Alabama Football: 2023 spring game schedule, storylines to follow
A major date on the college football preseason calendar is here as Alabama takes to the field for the annual A-Day spring football game with the Crimson Tide looking to build a stronger foundation and recover from the two-loss campaign a year ago that kept the team out of the College Football Playoff.
Alabama has some work to do getting back to the top of the SEC standings as well after falling behind LSU in the West Division contest and watching as Georgia won the last two national championships.
Related: College football spring games to watch today
But to get from here to there, Nick Saban and his two new coordinators have some big holes to fill on the roster as major contributors leave for the NFL, but with players coming up in the ranks with some major potential at important positions.
Here's what you should keep an eye on as Alabama puts a bookmark on spring football and moves into the summer preseason.
Alabama spring football game schedule
What to watch in the Alabama spring football game
USA Today Images
When: Sat., April 22
Time: 2 p.m. Central
Where: SEC Network+
Site: Bryant-Denny Stadium; Tuscaloosa, Ala.
2023 Alabama spring game storylines to watch
1. Reload in the secondary. Alabama was hit hard at the cornerback and safety positions with key contributors leaving for the NFL this offseason, leaving first-year coordinator Kevin Steele with holes to fill. Kool-Aid McKinstry is one of college football's top returning cornerbacks and should easily occupy one of the corners.
Terrion Arnold is a favorite for the other; he had 45 stops and 8 pass breakups last season to go with an interception and a fumble recovery, earning SEC All-Freshman Team honors by the coaches. Safety is a more open question with three departures at the position, but senior Malachi Moore should be the leader of the unit in 2023. Alabama will want to throw the ball deep and often in the spring game to test its secondary as much as possible and see who stands out.
2. Running the ball. Swiss army knife back Jahmyr Gibbs is gone and so is pass-happy offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, and with Tommy Rees stepping into play-calling duties, the Tide could focus more on establishing the run in the way that defined the early Saban years than the more wide-open approach he has embraced recently.
Running back Jase McClellan was hampered by injuries two years ago, but returned in 2022 to score a team-high tying seven TDs on the ground, adding three more scores as a receiver, while posting the second-most rushing yards (655). He could share snaps with Roydell Williams, another senior who scored four times last season. Being able to run the ball with authority will be important to help settle in the team's new quarterback this fall and using both options to their full potential is crucial to that plan.
3. Quarterback. The most important question for any offense and Alabama faces the unwelcome task of having to replace a legend in Bryce Young, but has two intriguing options up for the task, both with a unique skill set that stands out from the other.
In one corner, Jalen Milroe, a dynamic and athletic option who combines an accurate arm with an unpredictable running style that can throw defenses out of position. In the other corner is former 5-star pickup Ty Simpson, a more traditional pocket passer who might be the better option when moving the ball consistently in the air.
Milroe has more experience between them, including one game as starter when Young was injured last season, finishing with 562 yards of total offense and scoring six touchdowns. In a closely-fought win over Texas A&M, Milroe had just over 100 yards passing, but was efficient, going 12 of 19 and scored three times.
2023 Alabama football schedule
Get a closer look at the Alabama football schedule and the Crimson Tide's opponents here.
Sept. 2 vs. MTSU
Sept. 9 vs. Texas
Sept. 16 at South Florida
Sept. 23 vs. Ole Miss
Sept. 30 at Mississippi State
Oct. 7 at Texas A&M
Oct. 14 vs. Arkansas
Oct. 21 vs. Tennessee
Oct. 28 Idle
Nov. 4 vs. LSU
Nov. 11 at Kentucky
Nov. 18 vs. Chattanooga
Nov. 25 at Auburn
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