Alabama will return a strong core of players for the 2025 season. A plethora of which were starters and decided to return to school instead of declaring for the NFL Draft. The Alabama coaching staff has done a phenomenal job of getting players to trust the process and buy in to what could be something special brewing in Tuscaloosa under the direction of head coach Kalen DeBoer.
Today, we will break down the importance of having four starters returning on offense and seven starters returning on defense.
First, we will start with the starters returning on the offensive side of the ball.
RB Jam Miller
2024 Stats: 145 carries, 668 yards, 7 touchdowns, 16 receptions, 155 yards, 1 touchdown
Miller was Alabama’s leading tailback in 2024 and will follow suit in 2025. The Texas native will be a welcoming presence in the backfield along a new signal-caller in 2025. Alabama fans are still hopeful that Miller will have a breakout season, and next season will be his final opportunity.
WR Germie Bernard
2024 Stats: 50 receptions, 794 yards, 2 touchdowns
Alabama fans and coaches likely assumed that Bernard would be a complimentary option at receiver in 2024. He was more than that, however. The Washington transfer progressed as the season went along and became a reliable option in the passing game. Fans should look for Bernard to really step up in his game in 2025 as a senior. He could create a lot of value for himself while helping the Alabama offense continue to grow in the process.
OC Parker Brailsford
One of the most valuable transfers that Alabama landed last offseason has to be center Parker Brailsford. The former Washington Husky made 13 starts for the Crimson Tide in 2024. He was arguably the most consistent offensive lineman and will be a pivotal piece of Alabama’s offense again in 2025. He will be looking to boost his draft stock while also growing as an offensive lineman in Kalen DeBoer’s offense.
OG Jaeden Roberts
One of the most beloved players on Alabama’s 2024 roster is returning for his final season. Roberts has overcome injuries over the course of his career and will look to have his strongest season yet in 2025. He could play guard or tackle for the Crimson Tide. It will be interesting to see which direction the coaching staff decides to go with Roberts in 2025. Regardless, he will likely be a starter.
NT Tim Keenan III
2024 Stats: 40 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 pass deflection
Alabama fans should be excited that Keenan III chose to return to school. He has been at Alabama since 2021 and had his best season in 2024. He improved as a run stopper and was a more disruptive pass rusher. The Alabama native will be a leader and starter again for the Crimson Tide in 2025.
Bandit LT Overton
2024 Stats: 42 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 pass deflection
Another key piece of Alabama’s defensive line that will be returning to school for one more season is LT Overton. The Texas A&M transfer showed strides of improvement as a pass rusher on a week-in, week-out basis. If he can finish more of his pass rush opportunities, he has a strong chance to be a top pass rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft. Overton has a high ceiling and will look to build upon his draft stock in 2025.
WOLF Jah-Marien Latham
2024 Stats: 28 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery
One of the more intriguing starters that chose to return to Tuscaloosa is redshirt senior Jah-Marien Latham. The Alabama native has been an impactful presence along Alabama’s defensive line the last few seasons. However, he will be making the transition to WOLF linebacker in 2025. The move is interesting considering Alabama has considerable depth at the position. It will be fascinating to see what role Latham carves out on Alabama’s defense in 2025.
ILB Deontae Lawson
2024 Stats: 76 tackles, 4 pass deflections, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT
In somewhat of a surprise, Lawson decided to return to Tuscaloosa for one more season. The Alabama native suffered a season-ending injury in Week 10 against Oklahoma. That could have factored into his decision to return. Nonetheless, he will be back and will likely serve as a team captain for the second year in a row. Lawson will be a welcoming presence for Kane Wommack and the SWARM defense in 2025.
ILB Justin Jefferson
2024 Stats: 61 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass deflection
Alabama will return one of its more underrated pieces of its defense from a season ago. Former JUCO standout Justin Jefferson will return to Tuscaloosa for his fifth and final season. The Tennessee native was fortunate enough to be granted another year of eligibility thanks to a court ruling called the blanket waiver that granted for junior college athletes an additional season. Jefferson will push for a starting role and be a vital piece of Alabama’s defense next season.
SS Keon Sabb
2024 Stats: 39 tackles, 4 pass deflections, 2 INTs
One of the players that Alabama brought in last offseason was Michigan transfer Keon Sabb. The New Jersey native made seven starts before suffering a season-ending injury against Tennessee. He was an integral part of Alabama’s secondary and defense. If Sabb has a strong campaign in 2025, he will make a strong case to be one of the first safeties selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
CB Domani Jackson
2024 Stats: 51 tackles, 7 pass deflections, 2 INTs, 1 forced fumble
Another transfer from last season that was a great addition to Alabama’s defense was USC transfer Domani Jackson. The California native had an impressive junior season and will look to build upon that in 2025. He was projected to be a top-5 cornerback taken in this years draft and will likely be higher than that in 2026 with a strong senior season for the Crimson Tide.
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Brody Smoot is a team reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “follow” him on X, via @brodysmoot.
