Days away from the start of Alabama football 2019 spring practice, let’s review a depth chart for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Change is the operative word for Alabama football as it nears Spring Practice for the 2019 season. A rebuilt Alabama football staff must learn how to mesh with each other. New offensive and defensive coordinators will implement scheme and formation changes. A new, very young Crimson Tide roster will work to learn, improve and battle for playing opportunities.
Alabama football fans are confident new Defensive Coordinator, Pete Golding will adhere to Nick Saban’s complex 3-4 defense. New Offensive Coordinator, Steve Sarkisian is expected to incorporate ‘West-Coast’ offensive schemes and how much that will merge with RPO concepts is a mystery. Not knowing what Sark will do with formations, we structure this early depth chart projection with three wides, a tight end and one running back.
Players with names in bold are the ones we project to receive the most significant roles.
Quarterback, Running Back and Wide Receivers
Quarterback
Starter: Tua Tagovailoa
Backup: Mac Jones
Reserves: Layne Hatcher, Taulia Tagovailoa and Paul Tyson
Tua is a no-brainer. Mac has inherited the backup role as the only other QB with game experience. Could Lia Tagovailoa or another backup come out of spring as the No. 2? We doubt anyone else could make that much progress. It is possible that at some point in Fall Camp, the No. 2 is designated as an ‘or’ situation.
Running Back
Starter: Najee Harris
Backup: Brian Robinson
Reserves: Jonathan Ford, Trey Sanders, Keilan Robinson
At least three running backs will rotate again. If Sark uses two-back sets, it could be four. Sanders and Keilan Robinson are summer enrolls and not available for spring practices.
Wide Receivers
Starters: Devonta Smith, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III
Backups: Jaylen Waddle, Chadarius Townsend and Tyrell Shavers
Reserves: Slade Bolden and Xavier Williams
Jaylen Waddle will really be a fourth starter. After Waddle, the other wides who will rotate in are unclear. Tyrell Shavers would seem to be a clear rotation guy but he is also participating in baseball this spring. From the 2018 class, Xavier Williams and Slade Bolden have a chance to reach the two-deep.