10 Things to Look For as Alabama Football Opens Spring Camp
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A new day dawns in Tuscaloosa with Alabama spring practice opening up on Monday. For the first time in 17 years, there will be someone new patrolling the sidelines and behind the podium at the post-practice press conference.
There will be a lot of changes and adjustments to what players, fans and media alike will have to get used to, but there is fresh excitement in the air as the temperatures continue to warm up, and Alabama football starts life post-Nick Saban.
Kalen DeBoer's era as the head coach of the Crimson Tide begins on-field work with the first spring practice on Monday, and the spring will conclude with his first A-Day game on April 13 at 3 p.m. inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Here are 10 storylines to watch out for throughout spring camp for the Crimson Tide:
1. Will there be a quarterback battle?
If Saban were still the head coach, I don't think this would be a question. As a returning captain and top-10 Heisman finisher, Jalen Milroe would be the starter. And I still think that will be the case, and it is his job to lose.
However, DeBoer brings a very different offensive system to Tuscaloosa than what has been run in the past. Washington had the second-best passing offense in the country last season, and Husky starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was runner-up for the Heisman. DeBoer and his offensive staff have proven they can develop quarterbacks, and in media appearances DeBoer has been encouraged by the growth of Milroe.
But Alabama has an interesting mix of talent in its quarterback room. Ty Simpson enters his third season at Alabama and chose to stick around for another spring despite sitting behind Milroe last season. Dylan Lonergan only saw action in one game last season against Chattanooga, but the redshirt freshman continued to develop buzz as one of the best arms on the team and had a strong A-Day performance in 2023.
Perhaps the most intriguing piece in the quarterback room is Washington transfer Austin Mack. He's the only one that already has firsthand experience in DeBoer's system and got to sit behind and learn from Michael Penix Jr. this past season as an early enrollee at Washington.
2. Are Justice Haynes and Jam Miller the next elite Alabama running back duo?
Alabama's top two running backs from last year are no longer with the program. Jase McClellan declared for the NFL draft, and Roydell Williams transferred to Florida State. While those two combined for the bulk of the yards and carries last season, there were two young running backs behind them that came on strong at the end of the season.
Jam Miller finished his sophomore season with 41 carries for 201 yards and a touchdown. Justice Haynes was a highly-touted freshman, but didn't see much on-field time with the offense because of the seniority above him. However, he had one of his best games of the season in Alabama's Rose Bowl loss to Michigan, when he averaged 7.8 yards per carry against the staunch Wolverine defense.
DeBoer's offense is more pass-heavy than what most Alabama fans are used to, but this could be a big year for Haynes and Miller as the top dogs in the running back group.
3. Who will emerge as Alabama's starting cornerbacks?
Outside of Malachi Moore, Alabama's secondary has been almost completely depleted from a season ago. Starting corners Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry are off to the NFL as underclassmen alongside Jaylen Key, who was out of eligibility. Seven defensive backs entered the transfer portal headlined by starter Caleb Downs and contributors Trey Amos and Kristian Story.
The only other scholarship players returning in the secondary besides Moore are senior DeVonta Smith, rising sophomores Bray Hubbard and Tony Mitchell and redshirt freshman Jahlil Hurley. Those four players have a combined zero starts.
Alabama did get some help from the portal in USC cornerback Domani Jackson and Michigan safety Keon Sabb. Jackson will almost certainly be one of the starters at corner, but the other will likely come from one of the Tide's highly-rated freshmen in Jaylen Mbakwe or Zavien Brown. However it shakes out in the spring and then continues to develop through fall camp, there will be a lot of new faces and inexperience in the secondary.
4. Who steps up at offensive tackle?
Alabama returns both starting guards in Tyler Booker and Jaeden Roberts. That's the good news. The bad news is new offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic will have to replace both starting tackle spots from a year ago as right tackle JC Latham declared for the NFL draft and left tackle Kadyn Proctor transferred home to Iowa.
Before Proctor claimed the job as a true freshman, it was a battle between him and Elijah Pritchett. Now a redshirt sophomore, Pritchett will likely slide into the left tackle position, but what about the other side?
This is where it becomes a little more tricky. Alabama frankly has no one with experience at the position or much collegiate experience at all with the remaining offensive tackles on the roster freshman or redshirt freshman. Some candidates to look out for in the spring at right tackle would be redshirt freshmen Olaus Alinen, Wilkin Formby and Miles McVay
5. How will players respond to the new coaching staff?
Obviously, the biggest change starts at the top with the transition from Saban to DeBoer. But outside of the defensive backs, which Saban worked closely with, most returning players probably spent more time with their individual position coaches.
The only on-field coaches returning from last season's staff are running back coach Robert Gillespie and defensive line coach Freddie Roach. DeBoer has credited these two with helping keep the team together during the times of transition.
The new faces include Nick Sheridan (quarterbacks) and JaMarcus Shephard (wide receivers), who both came with DeBoer from Washington, as co-offensive coordinators. Also on the offensive side of the ball are Chris Kapilovic with the offensive line and Brian Ellis as tight ends coach.
On defense, former South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack will serve as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Colin Hitschler and Maurice Linquist are co-defensive coordinators. And Christian Robinson will be the outside linebackers coach.
6. Which transfer makes the biggest impact?
Alabama added eight players from the transfer portal: three committed to Saban (Jackson, Naquil Bertrand and LT Overton), and three committed to DeBoer.
Four players (Mack, wide receiver Germie Bernard, center Parker Brailsford, tight end Josh Cuevas) followed DeBoer over to Alabama from Washington. And he also picked up the commitment from Sabb.
Bernard, Jackson and Brailsford are poised to make the most immediate impact as starters at position of need. Jackson was already mentioned in the story, but Brailsford will step into the center role that was left vacant by Seth McLaughlin's transfer to Ohio State. Alabama lost its top three pass catchers from a year ago, and Bernard's 34 receptions for 419 yards and two touchdowns last season at Washington would've been good for third in receiving yards at Alabama. Look for all three guys to play a big role throughout the spring.
7. Is Conor Talty ready to replace Will Reichard?
In some ways, it feels like Will Reichard was in Tuscaloosa almost as long as Saban. Reichard spent five seasons as the Crimson Tide's starter at kicker, becoming the NCAA's all-time leading scorer.
After years of uncertainty at the kicker position, Alabama fans could breathe a sigh of relief when Reichard went out to kick. Now, redshirt freshman Conor Talty is in line to take over the starting spot after learning from Reichard last year.
With Reichard on the hunt for the NCAA record last season, Talty only attempted one extra point, but he did boot six kickoffs in three different games.
8. What positions will Alabama still need to fill from the transfer portal?
During various media opportunities over the last few weeks, DeBoer has said Alabama still has a few roster spots left open to potentially get players from the transfer portal.
As previously mentioned, the Crimson Tide has added a number of players over the offseason, but it is not uncommon for players to join from the portal over the summer. Henry To'oTo'o and Jameson Williams did not join Alabama in 2021 until after spring football had ended in the summer.
Elite, starting players don't grow on trees, and the pickings in the portal will be slimmer at this time of year, but Alabama would likely like to add experience at cornerback or tackle if available.
9. How many players will enter the portal after spring?
In the nature of today's college football, if guys haven't solidified a spot on first or second string of the depth chart by the end of spring practice, there's a good shot they will enter the transfer portal. Alabama had 25 players enter the portal this offseason including several starters after Saban's retirement announcement.
Most notably, it will be interesting to keep an eye on if the quarterbacks that end up outside of the top-two in the QB race head for the portal. There will also be a trickle down effect at other positions for players who don't see a future with the Crimson Tide.
10. What will fan attendance/support be like for DeBoer's first A-Day?
At Saban's first A-Day in 2007, Bryant-Denny Stadium was packed to its then capacity of over 92,000. It immediately showed the fan excitement and support for what Saban could build at Alabama.
Will it be the same for DeBoer? Since 2007, attendance at the annual spring scrimmage has continued to taper off, but there should be a renewed enthusiasm and also a sense of curiosity to see what DeBoer's offense and system will bring to the Crimson Tide.
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