Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 76 days

If you can believe it, we are officially under the 80-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 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 June 19, that means we are only 76 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 then.

With opening week 76 days away, let’s focus on a player — both past and present — who has represented that number.

*Note: BamaOn3 is also doing a Countdown to Fall Camp, which is only 47 days away.

Who currently wears the No. 76?

With Tommy Brockermeyer back for his second season at Alabama, the No. 76 will once again be worn on Saturdays. The former Five-Star Plus offensive lineman didn’t see any action during his freshman season, but the hope is for him to take some sort of step forward in Year 2.

Coming out of Forth Worth (Tex.) All Saints Episcopal in 2021, Brockermeyer was rated as the No. 6 player nationally and No. 2 offensive tackle, per the On3 Consensus. The only offensive tackle ranked ahead of him, rising sophomore JC Latham (No. 2 overall), also signed with the Crimson Tide during that cycle.

With Alabama’s two tackle spots still unsettled, there’s at least a possibility that Brockermeyer could find himself in the mix for a starting job. That said, the 6-foot-5, 304-pound offensive lineman may need to wait until 2023 before making a push for consistent playing time.

Brockermeyer’s top priorities this season should be staying healthy and continuing to develop physically.

Who’s a noteworthy former player to wear it?

If Brockermeyer wants to find some motivation from another Alabama offensive tackle who wore the No. 76, he should look no further than D.J. Fluker. The 6-6, 335-pound mammoth out of Foley (Ala.) was also a five-star prospect who took some time getting on the field.

After redshirting his freshman season, Fluker made his way into the starting lineup as a sophomore in 2010. Over the course of the next three years, he would start 36 games at right tackle en route to being a first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC in 2012.

Fluker was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the first round (No. 11 overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. That was just one pick later than his former offensive line teammate Chance Warmack. He started 59 games at either right tackle (31) or right guard (28) for the franchise before being released in 2017.

Since then, Fluker has had stints with the New York Giants (2017), Seattle Seahawks (2018-19) and Baltimore Ravens (2020). In the 2021 season alone, he spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Fluker is currently a free agent heading into the 2022 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.)