for Alabama QB Bryce Young

The answer we’ve all been waiting for will remain unanswered until Saturday, according to Nick Saban. After practice Thursday, the longtime Alabama Crimson Tide head coach updated media but failed to speak definitively about Young.

"“Bryce has practiced some this week,” Saban said during his weekly radio show Thursday night. “And I think it comes down to does he feel and do we feel that he can throw the ball effectively enough? And he’s not going to hurt himself by doing it. I just don’t know how much it will hurt him if he does it. He’s done it on a limited basis.“So that’s the question, and nobody’s gonna know it until Saturday comes. He won’t know it. I won’t know it. Nobody will know it. And I know he wants to play, and I know he thinks he can play. We’ll see.”-Nick Saban, via Katie Windham (Fan Nation: Bama Central)"

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner was forced out of action last weekend as Jalen Milroe started in his absence at quarterback. The athletic junior signal-caller is a threat to run but can use his arm to move the ball as well.

Milroe reminds me of a young Jalen Hurts. Both guys are lethal as runners but still have work to do in the passing game. Still, Milroe proved against Texas A&M that he deserves respect as a passer.

Milroe threw three touchdowns and ran the ball 17 times for 81 yards on the ground. It wasn’t a flawless performance, but the first-time starter did enough to secure victory for his team.

Whether it’s Young or Milroe, a tough challenge will be placed in front of them as the Tide travel to Knoxville to take on the No. 6 ranked Tennessee Volunteers. Lackluster quarterback play could be enough to sway the game in Tennessee’s favor.

Hopefully, Bryce Young returns without a pitch count. If he is limited or misses the game entirely, Milroe must steer the ship in hostile waters Saturday afternoon.

Check in a few hours before game time to find out if Bryce Young will suit up.

Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker 2023 NFL Draft Stock Rising

You’ve heard plenty about Bryce Young, but the quarterback on the other side is making a case for himself in the 2023 NFL Draft. Hendon Hooker, a second-year starter for the Volunteers, is playing at a high level in 2022 and displaying NFL quarterback traits.

Hooker began his career with the Virginia Tech Hokies, but he ran the ball as much as he threw it. Under the tutelage of head Josh Heupel, Hooker has honed his skills in the pocket and become a precision passer.

Hooker takes care of the football, only throwing three interceptions in 18 games with Tennessee. In that same span, Hooker has accounted for 49 touchdowns.

It will take a valiant effort from the gifted signal-caller to secure a win vs. the Crimson Tide, but Hooker is ready for the challenge. A big game could vault his name up in the first-round conversations for the 2023 NFL Draft.

Jahmyr Gibbs-Alvin Kamara Comp

A long time ago, Alvin Kamara enrolled at the University of Alabama. Although things ended poorly after only one injury-riddled season in Tuscaloosa, Kamara landed on his feet in Knoxville.

In two seasons with the Volunteers, Kamara averaged more than six yards per carry and showcased his trademark receiving abilities by securing 74 receptions. The superb play at Tennessee led to Kamara getting selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Since then, Kamara has become a household name around the country. He is a fantasy football stud and one of the most exciting players to watch in the NFL.

So why all the hoopla about Kamara? The answer is Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs went the alternate route and transferred to Alabama rather than away from them. In 2022, Gibbs has shown Crimson Tide fans what they missed out on with Kamara.

Gibbs is averaging 8.3 yards per carry in six games as the starter in the backfield. The former Georgia Tech standout has amassed 532 rushing yards and 220 receiving yards on 22 receptions. Gibbs found the end zone five times in his first six games.

It is hard to watch Jahmyr Gibbs and not see Alvin Kamara. They both are explosive as a runner but their best trait is being a game-breaker in the passing game.

Gibbs is shifty in space and slippery when running between tackles. He can take any touch to the house and is a human highlight reel with the ball in his hands. Expect Gibbs to make his presence felt Saturday, especially if Young is limited.