Alabama Football: What to look for in first scrimmage of fall camp

In the second week of fall camp, Alabama Football will scrimmage on Saturday.

On Monday, Nick Saban directed the Alabama football team through its fifth session of fall camp. It was the first practice in full pads. The Alabama Crimson Tide will practice on Wednesday and Friday, with Thursday spent in position group sessions with the Alabama football staff.

Scrimmages are the measurement every fall, seeking to identify who earns a spot in the two-deep. Due to potential virus quarantines, experienced depth will matter more than a normal season. Some players will learn multiple positions. Later in the fall, practice reps may get apportioned in some positions but even the three-deep guys will need reps.

Scrimmage No. 1 will not settle position battles. It will indicate the guys with the best chance to move in the depth chart. In a previous post, we highlighted five first or second-year players with a chance to play key roles this fall. Many more players are competing for future, game snaps.

There are three, perhaps four starting spots open in the dime secondary. Patrick Surtain II is a lock at one corner. Josh Jobe appears solid at the other corner. Daniel Wright and Jordan Battle are leading at safety, leaving Star and Money as the most hotly contested secondary positions. JUCO Ronald Williams, redshirt-freshman, Jaylin Armour Davis and true freshman, Brian Branch are vying for those two starting positions. Branch could pry away a safety role as well. A couple more cannot be counted out; redshirt freshman Brandon Turnage and true freshman, Malachi Moore.

Others on defense to follow Saturday are true freshmen, outside linebackers Will Anderson and Drew Sanders. Redshirt senior, Ben Davis will be trying to hold off the pair to gain his first starting role against Missouri.

On the defensive front, it will be interesting if LaBryan Ray has regained quickness after healing from his foot injury. Alabama football fans will also be anxious to hear how Christian Barmore does against the Tide’s starting offensive line. On the offensive line, the guys with the strongest chance to break into the first unit are sophomore, Darrian Dalcourt and redshirt sophomore Emil Ekiyor.

The wide receivers battling for No. 3 and No. 4 in the depth chart are of interest. John Metchie, Slade Bolden and Javon Baker are the three most likely candidates. Early practice reports are Baker and Bolden have been standing out.

Then there is the tight end position. The Crimson Tide has talent and depth with grad transfer Carl Tucker, Miller Forristall, Major Tennison, Jaheel Billingsley and Cameron Latu. What Alabama football fans want to know is, will Sark use tight ends more in the passing attack?

There is not much drama at running back. The first three are set with Najee, Brian Robinson and Trey Sanders. The question is who earns RB4.

At quarterback, there is always an undercurrent of drama. Can Mac Jones hold off sensational youngster, Bryce Young? Will Nick and Sark rotate both? The position will not be won or lost during the first scrimmage.

News from the scrimmage will trickle out slowly. Bama Hammer will sort through it and pass along what we learn.