The offseason chatter is over as fall camp starts Wednesday for the University of Alabama football team.
Few expected last year’s group to finish with a Southeastern Conference Championship, especially after an early season loss to Texas at Bryant-Denny Stadium, yet the Crimson Tide proved doubters wrong.
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More doubters have come to the table since Nick Saban’s retirement, believing Alabama takes a major step back. The Tide lost players to the NCAA transfer portal and the National Football League; however, the nucleus of its team is back. Kalen DeBoer steps in as Alabama’s new head coach after pushing Washington to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in 2023. He has players dialed in to his philosophy, but the guys want to prove the Tide still rolls in the post-Saban era.
Alabama has some players on preseason award watch lists for national honors. Jalen Milroe, a returning quarterback, has been named to the Maxwell Award list for college football’s player of the year. Malachi Moore and Deontae Lawson are on the Nagurski Trophy watchlist for top defensive player. Tyler Booker, Parker Brailsford, and Tim Smith are on the Outland Trophy watchlist for the top interior lineman. More lists will be out in the coming days, and the Tide should be well represented.
Milroe has been on a journey of proving himself right since he got to Alabama. He is going after everything this season because he has the coaching staff, offensive playmakers, and offensive linemen that have him in position to be dangerous.
Moore, Lawson, and Smith have their sights on having the defense terrorize opponents. Moore and Lawson are two of the best at their positions in college football, while Smith is prepared to have a breakout campaign. Booker and Brailsford are two of the best offensive linemen in the nation. They will make sure Milroe is upright at all times and create opportunities in the run game.
The hunger this team will show all season — starting with fall camp to let everyone know — will propel it to have several players recognized for individual awards.
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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.
