Overview: The time has finally come for Alabama to leave the nest of Nick Saban‘s coaching and begin to branch out to new things. It probably wasn’t expected to happen this soon, but given the changes in the college landscape just over the last 24 months, it also probably wasn’t that much of a surprise. Kalen DeBoer is now the man in charge, and with him comes entirely new offensive and defensive schemes.
Alabama has one of the three most-talented rosters in the SEC, but the SEC is bigger than it used to be and most teams that go through this depth of transition sometimes find it hard to maintain their prior level of competency. Given that it’s Nick Saban that DeBoer is replacing, maintaining Bama’s current posture will be even more difficult.
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QUARTERBACKS
We went back and forth over this one for a bit, whether to rank Alabama as “Very Good” or push it up to “Excellent.” It’s going to depend – to the surprise of no one reading this, we’re sure – on the development of presumptive starter Jalen Milroe.
Milroe had an erratic 2023 campaign that featured far more flashes of potential brilliance than it did areas of concern, but there’s a lot to improve upon still. Milroe’s weak spot was what it was expected to be given his limited body of work coming into 2023: intermediate passing, field vision and the ability to pull the trigger quickly. Milroe was sacked far too often for a quarterback with his mobility, and never really became the confident midrange passer that Nick Saban’s offenses had come to require. But he made up for it with a stellar deep passing game, a good enough short passing game and the ability to tilt the field with his running ability.
DeBoer has been consistent in his support for Milroe as the starter, and even though backup Ty Simpson has improved steadily from the midpoint of the 2023 season onward, it would be a surprise if anyone but Milroe started most if not all the games of the 2024 season. Milroe is considered a Heisman Trophy candidate and has become the face of the team, matters that are not insignificant when considering a change in the starter, especially for a team in transition. If Milroe cannot execute DeBoer’s offense, Alabama will move on, but practice reports don’t suggest he’s in danger of being usurped. At worst, Alabama has one of the best 1-2 punches at quarterback in both the SEC and FBS at large.
Dylan Lonergan somewhat surprisingly didn’t transfer out after spring ball, electing to stay and compete with Washington transfer Austin Mack for the developmental quarterback spot. Either one of those guys are better than probably half the starting quarterbacks in the rest of FBS. Both are physical specimens with strong arms. Having four players of this ability level usually gets a top-tier rating in our Rate The Units feature, but a lot depends on the continued development of Milroe. Simpson must also continue to show progression in maturity, as he wasn’t always the most level-headed at times in 2023.
All four quarterbacks are solid athletes, with Milroe and Simpson both being legitimate dual-threat guys. Watching how they progress under an offensive system more predicated on fast-developing plays, wide-open concepts and reading pre-snap coverages will be what tells the tale on the 2024 offense.
RUNNING BACKS
Alabama lost Jase McClellan to the NFL Draft and Roydell Williams transferred to Florida State – and yet, the 2024 running back stable figures to be significantly better. Alabama was expected to be strong here in 2023 as well, but it never quite worked out that way. McClellan took longer than expected to recover from a knee injury, while Williams simply wasn’t big enough or dynamic enough to carry a pro-set offense as the featured back.
Last year’s third-string running back, Jamarion Miller, and talented sophomore Justice Haynes will form the 1-2 punch at the top of the depth chart. Alabama hasn’t often had a featured starting running back in recent years, choosing instead to spread carries over usually two running backs and sometimes three. DeBoer, however, funneled carries to Dillon Johnson at Washington last year rather than operate with a true rotation. Both Miller and Haynes are bigger and faster than the McClellan-Williams tandem was, and Haynes has uncommon balance for a running back. Miller was a factor at times last year as a receiver out of the backfield, and that’s a role he can expect to expand under DeBoer’s leadership.
Richard Young was the breakout star of the spring. He redshirted last year while Haynes played, but there were some who felt coming out of high school that Young had the higher ceiling of the two. Physically there’s not much difference between him and the starters, which would give Alabama three interchangeable pieces in the offensive backfield.
True freshmen Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley will provide depth, but it’s not clear how many carries either will see barring injury. Hill is a massive (6’1”, 231) specimen for a true freshman, and looked like a veteran during spring work. Riley was not an early entrant, so he’ll have further to go to earn playing time – plus, he ideally needs a redshirt year to add bulk. Alabama has been fortunate to have several good walk-on running backs in recent seasons to help fill out practice rosters, and J.R. Gardner might have done enough in the spring to get a look on special teams units.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The question here is how fast Alabama can identify a dependable go-to receiver. Isaiah Bond was on the verge of becoming that player toward the end of 2023, but elected to go chase NIL money at Texas and transferred over the offseason. That leaves Alabama looking at Washington transfer Germie Bernard, a collection of supporting pieces from 2023 and a handful of talented freshmen.
Bernard was Washington’s slot receiver, but he’s bigger than a typical slot guy (6’1”, 203) and more fluid. He had an impressive spring topped off by a solid showing at A-Day. Bernard is actually bigger than Bond was, but probably not as fast. Bond’s real weakness was fighting the tendency to occasionally drop easy passes, something Bernard doesn’t seem to be prone to doing. Bernard will be a junior in 2024.
For now, the rest of the receiver rotation is a game of musical chairs. Alabama will use three wide receivers more often than not, and the favorite to emerge as a deep threat, Jalen Hale, will probably miss all or most of the season with a leg injury. That leaves the most likely starters as Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice, the most experienced of the players returning. Law is thick, fast and physical, but not particularly tall, and Prentice is smaller than most outside receivers at this level. Still, both have shown flashes in the past, Prentice as a deep threat and Law as a slot-type that can also play out of the backfield when needed.
The name every Alabama fan wants to hear about, though, is true freshman Ryan Williams. Williams plays a game similar to former Tide great DeVonta Smith; he isn’t terribly tall (6’0”) and is slender in build (160) but has fluidity of movement that is rare for a receiver, especially such a young one. Williams will almost certainly be in the playing rotation early on, and is being looked to as a big-play option.
Coming out of spring, the backups were probably Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Cole Adams and true freshman Caleb Odom, the latter a converted tight end with 6’6” height. Henderson was a running back in high school and has been a fixture on special teams, but needs to make good on his athleticism at receiver and cut out the drops. Adams is small but sure-handed, and flashed at A-Day in a possession receiver role. If Odom proves he can get separation, he’s going to be a tough mismatch for defensive backs, especially shorter ones.
Aeryn Hampton, Rico Scott and Amari Jefferson are three other true freshmen that have a lot of promise. Jefferson has a good midrange build and runs routes well. Scott has great quickness and top-end speed, while Hampton is a tough-minded, physical player who should get early work on special teams and could be a weapon in the slot. Jaren Hamilton is a redshirt freshman that didn’t show much in his first season, but who is said to have taken a step forward over summer work. The bottom line, Alabama has plenty of options, even if it doesn’t have a lot of experience.
At tight end, seniors C.J. Dippre and Robbie Ouzts are expected to hold onto their roles as the Y and H tight ends, respectively. While Alabama won’t play an H enough to have it considered a starting role on the offense anymore, Washington frequently used dual-TE sets and Ouzts’ ability to lead blocks from a fullback position is valuable. Danny Lewis Jr. had a strong spring, probably ending up one of the reasons the coaches felt comfortable moving Caleb Odom to wideout. Washington transfer Josh Cuevas gives Alabama an athletic receiving option at the position, while Ty Lockwood is a redshirt freshman with high expectations. Jay Lindsey is probably headed for a redshirt just off numbers; he’s expected to develop into a physical tight end that can nail down the Y.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The line got a huge boost when Kadyn Proctor did a 180 on his transfer to Iowa and came back to Alabama following spring ball. He then dropped 30-plus pounds over summer conditioning work and now resembles the left tackle Alabama thought it was getting a year ago when he signed out of high school. Proctor’s return, and his improvement, is crucial, because Elijah Pritchett wasn’t able to take the necessary steps forward at left tackle in the spring to make people feel comfortable. Pritchett is a very good athlete, but has been in the news for non-football reasons in addition to not developing according to schedule.
Whether Pritchett is able to make an impact at right tackle remains to be seen. The closer things get to the season opener, the more it looks like Wilkin Formby is going to be the starter there. Formby, a redshirt freshman, has a massive frame and has already impressed many with his maturity. He looked capable in the spring and especially with Proctor back, Alabama can afford one of the five line spots to be somewhat developmental.
Miles McVay is another big body that is in the battle at both right and left tackle. McVay actually finished the 2023 season as the primary backup at RT, but he seems to be more built for a pure power offense. Learning the nuances of pass protection will be the key for him. Naquil Betrand, a Texas A&M transfer, gives Alabama another developmental option, but he’s not quite at the level the others are just yet. Alabama has one walk-on who might see time somewhere due to depth numbers, Graham Roten. He finished spring third-team at a tackle spot.
The interior of the Alabama line figures to be one of the best in the country. A pair of transfers, Washington’s Parker Brailsford and Michigan State’s Geno VanDeMark, form the new center tandem. Brailsford was expected to play there in the spring, but ended up sitting out practices for an issue the coaches still haven’t specified. James Brockermeyer ran with the 1s all spring and did a commendable job, but decided to transfer when Brailsford returned to the team. Brailsford will end up being the smallest starting lineman Alabama has had in years, clocking in at just 6’2”, 275. VanDeMark is significantly bigger, but is probably more of a guard than he is a center. True freshman Joe Ionata was Brockermeyer’s backup in the spring and did well for a player with no prior collegiate experience, but he also would probably be more comfortable in a non-snapping role.
The guards, Tyler Booker and Jaeden Roberts, both figure to be high draft picks whenever they opt to exit the program. Booker is the leader of the unit and the undisputed tough guy of the Bama OL, while Roberts is one of the most impressive physical specimens Alabama has ever had at the position. The question for Booker and Roberts – which is the same for the line writ large – is whether Alabama can cut down on the staggering number of sacks it allowed in 2023. Some of that was on OL philosophy, some on play design, some on individual failures up front, and some on Milroe and the other quarterbacks.
Backing up the guard spots will be Roq Montgomery, who can also play center, and Olaus Alinen. True freshmen Casey Poe and Will Sanders provide depth. Geno VanDeMark could wind up being the swing backup for all three interior positions.
DEFENSIVE LINE
While the offense is undergoing several systemic changes under Kalen DeBoer, the defense – especially the defensive line – will be similarly reshaped along new philosophical lines. Alabama is moving from a 3-4 over/under to a 4-2-5 Swarm defense, and while Saban’s defenses had made increasing use of nickel and dime packages as the seasons had progressed, the differences up front could be pretty substantial. Alabama’s defensive tackles will be playing one-gap technique far more often than before, which should free up some interior pressures that didn’t exist under the prior scheme. However, that could also lead to more big plays given up if the line cannot execute the new philosophy while also maintaining gap discipline.
The starters of the two tackle spots will likely come from a group of four players: Tim Keenan, Tim Smith, Jeheim Oatis (note the new spelling of his first name) and James Smith. Alabama will no longer use three of its largest players across the front unless it’s part of a special package. Behind these four, Damon Payne Jr. and Edric Hill seem to be the most likely candidates to see playing time. Others in the mix include Hunter Osborne, Jordan Renaud and true freshmen Isaia Faga and Jeremiah Beaman.
The responsibility of the two tackle positions isn’t terribly different than before – control interior gaps, apply pressure, shut down the running game – but expect the tackles to be turned loose more often to get upfield, and not simply to hold space for the linebackers to roam.
The two outside positions feature a true defensive end spot (“Bandit”) and a position very similar to the old Jack linebacker spot, the “Wolf.” At Bandit end, Jah-Marien Latham appears to have finally found a schematic fit for his talents. His work in the spring was easily noticed. Texas A&M transfer L.T. Overton looks like the next man up.
At Wolf, Quandarrius Robinson will probably get the first call due to seniority, but Keanu Koht has improved significantly over the last year and was pushing for the job in the spring.
How the depth situation at both spots shakes out is unknown for now, but we at least know the names: Keon Keeley looks like he may have outgrown the linebacker spot and if so, we like him for next up at Bandit along with Qua Russaw. On the other side, Yhonzae Pierre and signees Noah Carter and Jayshawn Ross are the most likely names. Russaw and Keeley likely will be able to work either side.
LINEBACKERS
We held back a rating of “Excellent” here largely because of the depth situation, as well as not yet knowing how Alabama will be able to replace the loss of both OLB positions in the base scheme. What’s clear, though, is that the starting duo of Deonte Lawson and Jihaad Campbell have few physical peers. Lawson is poised for a significant breakout, especially with Alabama’s defense losing a lot of its prior schematic complexity. Campbell is a wrecking ball physically, but despite being a junior, actually doesn’t have that much playing experience. The size and speed both players bring to the position will allow Alabama to defend the run without having to overcommit resources to the task, which is exceptionally valuable.
Behind them, however, the picture changes. Justin Jefferson has drawn raves for his ability to play in space, but he’s not nearly the physical presence that Lawson and Campbell are. Jefferson will probably be a package player, getting onto the field on obvious passing downs and possibly allowing Campbell to move down to a rush end spot. Jefferson is a far better fit for this defense than he ever would have been for the 3-4 over/under.
The rest of the depth situation could get worrisome if something were to happen to Lawson or Campbell. Converted Jack linebacker Jeremiah Alexander appears to be the leading candidate for the other second-team inside slot alongside Jefferson, with true freshman Justin Okoronkwo next up. Behind them are three more true freshmen – Cayden Jones, Sterling Dixon and Quinton Reese – and a walk-on, Noland Asberry, who flashed in the spring. If Bama can keep the injury bug away, the trio of Lawson, Campbell and Jefferson could be elite. Otherwise, there may be some nervous moments.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
The transfer portal hit the hardest here, where Alabama lost at least three presumptive starters (safeties Caleb Downs and Kristian Story and CB Trey Amos) along with the losses of the veterans who left for the NFL: safety Jaylen Key and CBs Terrion Arnold and Ga’Quincy McKinstry. Alabama also lost, to the portal, potential top backups Jake Pope, Earl Little II, Tony Mitchell, Dezz Ricks, Antonio Kite and Peyton Woodyard, along with a signee, Jameer Grimsley, who transferred before ever coming to campus.
Despite such a devastating turn of events, Alabama was able to pull four high-quality transfers from the portal itself, as well as convince veteran safety Malachi Moore to return to school for a fifth season. Moore will probably retain his old spot, the Star safety (now called “Husky”), although he could also play either of the high safety spots. The other two starting safety spots will likely go to Michigan transfer Keon Sabb and veteran Devonta Smith, who has battled several injuries so far in his Alabama career.
There are enough names available on the bench to create decent alternative looks at safety if Alabama so chooses: former Penn State speed burner King Mack, a pair of A-Day standouts (sophomore Bray Hubbard and signee Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.), UNC-Charlotte transfer Kameron Howard and a true freshman standout, Rydarrius “Red” Morgan, who spent most of the spring making people worried about potential targeting violations. If we were to guess at a depth chart, Morgan would back up Smith at box safety, while Smith and Sabb would lead Mack and either Howard or Hubbard at the high safety spots.
Cornerback is the potential problem spot, both at defensive back in particular and the team in general. When the transfer portal had finished stripping Bama’s roster, only two holdovers remained – redshirt freshman Jahlil Hurley and Southern Cal transfer Domani Jackson. Jackson grabbed a starting spot in the spring and appears to have held onto it through summer work, but Hurley appears to be behind several other players now.
Wake Forest transfer DaShawn Jones will either start opposite Jackson or be the third corner behind true freshman Zabien Brown. Two more true freshmen, Jaylen Mbakwe and Zavier Mincey, will round out the depth chart along with Hurley. The big question here is whether Jackson rebounds from a tough start to his career at USC, as he originally came to Alabama to get sorted out under Saban’s technical guidance.
Alabama had several walk-ons in the spring that appeared able to at least bolster a good depth chart. At corner, Alijah May and Chase Davis ran about on par with Hurley, while Kolby Peavy and Prince Butler could pitch in at safety. The far more important question, however, is how well this unit will mesh together as a whole after basically being rebuilt from scratch after January.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Despite losing Will Reichard to the NFL, Alabama might have the best special teams in the country – or at the very least, the best kicking tandem. Punter James Burnip has developed into one of the best in the SEC, if not the nation. At kicker, Alabama was able to attract Miami-OH’s Graham Nicholson – last year’s Groza Award winner.
There’s good depth here, too. Nick Serpa is a physical clone of Burnip, while Conor Talty proved to be an accurate kicker in the spring, although kick distance needs a bit of work. Reid Schuback is also available at kicker, while walk-ons Tucker Cornelius (PK) and Anderson Green (P) fill out the depth chart.
Kneeland Hibbett returns for his fourth year as the Tide’s long snapper, and will probably follow this season with a career of some length snapping in the NFL. While Burnip technically returns as the holder, WR Cole Adams handled those duties in the spring.
As for coverage and returns, those units likely aren’t settled yet. Penn State transfer S King Mack comes to town with a reputation as a potential star as a returner, and Alabama has several players – Kendrick Law, Emmanuel Henderson, Richard Young, Justice Haynes, Ryan Williams, Aeryn Hampton, Jaylen Mbakwe and others – who have gotten looks.
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