By Bobby Mathews, Sports Editor
TRUSSVILLE — Hewitt-Trussville senior Cade Ott Carruth was all-in on Mississippi State, planning to go to Starkville as a preferred walk-on.
Instead, an Alabama football analyst, Alex Mortenson, approached Carruth with the idea of showing his film to Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
“Alabama wasn’t on my radar at that point,” Carruth said. “I was all-in on Mississippi State, but Coach Mortenson asked if he could show Coach O’Brien my film. I originally told him no because I was fully committed to Mississippi state.”
But a Monday meeting with O’Brien — who liked what he saw on Carruth’s film — and Nick Saban changed the trajectory of Carruth’s future. The coaches presented the fact that the Alabama brand was stronger, and that UA would line up more with Carruth’s potential future, since he wants to major in business.
“I’m an Alabama boy, born and raised,” Carruth said. “I think the connections you make at Alabama, in the business school and playing football, are really important … especially if you don’t want to go anywhere else.”
Carruth led the Huskies to a 9-3 record and a playoff berth in 2021. He threw for 1,891 yards and 16 touchdowns in his senior campaign. Carruth totaled 4,560 yards passing and 44 passing TDs over the course of his career at Hewitt-Trussville.