Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 98 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 28, that means we are only 98 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 98 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 69 days away.

Who currently wears the No. 98?

Defensive lineman Jamil Burroughs is currently wearing the No. 98 for Alabama. In fact, the Powder Springs (Ga.) native has worn it ever since he arrived on campus back in 2020. Coming out of high school, he was a four-star prospect who ranked No. 317 overall player and No. 35 defensive lineman, according to the On3 Consensus.

Through his first two seasons, Burroughs has only made a limited impact, but Year 3 could yield different results. Fellow defensive lineman Byron Young missed the spring due to an injury, and Burroughs made the most of his opportunities working with the first-team defense.

Young will obviously start once he returns, but Burroughs is positioning himself for an increased role regardless, especially in obvious passing situations. At 6-foot-3, 309 pounds, he might be that next impactful interior pass rusher for Alabama. For more on Burroughs, check out this “Making the Leap” article I wrote earlier this week.

Who’s a noteworthy former player to wear it?

The younger generation of Alabama fans hasn’t seen many impact players donning the No. 98 for their beloved Crimson Tide. Prior to Burroughs, former punter Mike Bernier may be the most notable player from the Nick Saban era to don the number. The older generation, on the other hand, is a lot more familiar with the number.

Take Leroy Cook, for example.

The former Alabama defensive end played from 1972 to 1975. Some would argue that he is one of the Crimson Tide’s better players from that era. He was a two-time All-American under Paul “Bear” Bryant and even earned unanimous All-American in 1975. Unfortunately, a knee injury during his senior season prevented what many expected to be a successful NFL career.

“What happened to him was a crying shame because he’d have had a great career in the NFL,” said the late, legendary Auburn coach Pat Dye, according to an article from AL.com back in 2017. “He was 6-foot-4 and could run, athletic and mean. He was a tough guy. He had it all.”

Over his final two seasons in Tuscaloosa, Cook accumulated 166 tackles, 24.0 tackles for loss, 15.0 sacks and six forced fumbles.

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.)