Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 44 days

If you can believe it, we are officially under 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 21, that means we are only 44 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. 44.

*Note: BamaOn3 is also doing a Countdown to Fall Camp, which is only 15 days away.

Who currently wears the No. 44?

Like most other numbers in the 40s, Alabama currently has two of its players rocking the No. 44 on the latest roster update. One is a walk-on tight end, Charlie Skehan, out of Columbia (S.C.) Cardinal Newman. The other is second-year defensive lineman Damon Payne Jr.

Payne is a former top-50 recruit.

According to the 2021 On3 Consensus rankings, he was a four-star who also rated as the No. 49 player nationally, No. 7 defensive lineman and No. 2 player from the state of Michigan. On3 had the 6-foot-4, 297-pound defender rated much lower (No. 166 overall, No. 17 DL), however.

Payne didn’t see any action as a freshman.

Some of that lack of playing time was due to the experience returning along Alabama’s defensive front. Granted, a lot of those same guys — with the exception of Phidarian Mathis and LaBryan Ray — return, but there should be opportunities for him to earn some sort of smaller, rotational role.

Who’s a noteworthy former player to wear it?

Surprisingly, there haven’t been a lot of notable players wear the No. 44 for Alabama. During the Nick Saban era, the names are LaMichael Fanning, Kedrick James and Kevin Harris II. Prior to Saban’s arrival, the choices are much better.

There is one name worth mentioning though: Craig Turner.

Turner played running back for the Crimson Tide from 1981-85. In fact, he was a member of Paul “Bear” Bryant’s last season in 1982. After not seeing the field much as a freshman in 1981, the former Demascus High School stantout was a contributor in Bryant’s last year.

He totaled 270 yards (248 rushing, 22 receiving) on 66 touches to go along with an impressive 12 rushing touchdowns. The following season, Turner didn’t have as much of a statistical impact (4 yards in eight games), but his fourth and final year was a different story.

As a senior in 1985, Turner totaled 704 yards (480 rushing, 224 receiving). He didn’t make as big of an impact in the touchdown department (4), but he did manage to more than doubled his previous career-high in touches with 142.

After his playing career in Tuscaloosa came to an end, Turner had brief stints with the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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.)