We continue to move through the summer, but Alabama football is returning soon.
Kalen DeBoer inherited a very talented roster from Nick Saban and is prepared to put it in action.
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The former Washington head coach wanted this chance to be Nick Saban’s successor. He had a good spring with the Crimson Tide, but DeBoer is focused on getting Alabama back to winning national championships. Offensively, DeBoer looks to have the Tide explosive in all facets. Alabama returns a lot, including quarterback Jalen Milroe, from its 2023 Southeastern Conference Championship and College Football Playoff team. How could Alabama’s starting offense potentially look in the coming fall?
A projection is below
Quarterbacks
-QB 1: Jalen Milroe
-QB 2: Ty Simpson
-QB 3: Dylan Lonergan
-QB 4: Austin Mack
Summary
Jalen Milroe returns as the starting quarterback and will be the guy for Alabama in the fall.
He made so much improvement in the passing game during spring practice and has added with training this offseason with Yo Murphy and Jordan Palmer. Milroe is also headed to the Manning Passing Academy in June to learn from the first family of football royalty. The native Texan totaled 2,834 passing yards, 531 rushing yards, and 35 touchdowns in 2023 for the Tide.
He guided Alabama to an SEC Championship and a CFP appearance.
Ty Simpson, a former five-star, made tremendous strides in spring practice.
His mental clock as a passer has gotten sharper, and Simpson has returned to the playmaking abilities that made him a star in high school. He had the best statistics of all quarterbacks for Alabama in the spring game, so the coaching staff has confidence in him to run the offense. If Milroe were to go down with an injury, the team believes Simpson could step in and win a national title.
Dylan Lonergan and Austin Mack are both talented. Lonergan had an impressive spring in 2022 and some thought he was the best quarterback on the roster. The native Georgian possesses a lively arm and processes information well. Mack, a transfer from Washington, will still be a freshman for Alabama. He has the ability to make off-platform throws, but he’s still learning things.
Running Backs
-RB 1: Jam Miller
-RB 2: Justice Haynes
-RB 3: Richard Young
-Backups: Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley
Summary
Alabama’s running back room may arguably be the best in college football.
One could argue for Justice Haynes to be the starting running back, but one could also make the same statement for Jam Miller.
Haynes, a former 5-star, brings power, speed, athleticism, and vision to the room. He can make a hole when there is none there and has the ability to be versatile. Miller, a native Texan, carries contact balance, speed, explosiveness, and versatility. Alabama wants to have more of a pass-happy offense, so Miller as the starting back would fit more here. He had four catches for 73 receiving yards in 2023, including a wheel route from Jalen Milroe for a touchdown in the SEC Championship Game.
Miller exploded in the spring game for 83 yards rushing and two scores on eight carries. He earned the Dixie Howell Memorial Most Valuable Player of the Game. Richard Young, a former five-star, brings a lot of potential with his size, speed, power, and explosiveness as well. He had a few strong moments in the A-Day matchup, but all he needs is a chance to showcase his skills.
Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley are both big talents as freshmen.
Hill, a native of Meridian, Miss., had a good spring semester — including some power runs in the spring game. According to sources close to Touchdown Alabama Magazine, Hill was something to deal with in goal line or short yardage situations.
Riley, a Tuscaloosa (Ala.) native, flipped his commitment from the University of Miami (Fla.) to the Crimson Tide.
He brings a burst and an explosiveness that rivals former Tide running back, Kenyan Drake.
Hill and Riley could both end up redshirting this season, but we will see.
Wide Receivers
-WR (X): Kobe Prentice
-WR (H, slot): Emmanuel Henderson Jr./Ryan Williams
-WR (Z): Germie Bernard
Summary
We don’t know when Jalen Hale will be back from his injury, but he’s working hard in the rehab process.
He was set up to potentially be the starting wide receiver at X; however, Kobe Prentice may take that spot. Prentice, a junior, has the most experience in the room. He has 49 receptions for 651 yards receiving and four touchdowns across two years.
The slot position for the Tide will be very interesting.
Emmanuel Henderson or Ryan Williams could take that spot. Henderson, an Alabama native, came in the 2022 class as one of the best running backs in the nation. He was transitioned to wide receiver and had a good spring. JaMarcus Shephard, the Tide’s wide receivers coach, was high on Henderson in practice. He has grown in his knowledge of the offense, but he’s always had the talent to be special. Williams, a 5-star freshman, is the most gifted high school player that came from Alabama since Julio Jones.
He was a two-time “Mr. Football” recipient for the state of Alabama.
Williams nearly led Saraland High School to a Class 6A state championship last season. Alabama fans are overjoyed to see what he can do at wide receiver. We will see if he edges out Henderson for the slot position.
Alabama also has Cole Adams, Jaren Hamilton, Caleb Odom, Amari Jefferson, Rico Scott, and Aeryn “Bubba” Hampton all looking for opportunities for the team.
Tight Ends
-TE 1: CJ Dippre
-TE 2: Robbie Ouzts
-TE 3: Danny Lewis Jr.
-Backups: Jay Lindsey
Summary
The tight end room needs more love this season.
Kalen DeBoer has produced success at the position with each coaching stop. CJ Dippre was not utilized at Maryland, and he only posted 11 catches in 2023 for Alabama. He can be a big-play weapon in this offense, but the Tide has to get him the football.
Robbie Ouzts, Danny Lewis, and Jay Lindsey all bring different skill sets. Ouzts is a very good blocker who has improved in the passing game. He fits in the H-back role for Alabama. Lewis is a talented receiving option that needs more opportunities.
He brings the body type that fits an explosive tight end mold.
Lindsey, a freshman, feels a lot like Ouzts. He is a physical player, but we will see how he develops as a receiver.
Offensive Line
-LT: Kadyn Proctor
-LG: Tyler Booker
-C: Parker Brailsford
-RG: Jaeden Roberts
-RT: Wilkin Formby/Elijah Pritchett
Summary
Kadyn Proctor’s return to Alabama from Iowa seals him in at left tackle.
He has experience from last season, making the All-SEC Freshman Team.
Proctor helped the Crimson Tide to an SEC Championship, but he should be even better in the fall. Tyler Booker, a junior, is a dominant offensive guard. He returns as one of the best players at his position. Booker has a chance to be a first-round draft pick and earn a host of individual awards if he turns in a marquee season. Parker Brailsford is Alabama’s new center from Washington.
Seth McLaughlin departed to Ohio State via the NCAA transfer portal, opening a shot for Brailsford.
The 6-foot-2, 275-pounder paced a Huskies offensive front that won the Joe Moore Award last year. Alabama fans expect a turnaround at center with Brailsford after what it experienced with McLaughlin. Jaeden Roberts is an imposing presence at right guard and should continue to be that in the fall. He earned a starting opportunity versus Texas A&M and never looked back.
Right tackle will be a fun competing between Wilkin Formby and Elijah Pritchett.
Formby, a member of the 2023 signing class, was the most technically sound tackle in the class. He performed very well in spring practice, showing he delivers the goods in pass protection. Pritchett has more experience, but will he beat out Formby?
We will see soon enough.
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
