Alabama football closed one door on Monday with a highly anticipated spring transfer portal window opening on Tuesday. The Crimson Tide football team held its annual post-spring practice dinner featuring steaks for the winning team and beanie weenies for the losing team, and members of the 2023 roster received their SEC championship rings. The next time the team’s together en masse it’s going to be a different-looking roster with some existing players exiting and new ones entering the fold.
Alabama is one of the most high-interest teams in the spring transfer window given the attrition it saw following Nick Saban’s retirement. Now the Tide will be able to backfill open scholarship spots to fill out the 2024 roster. As it stands on Tuesday morning, Alabama has 83 scholarship players, leaving two open spots to the 85-man limit — and for every Alabama player that exits, one more spot can be filled via the transfer portal. Here’s a breakdown of scholarship numbers by classification (including redshirt players):
- Freshmen: 44
- Sophomores: 11
- Juniors: 18
- Seniors: 8
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One caveat to keep in mind is that the SEC doesn’t allow inter-conference transfers during the spring window. Still, Alabama can select from any other conference nationally. The scholarship count means Alabama can be aggressive immediately but the coaching staff is still going to be methodical in who it targets. In some cases, Alabama needs ready-made contributors and because of the team’s youth, it could also use depth at certain spots — which is one of the hardest things to pull from the transfer portal. If a player’s in the portal during the spring window more times than not it’s because they’re seeking a chance to play immediately. Selling players on being a depth piece in 2024 with the potential to play a bigger role in 2025 and beyond isn’t easy. Having 20 of the 28 members of its 2024 recruiting class go through spring practice was critical for development as several freshmen could be counted on to fill important positions on the two-deep this fall.
There are a few positions where additions are nearly certain such as offensive line and defensive back but there are a few others to keep an eye on, too. Spring practice is over and after 15 practices there’s more context that puts each position group in a new light entering summer, paving the way for a necessary roster reset. As the spring window opens, The Athletic examined each position group, where it stands and placed a likelihood on attrition and additions during the spring portal window.
Quarterback (4)
• Chances for departures: Low
• Chances for additions: Low
Alabama’s quarterback room saw some change a few months back with Julian Sayin departing for Ohio State and bringing in Austin Mack from Washington. Exiting spring practice, the room is in good shape. The biggest news for this group surfaced on Monday night amid reports that Ty Simpson will not enter the transfer portal and stay with the team. It’s a significant development as Simpson’s resisted the portal three times: in the initial winter window, post-Saban’s retirement and now post-spring practice. Whether Simpson believes he can push for the starting job or is fine waiting his turn and stepping into the starter role in 2025 is unknown, but it’s a big win for Alabama’s roster regardless. The level-up in schedule difficulty in the SEC and the expanded College Football Playoff will take a toll on rosters; teams need multiple high-level quarterbacks to compete for championships and Alabama has that in Simpson and Jalen Milroe. Four scholarship quarterbacks is about the mark that most teams would like to be at. Alabama’s in a good spot in terms of having a few dependable veterans and two young players (Dylan Lonergan and Mack) as developmental pieces.
Running back (5)
• Chances for departures: Moderate
• Chances for additions: Low
Running back was a position with a ton of buzz entering spring practice and lived up to the bill throughout March and April. Sophomore Justice Haynes and junior Jam Miller were as advertised as frontline starters, and the buzz around Richard Young came to fruition as well during Saturday’s A-Day scrimmage. Young is viewed as the RB3 behind a clear-cut top two, but he carried himself as if he’s a starting-caliber back in first- and second-team opportunities. The looming question: Is Young going to stick around as the third option or could he seek a bigger opportunity elsewhere?
Dating back to DeBoer’s introductory news conference, he said the scheme will be dictated by personnel. At this point, it’s clear that the strength of the offense lies with the running backs. If Alabama leans heavily into running the ball, as it did in 2023, there’s a path for Young to be featured in the offense even if it’s not at the same volume as Haynes and Miller.
At the bottom of the depth chart, freshman Daniel Hill logged valuable reps in his first spring. The summer is pivotal for him to get into the desired shape that RB coach Robert Gillespie wants out of the 230-pound prospect. And Kevin Riley, a four-star recruit, is set to join the team in June. Credit Gillespie for keeping his room intact and developing it from top to bottom.
Jam Miller looks like he will take on an expanded role for Alabama in 2024 after rushing 41 times for 201 yards and one score last season. (Gary Cosby Jr. / USA Today)
Wide receiver (13)
• Chances for departures: Low
• Chances for additions: Moderate
Note: Caleb Odom is being counted as a wide receiver even though his listed position is tight end.
Maintaining strong numbers and building continuity at wide receiver has been a challenge over the last few seasons with 11 receivers from the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 recruiting classes leaving via the transfer portal. The current group under new position coach JaMarcus Shephard should not see much attrition during this window due to the opportunity for snaps after losing nearly every top option from 2023, but there could be an opportunity to add to the group.
The biggest area of need among the receivers is a taller, outside option to supplement players like Germie Bernard, Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice. Rising sophomore Jalen Hale was primed for that role, but his injury leaves a void — one player who’s gotten an opportunity is redshirt freshman Jaren Hamilton who logged double-digit snaps during A-Day with the first-team offense at outside receiver. Caleb Odom is a fast-rising prospect who could be used situationally this fall but will likely not be a leading snap-getter at that spot. Receiver isn’t a dire need like other positions, but if there’s a can’t-miss player available, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Alabama pursue him.
There is an influx of talent coming in June with Amari Jefferson, Rico Scott and Ryan Williams via the 2024 class. Williams is the headliner and is one of the most highly-anticipated incoming players in this class. He was a generational high school prospect in Alabama and expectations are high, but the Crimson Tide should be tempered given his age. If he lives up to the bill, it will add a different dimension to the offense.
What Alabama has in its known commodities is exciting. Bernard appears to be a star in the making, Prentice is a reliable contributor and Law should continue to be a versatile weapon in this new offense. Another player who deserves some recognition for a strong spring is slot receiver Cole Adams, who made a few nice plays on A-Day.
Tight end (6)
• Chances for departures: Moderate
• Chances for additions: Low
Technically Odom would make seven scholarship tight ends but his extensive work at receiver this spring reduces this group to six from a practicality standpoint. Alabama’s been re-energized in terms of tight end usage dating back to last season, so there are more snaps to go around, but the addition of Washington transfer Josh Cuevas all but solidifies that the top three tight ends will be him and returners CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts. Of the 28 first-team reps during A-Day, those three commanded all 28 of them.
The age distribution is pretty even with two seniors (Dippre, Ouzts), one junior (Cuevas), one sophomore (Danny Lewis Jr.) and two freshmen (Ty Lockwood, Jay Lindsey). If there’s anyone to keep an eye on it’d be Lewis, a redshirt sophomore who played in every game last season and started once but hasn’t fully broken into the first-team rotation. That’s not to predict anything specifically, he’s a valued depth piece that would see snaps in case of an injury this fall, or in 2025 or beyond, but it’s getting increasingly harder to keep those types of players on a roster.
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Offensive line (13)
• Chances for departures: Low
• Chances for additions: High
It’s no secret that Alabama’s short on numbers on its offensive line, even Saban alluded to it during the early signing period in December. The biggest name to watch is Kadyn Proctor, former Alabama player turned Iowa Hawkeye who said in March he planned to re-enter the portal — he was spotted at A-Day as a spectator which adds to the speculation of his return. Assuming his return takes place, his addition helps fortify offensive tackle which was a major question mark entering spring practice. The offensive line saw highs and lows throughout spring, not atypical for any position, but closed on a strong note with a good performance at A-Day. Proctor’s addition leads to one of two outcomes: he and Elijah Pritchett become the starting combination at left and right tackle, or Wilkin Formby or Miles McVay push and win one of those jobs this fall — meaning one of them took a major leap. Either way, more competition at tackle is a good thing.
This could very well be a position that sees multiple additions because as mentioned earlier, some positions need starting-level players and depth pieces. It’s going to be hard to find those depth players in the portal, but if Alabama can secure a versatile piece that could play multiple positions on the line it’d be ideal. The silver lining of low numbers, which became even lower when Parker Brailsford took his leave of absence from playing, is that it gave the current players more reps than normal for their development. Those types of situations will pay dividends down the line.
Defensive line (15)
• Chances for departures: Moderate
• Chances for additions: Moderate
Note: Keon Keeley is being counted as a defensive lineman.
Similar to Gillespie, credit position coach Freddie Roach for retention and development at his position. The defensive line is one of the healthiest positions on the team from a numbers standpoint and from a playable depth standpoint. Right now, it feels like there are around seven players that could be regular rotation guys this fall. Due to the logjam at the top of the depth chart, and the addition of Keon Keeley to the room, there are possibilities for players to seek more playing time elsewhere. Also, factor in that it’s not a particularly old group with just two seniors in Jah-Marien Latham and Tim Smith.
The defensive line probably isn’t the top priority for additions but buzz about trouble stopping the run in spring practice — which was amplified during A-Day — adds some fuel to an argument to add a piece. This is not a position where Alabama will add someone for depth purposes. The room is in a good spot, but if an impact player becomes available expect Alabama to do its due diligence.
Linebacker (14) — Outside (7), Inside (7)
• Chances for departures: Low
• Chances for additions: Low
Linebacker is the youngest position on Alabama’s team — it’s the only position group where the majority of the room is made up of freshmen, including redshirts (8 of 14). It’s a unique situation because, on the surface, that would indicate that it’s a position that Alabama might need to target in the portal, but fortunately, it’s one where there are capable topline starters at both spots.
Inside backer has Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell entrenched as starters with Justin Jefferson and Jeremiah Alexander as capable options behind them, followed by a litany of true freshmen. One of those to keep an eye on who could find a special teams role this fall is international prospect Justin Okoronkwo who led all players at A-Day with 11 tackles. He’s still developing his football IQ but the physical tools and effort stand out on tape.
At outside linebacker, there are several possibilities with Quandarrius Robinson and Keanu Koht as veterans who carried all first-team reps at A-Day, redshirt freshmen Qua Russaw and Yhonzae Pierre who are primed to take second-year leaps, true freshman Jayshawn Ross who had a sack on A-Day and incoming four-star Noah Carter. There’s not a definitive answer at this point but the sentiment is that there’s a staerter lying within the group somewhere.
Secondary (12) — Cornerback (6), Safety (6)
• Chances for departures: Low
• Chances for additions: High
Linebacker has the most freshmen in numbers but the secondary saw the most freshmen taking consistent first-team reps during spring practice. It was a great experience for players like Zabien Brown, Red Morgan, Jahlil Hurley and more — but Alabama would like to have more veteran depth in the back end of the defense. The particular area of focus is cornerback where there’s only one player that’s older than a freshman in Domani Jackson; adding at least one in that spot would solidify that position and ensure that freshmen aren’t thrust into a starting role, not at least without earning it through competition.
The safety position is more solid with a trio of veterans in Malachi Moore, Keon Sabb and DeVonta Smith, who appeared healthy after starting at A-Day. The secondary also got some good news on Monday when sophomore Tony Mitchell rebuffed a report that he was entering the portal. The former blue-chip prospect missed a significant amount of spring practice due to injury but when healthy can be a factor in competing for a spot on the two-deep.
Specialists (2)
• Chances for departures: Low
• Chances for additions: Moderate
Alabama knows what it has in punter James Burnip but kicker is more unsettled. There’s an open competition at kicker featuring scholarship player Conor Talty. It isn’t a position that Alabama would immediately seek out over, say, an offensive lineman or cornerback, but it’s something to keep in mind as players from around the country start entering on Tuesday.
(Top photo: Gary Cosby Jr. / USA Today)
