Junior Hentges scores his first Tide TD
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The feel-good touchdown of Alabama’s young season occurred midway through Saturday’s first quarter, when junior tight end Hale Hentges hauled in a 23-yard reception from Jalen Hurts.
The score gave the Crimson Tide a 14-0 lead in their eventual 41-10 whipping of Fresno State, and it was the first touchdown for Hentges since he was a Helias High senior in Jefferson City, Mo.
“It’s really amazing, and I can’t put into words how exciting it was and how excited I was,” the 6-foot-5, 249-pound Hentges said. “To be able to do it in Bryant-Denny (Stadium) was the best feeling, and I am so glad that it could happen here. It was a great read by Jalen and great protection by the offensive line.”
Hentges entered Saturday with just four career catches for 15 yards.
Touchdowns for tight ends have been rare in recent seasons for the Crimson Tide, even for first-round draft picks such as O.J. Howard. Despite playing four productive seasons, Howard totaled just seven career touchdown receptions, and he didn’t have any as a sophomore in 2014.
“It’s absolutely something to savor,” Hentges said. “When you have a great offense like this with so many weapons and so many pieces, it’s hard to get everyone the ball.”
Said Hurts: “I asked him in the locker room, ‘Was this your first one?’ He said he had played in every single game, and that was his first one. I’m happy for him.”
Filling in holes
Before Saturday’s kickoff, linebackers Rashaan Evans, Anfernee Jennings, Terrell Lewis and Christian Miller were walking around the field in jerseys and sweatpants. Lewis and Miller suffered season-ending injuries in the opening win over Florida State, and it’s unknown when Evans (groin) and Jennings (ankle) will return.
Jennings, Lewis and Miller are outside linebackers, and Evans also played there before moving inside.
“We obviously have a lot of work to do at that position,” Tide coach Nick Saban said. “What a fan may not notice is that when a guy doesn’t retrace on a screen, that’s part of stopping screens. When guys don’t retrace on a quarterback draw, that’s part of being a good pass-rusher.
“The experience the guys got today certainly will be beneficial to them, but it’s hard to evaluate how they played, because they got the ball out really quick on almost all of their passes.”
Four defenders made their first career starts Saturday: lineman Raekwon Davis, linebackers Keith Holcombe and Jamey Mosley and defensive back Levi Wallace.
When asked if it felt weird with all those missing bodies at outside linebacker, Holcombe said, “It wasn’t that different. When you come out to practice or to play, you’ve got a job to do, and that’s what you’re expected to do from these coaches. You can’t hype yourself up too much. You’ve got to settle in, make your calls and play ball.”
Holcombe, a redshirt junior, rotated series with sophomore Mack Wilson.
Tide tidbits
Saban has won 17 consecutive college home openers since his 1998 Michigan State Spartans fell to Colorado State 23-16. … Junior receiver Calvin Ridley has caught at least one pass in all 32 games of his Alabama career. … Junior right guard Lester Cotton got “dinged” late in the third quarter and came out of the game, but Saban did not believe the injury would be serious.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.