Continuing on a theme we introduced last year, we’re breaking down Alabama’s roster and going in-depth with our preview in advance of previews for the other 15 SEC teams.
In recent years, we’ve waited until fall camp began to take a look at the upcoming team, giving the coaches every possible second to finalize a pre-camp roster. This has led to content droughts, however, so we’ve chosen to break up the 2026 Alabama team preview into eight segments, following our traditional eight-category game previews.
Fans who are familiar with our preview articles know we rate each unit and place them in one of five categories: Excellent, Very Good, Average, Fair and Poor. Continuing on something we started in 2025, we do a little advance scouting at the player level as well; if there is something that stands out, good or bad, it is noted for the players.
No walk-ons are rated in these articles – outside of the Special Teams preview, which will be the final in this series – unless we believe the walk-on in question has a real chance of making the actual playing rotation, not just playing in blowout situations. Players are listed below in the way we believe they finished spring camp. For players who were not yet on the team in the spring, they are listed at the end of their respective categories.
Because wide receiver and tight end are two very different position groups, but also share increasing responsibilities in the passing game, they are listed in the same article here, but divided, with the tight end group following the receiver group. Overall, this unit has the potential to be one of the best in the conference, and if Noah Rogers hadn’t been injured in spring, a rating of “Excellent” was certainly possible.
WIDE RECEIVERS (Rating: Vg)
1. Ryan Coleman-Williams (Jr., 6-0, 182)
Strengths: Makes impossible plays look routine, elite speed, draws DB attention away from other receivers with regularity
Weaknesses: Inconsistent 2025 marked by too many drops, slender body causes concern on big hits
Analysis: After a stellar 2024 debut, Williams confounded fans and coaches alike at times in 2025, as he was just as likely to drop a soft pass in his hands as he was to make a body-contorting, one-handed grab over a pile of would-be defenders. Things seemed to normalize a bit during the spring, and Coleman-Williams (yes, the name changed) put together a solid A-Day and appears to be ready to be the team’s primary option in 2026, especially since Noah Rogers will open the season on the injured list. The big question is, with Coleman-Williams replacing Germie Bernard in that role, can Coleman-Williams run the routes over the middle and operate the jet action plays the way Bernard did. It’s a different skill set, and it’s the place where Coleman-Williams’ slender build will be most evident. We have little doubt, injuries aside, that he’s headed for a big season, likely eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in receiving.
2. Noah Rogers (Jr., 6-2, 201)
Strengths: Solid build that still sees him extend beyond his frame for catches, reliable hands, good speed
Weaknesses: Injured at A-Day and will miss at least half the season
Analysis: Rogers was headed for co-No. 1 status with Ryan Coleman-Williams until a leg injury sustained during the A-Day game. The injury will cause a substantial shake-up in the playing rotation, to the point that walk-ons are now involved in the discussion at least until Rogers is able to make a return. Rogers has previously played at Ohio State and NC State, and looked to be a seamless fit after Alabama lost Isaiah Horton to the transfer portal following last year. Now coaches will have to scramble a bit for the first six or so games. Rogers showed good downfield speed, the ability to get separation, and reliable hands in addition to a plus catch radius. The loss will be significant.
3. Lotzeir Brooks (So., 5-9, 193)
Strengths: Quickness to causes misses in traffic, hard-nosed style that belies his size, reliable hands
Weaknesses: Doesn’t extend vertically, quicker than fast, may have to play out of position early on
Analysis: Brooks’ emergence in 2024 was probably what triggered an exodus of receivers to the transfer portal, especially Kendrick Law. He had a solid 2025 season but this will be his first experience at being an every-down option. Brooks seems to be a good fit for the slot and the jet action elements of Alabama’s offense that were formerly the property of Germie Bernard, but while Brooks has shown the ability to play on the outside of the formation, it isn’t his true forte. He may lack the size and strength coaches seek, especially when casting an eye toward run blocking, but he plays bigger than he is. If Alabama can focus on plays that leverage Brooks’ unique talents, he could have a big year.
4. Cederian Morgan (Fr., 6-4, 223)
Strengths: Big and long with the ability to extend vertically, good hands in traffic, better speed than advertised
Weaknesses: No experience yet, needs to hone in on blocking and other off-ball skills
Analysis: No one doubted he’d be a good prospect, but as A-Day proved, Morgan has some next-level skills already and his ceiling is exceptionally high. Whether he starts in place of the injured Noah Morgan isn’t so certain, and we actually think Rico Scott will get first look at that role, but Morgan is going to play, and play a lot. He’ll make mistakes, but by the end of the year, there aren’t many DBs that are going to be looking to play against him. He wears Julio Jones’ old No. 8, and comparisons have already started, even if he isn’t quite as thick as Jones was.
5. Rico Scott (So., 6-0, 198)
Strengths: Strong and physical build, excels at blocking and working out of trouble, good top-end gear
Weaknesses: Can be stiff, acceleration isn’t as good as eventual top seed, drops more passes than you’d like to see
Analysis: Scott is one of the most physically impressive players on the team, looking more like a running back than a receiver. He can outrun defenders downfield but isn’t particularly quick off the line. He can make tough catches in traffic but then at times drop an easier pass. He had a superb showing at A-Day, though, and was said to have taken a step forward in the spring. With Derek Meadows coming off injury and Cederian Morgan a true freshman, we like Scott to step into Noah Rogers’ role early on, mostly because of what Scott brings in terms of toughness and experience to the role. At worst, he’s a plug-and-play backup to Lotzeir Brooks in the slot, while having the strength needed to match up against bigger DBs on the edge.
6. Derek Meadows (So., 6-5, 215)
Strengths: Long length plus the ability to elevate, reliable hands, will do the dirty work in run blocking
Weaknesses: Trying to get back to 100 percent after a scary head injury against Missouri, not elite top-end speed
Analysis: We’ve always liked Meadows, especially given that he’s 6’5” and plays even taller than that. Meadows was probably on the verge of becoming a staple of Alabama’s second line of receivers in 2025 when he took a scary hit over the middle that seemed to put him in a fog – literally and figuratively – for the remainder of the year. Probably more so than any other receiver, though, he emerged at A-Day as a multi-level threat, putting together an even more solid day than did Rico Scott, Cederian Morgan or Ryan Coleman-Williams. All the receivers listed to this point (other than obviously Noah Rogers) are going to play in heavy rotation every game, so Meadows will get more than his share of chances to continue to develop.
7. Tyler Henderson (Jr, 6-1, 173)
Strengths: Good-enough speed, runs solid routes, good JUCO resume
Weaknesses: Slight frame, lacks a final gear, doesn’t have elite hands
Analysis: Henderson could wind up being the story of last year’s recruiting cycle. He came out of JUCO originally thought to be headed to Jacksonville State, but ended up taking a preferred walk-on invitation from Alabama and he turned that into – at least for now – a slot in Alabama’s two-deep. With Noah Rogers out, Alabama will have to pick at least one receiver from the scout team to elevate, and Henderson looked like the guy in April. The quality of the route running was probably the most surprising thing Henderson brought to the table, and he’s fast enough and reliable enough to have a role. A hidden way you can tell the coaches have plans for him? He went from a very walk-on-like jersey No. 37 in the spring to No. 14 heading into fall camp. Guys who wear numbers 1-19 usually have something planned for them.
8. M.J. Chirgwin (Sr., 6-0, 195)
Strengths: Solid route-runner who scored a touchdown as a walk-on in 2025, reliable hands
Weaknesses: Speed limits him to possession routes and short or intermediate routes, plays smaller than his build
Analysis: Chirgwin was a walk-on for the four years prior, then was put on scholarship at the end of 2025 and is coming back for a fifth year. Good hands and good off-the-ball quickness make him a candidate to get at least a few snaps each game, and his path to playing time is likely dependent upon, or at least bracketed with, what Tyler Henderson does. His value is limited the farther away from the line of scrimmage he gets, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see him get some kick coverage snaps as well as some back-of-the-rotation work at receiver.
9. Maurice Mathis Jr. (Fr., 6-1, 186)
Strengths: Decent height, acceptable speed, frame has room to fill out
Weaknesses: Needs more consistent hands, was clearly behind the others at A-Day in terms of routes and knowledge of the game
Analysis: Mathis, like Tyler Henderson, was a late addition to the 2025 recruiting class. There is potential here, but Mathis would probably do well to redshirt and both fill out his frame and work with the JUGS gun a bit. He’s unlikely to play in 2026.
10. Ben Jackson (RFr., 6-2, 165)
Strengths: Scholarship-level speed, good measurables and may still be growing
Weaknesses: Hands need a lot of work, low value as a blocker until he fills out
Analysis: One of the few walk-ons we’re going to talk about in any of our reports, Jackson was used enough at A-Day that we think he’s probably on the fringe of seeing some action if injuries make it necessary. Walk-on or not, Jackson can absolutely fly. Now listed at 6’2”, we think that means he’s grown at least a couple of inches since coming to campus. Those raw measurements mean it’s worth keeping an eye on him, although if he contributes in 2026, it’s likely to be on special teams only.
11. Amari Sabb (Fr., 5-9, 155)
Strengths: The brother of Keon Sabb and Xavier Sabb – meaning, the bloodlines are there; scouts like his ability in the slot
Weaknesses: Small without having the top gear of a lot of quicker slots, didn’t go through spring
Analysis: Alabama is still waiting his arrival to campus, so we can only project what we think his future could be given what was known during the recruiting process: He’s a slot-limited receiver with reliable skills who is at least a year away from contributing. Playing at 155 would be a lot to ask; those are Brandon Brooks numbers.
12. Aubrey Walker (Fr., 5-10, 170)
Strengths: Plus-plus speed, ability to thicken a bit without losing his top gear
Weaknesses: Raw in all skill areas, will need a redshirt year
Analysis: Walker is another likely slot-only receiver who will play from a limited playbook, but his top-end speed is enough that if he can get separation, he can run to daylight. Walker was a local product (Moody HS) who was headed to a smaller school until Alabama decided it needed to build depth. Like Amari Sabb, he will almost certainly sit out a year.
TIGHT ENDS
1. Josh Ford (Jr., 6-6, 267)
Strengths: Good foot quickness allows him to play H role, excellent run-blocker, good height
Weaknesses: Hands are average, sometimes doesn’t fully leverage his size to his advantage
Analysis: A transfer from Oklahoma State, Ford seemed to be the primary option at tight end at A-Day, in front of even Kaleb Edwards. The key for Alabama here is to get back to what it was able to do at the position in 2024, when it had C.J. Dippre at the Y and Robbie Ouzts at the H; both are now in the NFL. Josh Cuevas was a solid option as a receiving tight end last year, but injuries to Danny Lewis Jr. and a bad positional fit for Edwards made the H position sometimes hard to manage. Ford appeared to handle that role with aplomb in the spring, even if he is tall for it. Scouts rave about his run-blocking ability, and while that is certainly important, the key to taking his game to the next level is to get more involved as a receiver. The H spot in Alabama’s offense demands flexibility, maybe more than Ford has in his game at the moment.
2. Kaleb Edwards (So., 6-6, 268)
Strengths: Tall and flexible, good catch radius, good when he can concentrate on the Y spot
Weaknesses: Sketchy viability when at H, faster than quick
Analysis: Edwards got off to a fast start last fall but sort of slid back into the mists as the season went along. He was a decent enough choice to pair with Josh Cuevas, but when the situation demanded he slide to H, results became mixed. Based on what we saw in the spring, the coaches will gameplan around Edwards a bit more this year to unlock his skill set without getting him out of position. We like his receiving skills in the red zone; if he can bring the rest of his game up, his ceiling is high.
3. Danny Lewis Jr. (Sr., 6-5, 255)
Strengths: Powerful blocker at the point of attack, good route-runner with reliable hands, positionally versatile
Weaknesses: Cannot stay healthy, and … cannot stay healthy.
Analysis: Lewis is threatening to set a record for foot and ankle injuries. It’s a tragedy, too, because when he was healthy last year – which was not often – Alabama ran the football a lot better with him in the game. If he’s 100 percent healthy this fall, we look for him to be the other tight end alongside Josh Ford. He is a good receiver with decent speed, but he is especially good at going up for passes and winning just about any hand-fights he gets into with defenders. His calling card, though, is his ability to neutralize defenders at the line of scrimmage when a run play is called. One of only a handful of guys left on the roster who actually played for Nick Saban, here’s hoping Lewis can stay out of the injury tent for once.
4. Jay Lindsey (So., 6-5, 258)
Strengths: Good athlete who has shown progressive development, can play Y or H, hands are beginning to develop reliability
Weaknesses: No standout part of his game, doesn’t always block to the level of his size
Analysis: Lindsey was thrown into playing time before he was ready last year when Alabama was trying to work around injuries to Danny Lewis and Josh Cuevas. Going off his 2026 spring work, he seems to have improved from fall 2025, and clearly had improved over his spring 2025 work at Alabama’s post-spring scrimmage. There’s a pretty clear line drawn between Alabama’s top three tight ends and the next level, but Lindsey is one of those guys who is making a solid run at being more than just roster depth.
5. Marshall Pritchett (So., 6-5, 246)
Strengths: Plus receiving skills, good route runner, best speed of the TE group
Weaknesses: Limited to slot-TE duties, blocking needs to improve, hands aren’t as reliable as one would think given his profile
Analysis: Coaches rave about his potential, but Pritchett’s body of work in 2025 didn’t live up to the hype. He’s essentially a big receiver who will probably be forever limited to the H role and, beyond that, mostly to obvious passing downs. He did show improvement in the spring, but in our opinion, not quite to the level that Jay Lindsey was able to progress. However, Pritchett’s ability to fill a specific role will probably yield him greater snap counts. He’s potentially dangerous as a big receiver working against linebackers, but he does need to cut the drops.
6. Mack Sutter (Fr., 6-5, 249)
Strengths: Was one of the highlights of early spring camp, tough-guy profile, good receiver with room to grow
Weaknesses: No experience, probably needs a little weight if he’s going to focus on the Y spot
Analysis: Sutter’s name was part of the buzz for the entirety of spring, even if he didn’t make any real waves at A-Day. For now, he’s a similar profile to Marshall Pritchett, and if Pritchett doesn’t take a step forward early on in fall camp, we think Sutter could unseat him or even Jay Lindsey. Whereas Pritchett doesn’t appear to be as big as his listed weight, Sutter looks like he’s already carrying 265 or more. He’s aggressive and mature, two very good traits for tight ends.
7. Jack Sammarco (So., 6-5, 263)
Strengths: Good run blocker, good strength and base to add more
Weaknesses: Poor hands, subpar quickness may lock him into an inline role
Analysis: Sammarco was a transfer into the program from West Virginia prior to 2025, and played in every game for WVU as a true freshman. For whatever reason, things wound up not translating well for Sammarco in 2025. He played in just two games, and the receiving skills didn’t look up to par compared with the other tight ends on the roster. Sammarco didn’t play much at A-Day and Alabama may have recruited past him. But time is on his side.
8. Jaxon Shuttlesworth (So., 6-5, 235)
Strengths: Good frame for a slot-TE role and scouts as a decent receiving prospect
Weaknesses: Didn’t crack the lineup at Jacksonville State, probably not an option as an inline TE
Analysis: We’re not terribly sure Shuttlesworth is on scholarship – in fact, we don’t think it’s all that likely – but even if he’s not, he worked enough ahead of walk-ons Payton Fox and Jude Cascone that we’re going to mention him here. The height/weight measurements look legit, and he appears to have good hands, so there’s a possibility for him to get into the mix behind Pritchett in the slot-TE role that has become a major part of H-tight end duties.