Freshmen add to Alabama's dismantling of Commodores

Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. (24) celebrates with Jedrick Wills Jr. (74) and Brandon Kennedy (56) after Robinson scored a touchdown on a 17-yard run against Vanderbilt in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Alabama won 59-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr. (24) celebrates with Jedrick Wills Jr. (74) and Brandon Kennedy (56) after Robinson scored a touchdown on a 17-yard run against Vanderbilt in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. Alabama won 59-0. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

NASHVILLE - Alabama proved worthy of its No. 1 ranking in Saturday's 59-0 dismantling of Vanderbilt, and the Crimson Tide's future looks extremely bright as well.

Backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had the best game of his brief Alabama career, completing 8 of 10 passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns, but he wasn't alone as a true freshman wreaking havoc. Running backs Najee Harris and Brian Robinson Jr. combined on 15 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown, while receivers DeVonta Smith and Jerry Jeudy combined for 95 yards, with each catching a scoring strike from Tagovailoa.

"Those guys were challenged the same way everybody else on the team was challenged," Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said. "When we've been putting those guys in the game, they haven't been playing very well. I think they played a lot better today, and that's good, because we'll need the depth and the experience they gained down the road."

Tagovailoa entered a 38-0 game at the 11-minute mark of the third quarter and within two minutes delivered a 34-yard touchdown to Jeudy. Later that quarter, Tagovailoa was forced to scramble around but then found Smith for a score that may have resulted in the loudest roar of the day from the pro-Alabama audience.

The athletic ability Tagovailoa, who also had a 22-yard run, displayed on his second touchdown toss had starting quarterback Jalen Hurts beaming afterward.

"It's all love, and it's all good to see somebody step in and make the plays that they make, especially how he did it," Hurts said.

Robinson had not played all season before entering Saturday's contest early in the second quarter. His first carry went for 14 yards late in the third quarter, and his 17-yard touchdown run with 13:26 remaining capped the scoring.

The 13th true freshman to play for the Tide this season, Robinson joined Tagovailoa, Harris, receivers Jeudy, Smith and Henry Ruggs III, offensive linemen Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Wills, snapper Thomas Fletcher, linebackers Christopher Allen and Dylan Moses and defensive backs Xavier McKinney and Daniel Wright.

Linebackers return

Alabama welcomed outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings (ankle) and inside linebacker Rashaan Evans (groin) back to the starting lineup after losing them in the opening 24-7 defeat of Florida State in Atlanta.

Their impact was almost instant, as Jennings forced a fumble at the 3:20 mark of the first quarter that Da'Shawn Hand recovered at Vanderbilt's 26-yard line to set up a short touchdown drive that resulted in a 21-0 lead. Evans was caught on camera throwing 6-foot-6, 316-pound Commodores tackle Bailey Granier to the ground with no resistance whatsoever.

"Both of those guys we played in roles today," Saban said. "They both played well, and they both practiced well. I think their leadership is very helpful, but the other players who played - Chris Allen, Josh McMill0n and Jamey Mosley - are developing a little more confidence at those positions, too.

"We had to teach Mack Wilson to play the position Rashaan plays in 'dime rabbits,' and that was a work in progress, but he's finally gotten comfortable with that. When you lose guys like that, you have to change guys, and they lose the cumulative effect of all their reps. Hopefully we'll now have a little more continuity in the things we want to do."

Defensive stats were limited for the Tide, who faced Vanderbilt's offense for only 38 plays. Senior inside linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton led Alabama with five tackles.

"We knew we hadn't played our best game yet," Hamilton said, "and today we played to the standard that Coach Saban always talks about. This gives us some good momentum."

Said Evans: "It felt great to be out there back with the guys. I'm still kind of sore and recovering from that injury, but it's only going to get better over time."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

Upcoming Events