As many Alabama football fans had feared, it was learned Thursday the Tide’s three suspended players will not be available for a national championship game. Losing Kedrick James and Elliot Baker has virtually no impact on the Tide’s win probability. Losing offensive lineman Deonte Brown for a potential game against the Clemson/Notre Dame winner is an entirely different matter.
Since mid-season, Deonte Brown at left guard added a much-needed run blocking boost to the Alabama football offense. The guy Brown replaced as a starter, Lester Cotton will step in for Brown. Cotton, a starter at right guard last season, has plenty of experience and is probably a better pass-blocker than Brown.