Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 45 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 20, that means we are only 45 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. 45.

*Note: BamaOn3 is also doing a Countdown to Fall Camp, which is only 16 days away.

Who currently wears the No. 45?

Like with most other numbers in the 40s, the No. 45 is currently being worn by two players on the Alabama roster. The first is walk-on defensive back Caleb McDougle, a sophomore out of Muscle Shoals (Ala.) Muscle Shoals. The other is second-year tight end Robbie Ouzts.

Ouzts was the Crimson Tide’s lowest-rated high school signee in the 2021 class. According to the On3 Consensus, the South Carolina native was a three-star who ranked as the No. 570 player nationally, No. 30 tight end and No. 6 player from the state of South Carolina.

Did that stop him from making a contribution in Year 1? Absolutely not.

Despite Cameron Latu and Jahleel Billingsley being ahead of him on the depth chart, Ouzts played 75 snaps on offense, mostly as a situational fullback. Unfortunately, an injury limited him to only nine games, otherwise his snap count would’ve been higher.

With Billingsley now at Texas and Kendall Randolph playing offensive tackle, Ouzts should assume a much larger role in his second season. At 6-foot-4, 258 pounds, he’s easily the biggest tight end on the roster, but he’s somewhat underrated as a pass-catcher.

Who’s a noteworthy former player to wear it?

The first player that comes to mind regarding the No. 45 during the Nick Saban era is none other than Jalston Fowler. He came to Alabama as an athlete who could play either offense or defense, but quickly settled on the offensive side of the football.

Earlier in his career, he was utilized more as a running back (70 carries for 496 yards and five touchdowns) before sliding into more of a fullback/H-back role over his final three years. Alabama did get him involved in its passing game, especially on the goal line, over his last two years (18 receptions for 144 yards and seven touchdowns).

After college, Fowler went on to be a fourth-round pick (No. 108 overall) by the Tennessee Titans in the 2015 NFL Draft.

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.)