Biggest question surrounding each position group for Alabama football ahead of the 2026 season

Sep 6, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama quarterback Austin Mack (10) lines up under center before throwing a touchdown pass against UL Monroe at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images

Alabama football will enter the 2026 season with a lot of questions surrounding multiple positions.

The Crimson Tide is expected to be a young team this fall and will be a mix of proven talent and blooming potential.

Touchdown Alabama decided to take a look at what the biggest questions are surrounding each of the Tide’s position groups ahead of the season:

Quarterbacks

Who will start?

It will be Austin Mack or Keelon Russell time in Tuscaloosa this fall. The competition is still going after both had their moments during spring football. Mack is the older quarterback, and he is set to enter his fourth year in the system. Russell is the younger former five-star set to enter year two. The competition is expected to be pretty much wide open heading into fall camp.

Running Backs

Can they have a bounce-back season?

Alabama football returns a trio of running backs in Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley and AK Dear. They have added EJ Crowell, Trae’shawn Brown and Khalifa Keith. While Riley and Hill have meaningful experience, neither has done enough to be undoubtedly the Tide’s projected leading ball carrier ahead of the 2026 season. To put it nicely, Alabama’s running backs were very underwhelming last season at times. While they should not shoulder all the blame, they did not do a lot to help change this narrative. It is paramount that the Alabama rushing attack bounces back this season if the Tide wants to compete for a championship.

Wide Receiver

Does Ryan Coleman-Williams live up to the hype?

Ryan Coleman-Williams did not have a disastrous 2025 season. Could he have dropped fewer passes? Sure. Did he live up to what many expected him to be? No. But 689 yards and four touchdowns on 49 catches is nothing to sneeze at. A fresh reset for the former five-star could be just what he needs because if he can tap back into being the explosive playmaker he made a name for himself being, he will make things a lot easier for whoever starts at quarterback and create opportunities for other wide receivers.

Tight Ends

How big of a role will they play?

Alabama football wants to have a certain type of tight end on its roster. They want complete tight ends who can block and be receiving threats. With this in mind, this group is expected to play a significant role in the Tide’s passing and rushing attack. Kaleb Edwards, Josh Ford, Marshall Pritchett and Jay Lindsey are the favorites to get the majority of the snaps at the position this fall.

Offensive Line

Can Adrian Klemm find success with a rebuilt group?

Alabama football is expected to have at least four new starters on its offensive line this fall. Michael Carroll, who is projected to start on offense at one of the guard spots, is the only returning Tide offensive lineman with a lot of experience in the system. Alabama went out and added several transfers and high school offensive linemen this fall, and a few of those transfers are expected to start. Jayvin James is the favorite to start at right tackle and Racin Delgatty is expected to start at center. Alabama hired Adrian Klemm to lead this group. He enters year one in Tuscaloosa with the pressure of making this into a stout group.

Defensive Line

How big of an impact will transfers make?

Like the offensive line, Alabama football is expected to lean on multiple transfers up front on its defensive line. Devan Thompkins, Kedrick Bingley-Jones and Terrence Green are expected to make an impact this fall for the Tide. It is not out of the realm to think each of them will start games this fall. Thompkins is expected to be a for-sure starter this season. How good the Tide is on the defensive line could rest upon the shoulders of how good those guys are, along with returning talent like London Simmons, Jah-Marian Latham, Edric Hill and Jeremiah Beaman.

Linebackers

Who lines up at inside linebacker next to Caleb Woodson?

Caleb Woodson, who transferred to Alabama from Virginia Tech, is expected to start at inside linebacker for the Tide this season. He is the most experienced inside linebacker on Alabama’s roster. So, who gets the nod to start alongside him? It will likely be QB Reese, Cayden Jones or Luke Metz. Alabama used three inside linebackers on a consistent rotation during the last two seasons. This season could be no different.

Defensive Back

How good will this secondary be?

Alabama football’s secondary is expected to be one of the best in the spot this season. They return players with starting experience at each position. Can they live up to what they are being billed as? Only time will tell, but the combination of Bray Hubbard, Keon Sabb, Zabien Brown and Dijon Lee is expected to give quarterbacks problems this fall.

Special Teams

Who starts at kicker?

Conor Talty returns to Alabama after an up-and-down 2025 season. He was 16-of-23 on field goals as Alabama’s starting kicker last fall. However, he is now joined by Lorcan Quinn. Quinn transferred from Marshall to Alabama during the offseason. He nailed 21-of-26 field goals last season. The longest field goal he made was from 55 yards out. He totaled four field goals from more than 50 yards out last season. This could be an intense battle this fall.