Preseason camp for Alabama football starts next week on Wednesday.
After a good showing at Southeastern Conference Media Days, Kalen DeBoer is ready for his team to take the practice field and show what it has for the upcoming season. He has built a winning culture at each stop on his coaching journey, but he has an opportunity to do something special in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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In this perspective series, we will look at the five offensive and defensive players for the Crimson Tide expected to take huge strides forward in fall practice.
First, we break down the offensive guys.
Jalen Milroe, QB
Jalen Milroe left SEC Media Days at the Omni Hotel (Dallas, Texas) with everyone talking about him.
He was productive as a first-year starting quarterback in 2023, totaling 2,834 passing yards, 531 rushing yards, and 35 touchdowns for the Crimson Tide. Milroe, a native of Katy, Texas, guided Alabama to an SEC Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff. He had success under Tommy Rees, but Milroe now has a revamped offensive coaching staff.
Coach DeBoer, Nick Sheridan, JaMarcus Shephard, and others have an offense that’s prepared to make Milroe a superstar.
We know what he is as an athlete and deep ball thrower, but he’s worked on his short to intermediate game. The ability to consistently connect on 10 to 15-yard passes or “high percentage” throws to either side of the boundary is where he has improved the most. Milroe worked with private coaches this offseason and received more teaching at the Manning Passing Academy.
If he can make tremendous grow on high percentage passes, no one will be able to stop Milroe.
Justice Haynes, RB
Justice Haynes eyes his moment to be Alabama’s starting running back.
A native Georgian, he arrived as a five-star from Buford High School in the 2023 class.
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Haynes gave fans a taste of how good he can be during the Rose Bowl matchup against Michigan.
The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder ripped off some nice runs that had Tide fans aggravated with Tommy Rees for taking the ball out his hands. Rees is no longer in Tuscaloosa, but Haynes is set to do damage to opposing defensive fronts.
He finished his freshman campaign with 168 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 25 carries. Alabama wants to do a lot in the passing game; however, the coaching staff knows it would be foolish to not run the ball. Haynes brings power, speed, vision, contact balance, and makes a hole where there’s none.
Balance will be important for the Tide, and Haynes is ready to provide it.
Kendrick Law, WR
Kendrick Law has a major opportunity to snatch a starting wide receiver spot.
He has been on the cutting edge of a breakout season in the last two years, but this is his best chance.
Law brings the athleticism, speed, hands, routes, blocking abilities, and versatility at the position.
The Louisiana native is dangerous no matter where he lines up on the field. He can score on getting a hand-off in motion, take end arounds/jet sweeps and pop passes for scores, beat defenders in being a traditional receiver, or he can be highly explosive as a return specialist.
Alabama just has to get Law involved in this offense.
Germie Bernard, WR
Malachi Moore, a fifth-year defensive back for Alabama, compared Germie Bernard to John Metchie at SEC Media Days.
This is not a bad comparison, especially with the success Metchie had in Tuscaloosa.
He caught 55 passes for 916 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2020, pacing the Tide to an SEC Championship and a College Football Playoff National Championship.
Metchie gained his first 1,000-plus season for Alabama in 2021, posting 1,142 yards and eight scores on 96 receptions.
Bernard runs good routes, possesses reliable hands, has speed, and is an underrated blocker. He totaled three catches for 122 yards in Alabama’s spring game, showing fans he has what it takes to produce. Bernard helped Washington to a Pac-12 Championship and a CFP National Championship Game berth in 2023.
He caught 34 passes for 419 yards and two scores.
Bernard knows the DeBoer offense with Sheridan and Shephard, so he should make exponential strides in camp.
Kadyn Proctor, OL
He knew it would be tough coming back to the University of Alabama after leaving in the transfer portal, but Kadyn Proctor has embraced the DeBoer culture in Tuscaloosa.
Tyler Booker, a junior offensive lineman, said Proctor ‘has bought fully back in’ to Alabama football.
He has to earn his starting job back at left tackle, but Proctor has the experience from last year to lean on. The 6-foot-7 specimen did earn Freshman All-SEC honors in 2023 and got better as the season progressed. He has trained this offseason on being better in pass protection, especially after the offensive line gave up 44 sacks last season. Proctor should take massive steps forward in pass pro and in run blocking.
Chris Kapilovic, Alabama’s offensive line coach, is going to mold him into an All-American.
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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.
