Alabama Football: Beyond the official depth chart, a few surprises

Alabama football released the official depth chart for week one of the CFB season. There were a few surprises inside and outside the two-deep.

As much as Alabama football coach Nick Saban hates depth charts, it is an annual surprise when one is published. In fairness, a week one depth chart is fluid in nature. Even without future injuries and recoveries, players will move up and down the depth chart throughout the season.

It is important for Alabama football fans to remember, one of the foundations of Nick Saban’s system is competition among players. Nick reminded everyone during his Monday media session that last fall Trevon Diggs was a starter at cornerback. In the second quarter of the FSU game, Levi Wallace replaced Diggs. Bottom line, depth charts do not include guarantees.

To the surprise of no one, the first official depth chart for 2018 did nothing to clarify the starting quarterback. Who trots on the field first against Louisville remains a mystery. Who knows, perhaps an out-of-character Saban sends both Jalen and Tua out to run the first offensive play.

Alabama Football Official Depth Chart

Note: The slash marks (/) mean ‘or’ on the depth chart. There is no official explanation about what it means for players to be listed before or after a slash mark.

Quarterback – First Team – Tua Tagovailoa / Jalen Hurts; Second Team – Mac Jones

Running Back – First Team – Damien Harris; Second Team – Najee Harris / Josh Jacobs

X Wide Receiver – First team – Devonta Smith; Second Team – Tyrell Shavers

Z Wide Receiver – First Team – Henry Ruggs III; Second Team – Derek Kief / Xavian Marks

H Wide Receiver – First team – Jerry Jeudy; Second Team – Jaylen Waddle / Chadarius Townsend

Tight End – First Team – Hale Hentges; Second Team – Irv Smith / Kedrick James

TE/H-Back – First Team – Irv Smith Jr.; Second Team – Miller Forristall / Major Tennison

Left Tackle – First Team – Jonah Williams; Second Team – Scott Lashley / Chris Owens

Left Guard – First Team – Lester Cotton; Second Team – Josh Casher

Center – First Team – Ross Piersbacher; Second Team – Chris Owens / Emil Ekiyor

Right Guard – First Team – Alex Leatherwood; Second Team – Deonte Brown

Right Tackle – First Team – Jedrick Wills; Second Team – Alex Leatherwood / Richie Petitbon

Defensive End – First Team – Isaiah Buggs; Second Team – LaBryan Ray

Defensive Tackle – First Team – Quinnen Williams; Second Team – Phidarian Mathis

Defensive End – First Team – Raekwon Davis; Second Team – Johnny Dwight

Jack Linebacker – First Team – Anfernee Jennings; Second Team – Jamey Mosley / Cameron Latu

Sam Linebacker – First Team – Christian Miller; Second Team – Jamey Mosley / Eyabi Anoma

Mike Linebacker – First Team – Mack Wilson; Second Team – Josh McMillon / Markail Benton

Will Linebacker – First Team – Dylan Moses; Second team – Ale Kaho

Cornerback – First Team – Saivion Smith / Patrick Surtain Jr.; Second team – Jaylyn Armour-Davis

Cornerback – First Team – Trevon Diggs; Second Team – Patrick Surtain Jr. / Josh Jobe

Star – First Team – Shyheim Carter; Second team – Kyriq McDonald

Safety – First Team – Deionte Thompson; Second Team – Keaton Anderson / Daniel Wright

Safety – First Team – Xavier McKinney; Second Team – Shyheim Carter / Jared Mayden

Money – First Team – Not released – Best guess is Jared Mayden / Xavier McKinney

Placekicker – First Team – Joseph Bulovas / Austin Jones

Punter – First Team – Skyler DeLong, Second team – Mike Bernier

Snappers – First Team – Thomas Fletcher / Scott Meyer

Holder – First team – Tua Tagovailoa; Second Team – Mac Jones

Punt Returner – First Team – Trevon Diggs; Second Team – Jaylen Waddle

Kick Returners – First Team – Josh Jacobs / Trevon Diggs; Second Team – Henry Ruggs III / Brian Robinson

Biggest Surprises

• Ale Kaho at second-team Will Linebacker behind Dylan Moses. No doubt Kaho has talent but moving up so quickly was not expected. Nothing against the young man, but being in the two-deep after just three weeks says more about the Tide’s scary lack of depth at the position.
• Savion Smith and Patrick Surtain Jr. in an ‘or’ situation at one of the cornerback slots.
• The three guys listed as second-team corners are true freshmen.

What we think was learned

• Based on the depth chart and Saban’s remarks, the swing guard is Deonte Brown and the swing tackle is either Scott Lashley or Chris Owens. However, with the emergence of Brown, should Wills go down, Leatherwood might go back to tackle instead of bringing in Owens or Lashley.
• Based on just the depth chart, the inexperience in the secondary has become even younger. Six guys in the secondary depth chart are freshmen and sophomores.
• There are a lot of ‘or’ situations, but nine true freshmen are listed in the two-deep. Nick Saban has always said the best players will play.

Check in with Bama Hammer often as we ramp up to Louisville. More details from the Saban press conference are coming up soon.