Alabama Football’s Biggest Position Battles Heading Into the 2023-24 Season
The college football season is still almost seven months away.
It seems like ages since the Alabama Crimson Tide put on a clinic in the Allstate Sugar Bowl against Kansas State.
Since then, the Crimson Tide has lost a large handful of players to the 2023 NFL Draft as well as the transfer portal. However, there is still plenty of talent returning for Alabama in 2023-24 — as well as one of the best classes in the history of recruiting.
So there’s plenty to be excited about.
Let’s take a look at the biggest position battles heading into spring practice.
Quarterback
Where else would we start? Take a deep breath, Crimson Tide fans. Bryce Young is gone — and he’s not coming back.
So, let’s get through the grief stage.
The good news is there are a handful of options to replace the greatest quarterback to ever put on the crimson and white.
The quarterback controversy is currently a mystery. Will it be Jalen Milroe — the dynamic, powerful playmaker that showed flashes in limited time in 2022-23? Will it be Ty Simpson — Milroe’s backup a season ago — a former five-star with tons of potential. Or could it be one of the new guys? Both Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan have a shot at the starting quarterback job if they can come into camp and prove themselves early on to the coaching staff.
One thing is for sure — we have no clue who will be Alabama’s signal-caller in 2023-24.
In my personal opinion, I think it will be a full-on tryout from now until Sept. 2 when the Crimson Tide opens its season at Bryant-Denny Stadium against Middle Tennessee State. In fact, that game itself may be the official tryout before Nick Saban names a starter for the highly-anticipated matchup between Alabama and Texas on Sept. 9.
Wide Receiver
The wide receiver room will definitely be a huge talking point this offseason. The good thing is that there are a lot of viable options. Regardless of who are named the starters, all of the guys in that room will be seeing the field often.
The return of Jermaine Burton is huge. Burton really played well at the end of the season — assuming the role as the Crimson Tide’s top receiver down the homestretch. Returning alongside him will be third-year pass catcher Ja’Corey Brooks.
Those two guys will anchor the unit. After that, it’s a bunch of young talent.
We saw glimpses of greatness from Kobe Prentice, Kendrick Law and Isaiah Bond last year. It will be very exciting to see who emerges from that group to start in the slot. Regardless, I think we see all three of them on the field a lot.
This group of wideouts will be very important. They will be responsible for helping the new quarterback get settled into the offense.
Right Guard and Right Tackle
At this second, I believe there are three guys that will start the season on the offensive line for Alabama.
Those guys are JC Latham, Tyler Booker and Seth McLaughlin. The last two spots are up for grabs.
Terrence Ferguson II has some experience being a third-year player. Ryqueze McElderry is a big recruit coming in from Anniston.
Since JC Latham is going to start at left tackle, I think we could see Elijah Pritchett start on the right side.
But folks, it could be Kadyn Proctor — one of the highest-rated offensive tackles out of high school in quite some time. There’s a reason he decommitted from Iowa, right? He plans to compete for that job in his first year, without a doubt. And if he’s anywhere as good as he’s projected to be, I think he will get his opportunity.
That leaves us with two guys that have been around the program — Darrian Dalcourt and James Brockermeyer. Dalcourt has made 16 starts in his Crimson Tide career — an important factor. Now that it seems like McLaughlin has taken his spot at center, could Alabama move him elsewhere on the line?
While Tommy Brockermeyer transferred, his brother stayed. A one-time four-star recruit, James Brockermeyer could get involved as well.
SEE ALSO: What the Alabama Depth Chart Might Look Like at the Start of Spring: All Things CW
Weakside Linebacker
Even though Will Anderson Jr. is off to the NFL, the Crimson Tide’s linebacker group could still be one of the best units on the team.
Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell will still be wreaking havoc on the edges. Deontae Lawson looks to be the new starter at middle linebacker — and he looks great in that No. 32 jersey. Every time I see him, I’m reminded of the great C.J. Mosley and Rashaan Evans.
That leaves us with the weakside linebacker position. There has been a lot of excitement over the development of Jihaad Campbell and Shawn Murphy. But my eye is currently on Justin Jefferson — no not the one on the Minnesota Vikings.
Jefferson was the No. 1 JUCO linebacker in the country, spending his last two years at Pearl River Community College in Mississippi. He recorded 86 tackles, two sacks and an interception last season.
Alabama also brought in Trezmen Marshall, a transfer linebacker from Kirby Smart's Georgia defense. He played a limited role over the last four years in Athens — but was once a high-profile recruit. It should be interesting to see how the Crimson Tide uses him in its scheme in 2023-24.
Safety
Lastly, we need to touch on the safeties.
With Kool-Aid McKinstry, Terrion Arnold and Malachi Moore returning next season, Alabama looks strong at the cornerback and STAR positions.
However, with the exits of both Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams, the Crimson Tide has two open spots at free and strong safety.
On first look, I believe it will be Kristian Story at free safety. He’s got three years in the system and looks to finally get his opportunity in his senior season.
On the other side, it may be the beginning of something special in Tuscaloosa. Caleb Downs, the No. 1 safety in the Class of 2023 — and No. 6 overall prospect — is in a perfect position to start Day One for Alabama. The Mill Creek High School (Ga.) product is a strong, physical and instinctive defensive back — perfect for the strong safety position.
The Crimson Tide won’t play against another team for another 192 days. But we will get a first look at the 2023-24 Alabama team in the annual “A-Day” game on April 22.
See Also:
Alabama Linebacker Coach Austin Armstrong Being Pursued by SEC Rival
Alabama Football Spring Roster by the Numbers: All Things CW
2024 4-Star Running Back James Peoples Includes Alabama in his Final Six
