Miller

Forristall

Forristall (6'5/242) had the opportunity to return for yet another senior season in 2021, but he has instead begun the NFL Draft process by hiring an agent. The redshirt senior has his best season in 2020, catching 23 passes for 253 yards and one touchdown. With Forristall moving on, the reigning national champions will have to account for the departure of eight offensive starters ahead of next season. Forristall projects to be a Day 3/UDFA prospect this spring.

Per Saban, Forristall could have played. Perhaps if this was a more serious game with actual risks at play, Saban and Forristall (6'5/242) may have come to the conclusion that him playing at less than 100% was worth it. Against a pitiful Kentucky squad, though, that was not the case. Saban said Forristall had sprained ankle and an ambiguous shoulder injury, both of which did not need to be irritated as Alabama try ton finish out the year strong.

Tucker (6'2/248) appeared in Alabama’s first two games, but due to the hamstring injury he has not played since. However the redshirt senior, who joined the program as a grad transfer from North Carolina, appears ready to make his return to the gridiron Saturday night. Tucker, who has caught one pass for 23 yards this season, will provide additional depth at the tight end position behind starter Miller Forristall.

Forristall (6'5/242) has been sidelined since late October, when he suffered a broken larynx/hyoid bone during the Crimson Tide’s win over Arkansas. While the redshirt junior did lose his voice at the time of the injury, the good news is that he had no major breathing issues. With Forristall back, Alabama will have all of its key offensive weapons available to play against the Wolverines outside of QB Tua Tagovailoa (hip).

Given the prognosis of “several weeks,” it’s safe to rule Forristall (6'5/242) out for Alabama’s Nov. 9 showdown with LSU. The redshirt junior has caught 12 passes for 131 yards and three touchdowns this season, with his best performance coming in the Crimson Tide’s Sept. 28 win over Ole Miss (two catches for 40 yards and a touchdown). With Forristall out, Major Tennison and Giles Amos would be next in line, but they’ve combined to catch four passes on the season.

Forristall (6'5/242) underwent offseason foot surgery but was able to ramp things up over the course of preseason camp. Should be good to go on Saturday barring setback.

Forristall (6'5/242), who had been out since undergoing offseason foot surgery, was in a helmet and shoulder pads during Wednesday’s session. Per NCAA rules players have to go through an “acclimation period,” hence the redshirt junior not being in full pads like his healthy teammates were. Forristall appeared in just three games in 2018 due to a knee injury, catching two passes for five yards. While he works his way back to being a full go Giles Amos and Jahleel Billingsley will be first in line for practice reps.

Forristall (6'5/242) underwent foot surgery at some point this offseason -- it’s not clear when -- and AL.com’s Matt Zenitz was reporting at the beginning of the month that the redshirt junior would be “extremely limited” early on in camp. So even when he does return, it’s possible that Alabama eases him along. Barring a setback, Forristall still has a few weeks to return to healt before the Crimson Tide open the season against Duke on Aug. 31. Should he be sidelined into the season, Giles Amos and Jahleel Billingsley are both candidates who could chip in to help cover for his absence.

Zenitz does not specify the initial nature of Forristall’s foot injury, nor when it occurred. While the 6-foot-5, 242-pound redshirt junior might not be ready for much work early on in camp, Zenitz hears that he should be right as rain for Alabama’s opener against Duke on Aug. 31. Even if Forristall has a longer than expected recovery, Alabama should be able to coast against Duke and Week 2 opponent New Mexico State before the schedule begins to toughen with South Carolina and Texas A&M.

Alabama lost Irv Smith in the NFL Draft, but they also lost Hale Hentges, a co-starter with Smith who was a key blocker. “While depth at the spot will be a focal point when fall camp gets underway, I can envision redshirt junior Miller Forristall catching 30-plus balls in 2019,” writes Reier. “Like Smith, Forristall can work from tight formations or flexed out in the slot.” Don’t expect the same kind of production, but the redshirt junior should be a solid performer for the Crimson Tide.