It’s the opt-out time of year across college football. Besides teams that are playing in the College Football Playoff, which Alabama isn’t, players with immediate futures in the NFL often decided to sit out bowl games.
The Crimson Tide’s season will end in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan, not where Kalen DeBoer and his team envisioned the year’s end. However, DeBoer said he wasn’t expecting much in the way of opt-outs for the game.
“I’m not saying there won’t be one, but I feel like right now, we’re in a place where most of those guys are planning on playing,” DeBoer said Sunday evening. “I don’t care what round they’re planning on going in. We’ll see. That’s my early understanding, having talked with a few guys.”
Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe projects as one of the first Alabama players off the board. Others figure to have NFL futures as well, from guard Tyler Booker and center Parker Brailsford, to linebacker Jihaad Campbell and safety Malachi Moore.
“These guys are committed to this place,” DeBoer said. “And there’s been a streak of… 10 win seasons and they got a lot of pride in the program and want to continue to move forward. And want to play and spend one more game with their brothers here on this football team.”
Alabama and Michigan are scheduled to face off at 11 a.m. CT on Dec. 31 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The game will be aired on ESPN.