Quarterback – Jalen Hurts
Despite the buzz coming out of A-Day, there is no starting QB competition. Jalen Hurts is the 2017 Alabama football starting QB. Barring injury, that will not change throughout the 2017 season. Jalen looked improved on long passes during A-Day. In fact, his touchdown toss to Calvin Ridley was a perfectly thrown 37-yard strike.
As usual, Jalen was poised, but he also was more willing to settle in the pocket on passing downs. The A-Day tag-off format did not give Hurts much opportunity to showcase his rushing talent. He did appear to be bigger than last fall and that will aid his running game.
No one questions Jalen’s ability to lead his teammates. Not surprisingly, two 14-point first half deficits did not deter Jalen leading the Crimson team to a late-game victory.
Backup QB – Tua Tagovailoa
Tua looked tremendous during the A-Day game. He is clearly beyond where any of last season’s potential backups, Barnett, Bateman and Cornwell ever were in their Tide careers. Tua’s success on Saturday was against the second-team defense. In his two opportunities against the ones, he went three-and-out each time.
Tua will not redshirt in 2017. He will get some meaningful minutes in mop-up action. He will continue to push Jalen on the practice field. And throughout 2017, he will be one play away from being the Alabama football No. 1 QB.
Running Back – Damien Harris or Bo Scarbrough
Neither running back participated in A-Day. Both should be fully healthy at the start of fall camp. We’ll call them running back 1A and 1B.
Backup Running Back(s) – Josh Jacobs
Jacobs is bigger than last season. It is not a stretch to argue he is the most complete back on the team. The 2017 rotation may result with Jacobs being running back 1C.
INajee Harris, B.J. Emmons and Brian Robinson will compete for playing time. Harris is too good to redshirt. So is Robinson, but can he earn enough carries to justify burning a year of eligibility? It is hard to determine where Emmons will fit in the mix.