Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 41 days

If you can believe it, we are officially at the 45-day mark until Alabama is back on a live-game football field. After coming up short in the national championship game against Georgia back in early January, the Crimson Tide will once again be searching for its seventh title under Nick Saban.

This year’s season opener will be against the Utah State Aggies on Sept. 3 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

With today being July 24, that means we are only 41 days away from the return of Alabama football. The team here at BamaOn3 is ready to celebrate every day of the countdown standing between now and the start of football season. Let’s focus on a player — both past and present — who represents — or has represented — the No. 41.

*Note: BamaOn3 is also doing a Countdown to Fall Camp, which is only 12 days away.

Who currently wears the No. 41?

Junior outside linebacker Chris Braswell will once again be back wearing the No. 41 for Alabama this season. The former Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances Academy standout has represented the number for the Crimson Tide in each of the last two seasons.

Coming out of high school in 2020, Braswell was actually the highest-rated of Alabama’s fearsome foursome on the edge. Sure, Will Anderson Jr. (No. 18 overall) and Drew Sanders (No. 27) were also both five-star recruits — and Quandarrius Robinson was another top-75 player — but Braswell checked in at No. 15, per the On3 Consensus rankings.

So far, that rating hasn’t led to significant snaps for Braswell. He’s only played 114 snaps in two seasons, but there’s optimism heading into fall camp. Anderson and 2021 five-star talent Dallas Turner sit atop the depth chart, but Braswell is emerging as a strong rotational candidate at outside linebacker.

Quarterbacks beware.

Who’s a noteworthy former player to wear it?

If Braswell becomes a standout outside linebacker donning a Crimson jersey with the No. 41 on it, he’ll be the second player to achieve such a feat during the Nick Saban era. The first was none other than former Alabama edge Courtney Upshaw, who starred for the Tide from 2008-11.

Upshaw began his career as a rotational piece/spot starter. In fact, he didn’t even step into a full-time starting role until his junior season in 2010. The 6-foot-2, 265-pound outside linebacker more than made up for that lack of playing time over his next two years, however.

Over his final two seasons, Upshaw combined for 104 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks while returning his lone interception for a touchdown in 2011. His performance during his senior year (52 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks) was good enough to earn him first-team All-American status.

After college, he would go on to get selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round (No. 35 overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft. He’d spend four seasons with the franchise, helping them win a Super Bowl during his rookie season as an edge-setting run defender.

In 2016, Upshaw signed with the Atlanta Falcons and spent two years there as a rotational interior defensive lineman. He hasn’t been on a roster since his brief stint with the New York Jets prior to the 2018 season.

2022 Alabama Football Schedule

Sept. 3 vs. Utah State Aggies (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Sept. 10 at Texas Longhorns (Austin, Tex.)

Sept. 17 vs. UL-Monroe Warhawks (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Sept. 24 vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Oct. 1 at Arkansas Razorbacks (Fayetteville, Ark.)

Oct. 8 vs. Texas A&M Aggies (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Oct. 15 at Tennessee Volunteers (Knoxville, Tenn.)

Oct. 22 vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Oct. 29 – OPEN WEEK

Nov. 5 at LSU Tigers (Baton Rouge, La.)

Nov. 12 at Ole Miss Rebels (Oxford, Miss.)

Nov. 19 vs. Austin Peay Governors (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Nov. 26 vs. Auburn Tigers (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)

Dec. 3 – SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME (Atlanta, Ga.)