Days away from the 2017 college football season, Alabama football fans are excited. Let’s take a deep dive into our latest projected, post-fall-scrimmages, depth chart.
Alabama football fans are excited about the rapidly approaching season and chomping at the bit for depth chart information. Nick Saban will reluctantly stop talking about rep charts and release a depth around August 28. It will, no doubt, include some ‘or’ designations for positions not fully settled by FSU game-week.
Competition for starting slots and key backup roles will not cease with the FSU lineup. After the FSU game, second-teamers will see added game action and thereby opportunities to move up
Our previous projected depth charts were done after spring practice and just before the start of fall camp. As it should be for a perennial college football program, there have been more knowns than unknowns.
At some positions, the rotation is so frequent that a second-team player can almost match the playing time of a starter. That is the case with the defensive line and the two-deep wideouts.
Starting Quarterback – Jalen Hurts
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.
No one questions Jalen’s ability to lead his teammates. Except for the most recent fall scrimmage, Jalen has shown improvement as a passer.
Backup QB – Tua Tagovailoa
Tua is better prepared to play than last season’s backups. Tua will not redshirt in 2017. He will get some meaningful minutes and it will not always be mop-up duty. 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.
Backup QB – Mac Jones
Mac Jones is a talented passer in line for a redshirt season unless Jalen or Tua are injured.