Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 92 days

If you can believe it, we are officially under the 100-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 3, that means we are only 92 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 92 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 63 days away.

Who currently wears the No. 92?

Justin Eboigbe will again wear the No. 92 for Alabama, making it his fourth straight season with the number. The former top-100 prospect out of Forest Park( Ga.) has been a steady contributor for the Crimson Tide ever since he arrived on campus in 2019.

His contributions include 14 career starts, including three this past season.

Eboigbe has also chipped in with 48 career tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks. At 6-foot-5, 292 pounds, the fourth-year interior defensive lineman contributes more as an early-down run-stopper than he does as a pass rusher, which works with what else Alabama has on its roster.

With Phidarian Mathis and LaBryan Ray off to the NFL, Eboigbe could see a slight increase in opportunities after seeing his snaps drop from 444 in 2020 to 323 this past season.

Who’s a noteworthy former player to wear it?

Considering we’re 92 days away from Alabama football, a lot of people are going to talk about former defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft had one of the best single seasons in Crimson Tide history, but we’re going in a different direction here.

Instead, we’re going to discuss the first player to wear the No. 92 during the Nick Saban era — Wallace Gilberry.

Gilberry came to Alabama back in 2003, which means after a redshirt season, the former Bay Minette (Ala.) Baldwin County was a senior during Saban’s first year in 2007. That season, Gilberry led the team in tackles for loss (27.0) and sacks (10.0) while also finishing second in tackles (80) behind safety Rashad Johnson.

Those numbers weren’t enough to get him drafted, but he went on to play a decade in the NFL.

He spent at least some time on four different teams, including the New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions. In his career, Gilberry played in 124 games with 23 starts. He had 191 tackles, 35.0 tackles for loss, 34.0 sacks and 7 forced fumbles in those 10 seasons.

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.)