National media does not expect Alabama football to win a national championship, and some do not have Kalen DeBoer leading the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff in his first season as head coach.
However, different publications are high on two names DeBoer pulled out the NCAA transfer portal.
RELATED: Alabama’s OL coach says team will play two guys at right tackle until a winner emerges
Bill Bender of Sporting News unveiled the outlet’s preseason All-America team. Alabama had four names listed, including Graham Nicholson and Parker Brailsford on the first team. Nicholson, a transfer from the University of Miami at Ohio, earned the Lous Groza Award in 2023.
He was the top placekicker in the nation, making 25 of 27 field goals and 35 of 37 extra point attempts.
Nicholson won the Mid-American Conference Special Teams Player of the Year, Consensus All-American honors, and first-team All-MAC honors.
Brailsford, a transfer from the University of Washington, played 15 games for thee Huskies as a freshman — including 13 starts at center.
He anchored the offensive front to winning the Joe Moore Award, while helping Washington capture a Pac-12 Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
⭐️ Preseason AA ✖️ @sportingnews ⭐️@gnicholson99 x @parkerbrail x @iamtylerbooker x @malachi_moore13 #RollTide pic.twitter.com/4xkvtvHrs7
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) August 15, 2024
Tyler Booker and Malachi Moore, two veteran players, both made second-team for Sporting News.
Booker is one of the nation’s best offensive linemen, while Moore is a top-tier defensive back.
Both look to lead Alabama to a national championship and create a high draft stock for the National Football League.
The Crimson Tide’s first game is Saturday, Aug. 31 at Bryant-Denny Stadium versus Western Kentucky.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*
Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
