Coming off a loss to Texas, Alabama looked to bounce back against USF this week, but the Bulls were the ones to make a strong first impression on Saturday.
Early in the first quarter on Saturday, USF running back Nay'Quan Wright took a carry right up the middle on 2nd down and laid a serious hit on an Alabama defender on his way to a first down for a gain of six yards. The hit caught the attention of color analyst Robert Griffin III who let out a yell as Wright laid the hit.
TRUCKED HIM ? pic.twitter.com/D1NeHceLnQ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 16, 2023
Listed at just 5-foot-9 and 204 pounds, the fifth-year senior Wright did not let his size get in the way of him letting the Alabama defense know that today was not going to be a walk in the park for the Crimson Tide. After the problems Alabama had defensively last week, a big hit like this early on can be quite the tone setter for the rest of the game.
While that drive would stall out for the Bulls, they would take a 3-0 lead on Alabama on the following drive on a 44-yard field goal from John Cannon. The game went into a weather delay shortly after as the rain continued to come down in Tampa.
The struggling Crimson Tide are also looking for an identity on offense after the Week 2 loss at home to Texas. Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner started at quarterback this week after Jalen Milroe started the first two games of the season.
As of the middle of the second quarter, Alabama still hadn't scored a touchdown against a USF defense that came into the game allowing 32.5 points per game on the young season. Alabama has never started a season 1-2 under head coach Nick Saban.
Wight and his USF teammates are looking to spoil Alabama's season before it even really has a chance to get started.
