Alabama Football: Post-Spring Depth Chart, including summer enrollees
By Ronald Evans
Check out this Alabama football post-spring depth chart that includes some summer enrollees who may join the two-deep by fall.
With spring complete for Alabama football, an updated, projected depth chart is in order. In this version, a few summer enrollees make their way into the two-deep. This format allows a best-guess of how the depth chart could look the week of the Louisville game.
In some position groups, game rotations make second team players regulars gaining almost as many snaps as starters. Additionally, the different offensive and defensive sets mean Alabama football has many more than 22 starters. Combining base, nickel, and dime the Tide has closer to 15 starters on defense depending on the game situation. Add the rotational players on the defensive line and the defensive regulars are close to 20 players.
There is a similar situation on the offensive side. Except for some short-yardage sets and goal line formations, the offensive line does not rotate. The running backs, tight ends, h-backs and wide receivers rotate frequently. The result is also about 20 regulars on offense.
It some ways, the planned player, situational rotations reinforce the frequent Saban refrain – “Don’t worry about the depth chart.” But as Alabama football fans we do, so here is our best guess.
2018 Quarterback
Starter: Jalen Hurts or Tua Tagovailoa
Backup: Mac Jones
We still believe Nick Saban wants to open the season with a two-QB system. He can use most of September and October to allow the starting job to become cemented in games.
The Alabama football QB situation is more than fluid. It can be called volatile. Perhaps Jalen did not hurt his Tide future in the A-Day game but he did not enhance it. Mac Jones, although only competing against the twos, showed promise with quick decisions and accurate passing.
Running Back
Starter: Damien Harris
Backups: Najee Harris, Josh Jacobs and Brian Robinson
Running back is a rotation position for Alabama football. Four players will be in the 2018 rotation: Damien Harris, Najee Harris; Josh Jacobs and Brian Robinson. Damien Harris will be a team leader in 2018.
Najee Harris will come close to matching Damien’s touches. Josh Jacobs and Brian Robinson will share what remains in the running back distribution. Jacobs and Robinson are good enough to be starters at several SEC schools. Insiders report the coaching staff is very high on Robinson. Some even suggest he is the most complete back of the group.