5 players to watch out for in the Alabama-Georgia game in Week 5

Alabama and Georgia are gearing up for a battle between two top 5 teams on Saturday evening. Every Georgia-Alabama game has national championship implications and this one is no exception. Between the two teams, they have five of the last 10 national championships and three of the last 10 Heisman Trophy winners. Here are five players to watch in this year's battle.

5 players to watch for in Alabama-Georgia game

Alabama freshman WR Ryan Williams could shine in Saturday's battle with Georgia. (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

5. Jihaad Campbell, Alabama

Campbell has been an outstanding tackler this season. A 6-foot-3 junior linebacker, Campbell leads Alabama in tackles (28) and is third on the team with 2.5 tackles for loss. For an Alabama team that leads the nation in third down defense (allowing conversions on just 16.3% of plays), Campbell is key to the Tide's chances. Getting Georgia off the field could be a big advantage for the underdog Tide.

4. Trevor Etienne, Georgia

The Bulldogs haven't leaned heavily on their running game early in the season. With 145.7 yards per game, the Bulldogs are 13th in the SEC in rushing yardage. Etienne could be the fix.

The Florida transfer missed the season opener against Clemson. In the ensuing two games, he rushed for 78 and 79 yards respectively. With Georgia's offense playing a bit below its normal pace, don't be surprised if the Bulldogs lean on the run via Etienne.

3. Ryan Williams, Alabama

The decision to follow Nick Saban with Kalen DeBoer as Alabama's coach was based on several factors. One was the need for a big-play offense to keep pace with some of the top-scoring teams in college football. This explains Ryan Williams, who is not only Alabama's top receiver as a true freshman but is one of the handful of top receivers in college football.

In three games, Williams has 10 catches for 285 yards and four touchdowns. Williams has had a touchdown in each of his first three college games. The 28.5 yards per catch tells the story — Williams is a big-play threat on every snap. Can Georgia contain him?

2. Jalen Milroe, Alabama

Alabama's junior quarterback entered the season as one of the nation's top returning players. But how would a dual-threat QB respond to Kalen DeBoer's pass and pass again offense? So far, Milroe has adapted well.

Milroe has completed 67.3 percent of his throws for 590 yards and eight touchdowns. With 11.3 passing yards per attempt and zero interceptions, Milroe has been effective and efficient. But how will he do against top-flight competition? Saturday is the first chance to find out.

1. Carson Beck, Georgia

The junior QB has had a bit of an uneven start to his 2024 season. While Beck has been spotless — completing 68.3 percent of his passes for seven touchdowns and no interceptions — the Georgia offense is stuck in middle gear.

Beck is averaging just 8.3 yards per pass attempt for the season. He topped that mark in 11 of 14 games last year. Reduced to a more efficiency-based system, Georgia is averaging 31.7 points per game. That's good for some teams but it would be Georgia's fewest since 2019. Can Beck step it up against Alabama?

Which players will you be watching in Georgia vs. Alabama? Share your early thoughts below in our comments section!