Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 96 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 May 30, that means we are only 96 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 96 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 67 days away.

Who currently wears the No. 96?

Tim Keenan III is currently wearing the No. 96 for Alabama. The second-year defensive lineman out of Birmingham (Ala.) Ramsey didn’t see any action during his freshman season, and that might not change much — if at all — in Year 2. Now, that’s not because Keenan isn’t talented, but rather the result of the depth at his position.

Coming out of high school, the On3 Consensus had Keenan rated as a four-star prospect. He was listed as the nation’s No. 385 overall player, No. 38 defensive lineman and No. 14 player from the state of Alabama. At 6-foot-2, 343 pounds, he’s a stout interior presence that’s difficult to move in the run game.

We know Keenan is strong — like, really strong. Here he is carrying former Crimson Tide defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis, who was 6-foot-4, 312 pounds at the time, off the field following Alabama’s 42-35 victory over Arkansas back in November. I don’t know about you, but that shouldn’t look that easy.

Phil Mathis getting carried off the field by his teammate. Not teammates, teammate lmao pic.twitter.com/0VQxCvvJe0

— Clint Lamb (@ClintRLamb) November 21, 2021

Who’s a noteworthy former player to wear it?

When you think of an Alabama player wearing the No. 96, who do you think of? For me, it’s former pass-rusher Jarret Johnson. Now, his impact for the Crimson Tide came right before I started watching the sport closely, but I remember him being a key contributor for the Ravens for what felt like forever.

Johnson spent nine seasons (2003-11) in Baltimore before finishing out his career with the San Diego Chargers (2012-14) on a three-year stint. On the NFL level, he was never known as a top-tier pass-rusher (25.5 career sacks in 12 seasons), but at Alabama, it was a slightly different story.

The Cedar Key (Fla.) native spent four seasons in Tuscaloosa (1999-2002). He was a two-time captain. Plus, he was a first-team All-SEC selection — and a second-team All-American –back in 2002. At the time of his departure, Johnson’s 23 career sacks ranked third behind Derrick Thomas (52) and former teammate Kindal Moorehead (25).

Since then, Jonathan Allen (28) and Will Anderson (24.5 — and counting) have also passed Johnson, putting him at No. 5.

Whether it was in college or the NFL, Johnson was always known as a hard-nosed, blue-collar defender who didn’t mind doing the dirty work. It’s a big reason why one of the league’s most underrated players for well over a decade participated in 184 games on that level with 134 career starts.

At one time, he held Baltimore’s franchise record for most consecutive starts (129).

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.)