Alabama Football Spring Roster by the Numbers: All Things CW
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — We're exactly a month away from the start of spring practices for the University of Alabama football team, and while there may still be some changes between now and then, the roster appears largely set,
Granted, there will still be some movement eventually, as Alabama still has four players set to arrive over the summer, but by our count the Crimson Tide roster appears to be at exactly where Nick Saban wants it, with 85 scholarship players enrolled and set to go.
The coach doesn't release scholarship information, so there's always a little bit of doubt and guesswork involved, yet there are some things that stand out about the 2023 Crimson Tide at this point.
BamaCentral's 2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Eligibility Tracker is a fixture on the site that can be always be found on the 411 page, or with the dropdown menu that can be triggered out of the upper-lefthand corner of the front page by clicking on the three lines icon next to "FanNation."
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Based on the numbers alone, here are 10 things that stand out about the 2023 roster:
1) What's the overall theme of this spring?
Teaching.
Ok, that's true any year, but especially this one. The Crimson Tide has 24 early enrollees this spring from its latest recruiting class, a program record. That includes a pair of junior-college transfers, but not the two additions out of the transfer portal.
That's all on top of the 24 additions from last year who are still with the team.
Moreover, there's new coordinators on both sides of the ball, although neither will be running his own scheme.
Yep, there's going to be a lot of teaching.
2) What's different at quarterback (outside of Bryce Young being gone)?
It's been a while since we've seen four scholarship quarterbacks at the same time as Alabama hasn't been able to add more than one to a signing class since Taulia Tagovailoa and Paul Tyson in 2019. Saban covets having a little more depth.
3) Where did all the running backs go?
On top of the departures, Emmanuel Henderson Jr. is now listed as a wide receiver and incoming standout Richard Young won't arrive until the summer. So there will be just four on the roster this spring. Newcomer Justice Haynes will get plenty of chances to show what he can do along with sophomore Jam Miller.
4) Where did all these wide receivers come from?
For most of the past few seasons Alabama's had eight or nine wide receivers, trying to go three-deep with the three prominent roles (X, Z and H).
This group features 12 players. Among them are four new additions including Malik Benson, widely regarded as the nation’s top junior college prospect out of Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College.
The old men of the group are senior Jermaine Burton, who transferred in last season from Georgia, and redshirt junior Thaiu Jones-Bell.
5) Is Alabama still searching at tight end?
Saban usually only takes transfers, regular or junior college, if there's a need at the position and the player can challenge for playing time immediately. So the addition of CJ Dippre from Maryland raised more than a few eyebrows.
The 6-foot-5 sophomore caught 30 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns this past season. That's almost an exact match for Cameron Latu's production of 30 receptions for 377 yards and four touchdowns.
Robbie Ouzts is his primary competition at the position, and look for Amari Niblack to step into a bigger role. But the guess here is that the other tight ends are still being viewed as projects.
6) What position group had the most turnover?
That the Crimson Tide lost eight offensive linemen from last year's team, including three starters, and no one is panicking tells you how well Saban recruits and reloads.
A year ago, Alabama, the school that almost always has a contender for the Outland Trophy, had to bring in someone to man the left tackle spot. There will be some adjusting and experimenting this spring, but JC Latham is one of the top returning tackles in the nation, while top prospect Kadyn Proctor could come in and push for playing time immediately,
Add in Tyler Booker stepping into a full-time role at guard, plus centers Darrian Dalcourt and Seth McLaughlin both being back, and Alabama is looking pretty strong up front.
7) Where should we watch for some possible departures?
It has to be the defensive line, where Alabama has 15 players and starts only three. Justin Eboigbe is back after suffering a neck injury last season and is looking to improve his draft stock. Tim Smith and Jaheim Oatis are in place to get a lot of playing time.
But after them the Crimson Tide has a lot of question marks, including four new additions who will be looking to make their marks. You don't see too many freshmen make an immediate impact on the defensive line, but keep an eye out for James Smith and Jordan Renaud.
8) What should we read into the addition of Trezmen Marshall?
The interior linebacker who transferred from Georgia is a senior, and Alabama doesn't have a lot of returning experience in the middle. Moreover, he's played in a similar scheme, so could make a push from day one.
Alabama has 14 linebackers over four different positions, but it's time for some of them to step up, especially with top prospects Keon Keeley and Yhonzae Pierre arriving over the summer.
9) What position group will have the toughest competition from top to bottom?
That has to be the defensive backs, where Alabama has 16 players and six regular roles plus reserve roles. Gone are Brian Branch, Eli Ricks, Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams, who should all be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Another Ricks, Dezz, might make a push from the get-go at corner along with prize safety prospect Caleb Downs, but Alabama has some second- and third-year players ready to step into bigger roles. Topping that list is Terrion Arnold.
Similar to the offensive line, look for Alabama to do a lot of experimenting to try and find the best combinations.
10) Where does Alabama have the key returners?
It's with the specialists as kicker Will Reichard and punter James Burnip returning, and long snapper Kneeland Hibbett is only a junior. Other roles need to be figured out and adjusted, but special teams don't have to be a priority.
See Aslo:
2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Eligibility Tracker
