Alabama Football: Official Depth Chart news and surprises

On Monday, Nick Saban allowed an official Alabama Football, Depth Chart to be released. Saban hates public depth charts and as always the initial one for 2021 was heavily populated with the ‘or’ word, disguised as a slash mark.

With practices leading up to Saturday’s opener against Miami and evolving injury situations, today’s chart may change.

The full two-deep depth chart is provided below. There were a few surprises for Alabama Football fans.

Alabama Crimson Tide First Team Offense

Note: The official Depth Chart uses a ‘/’ instead of the ‘or’ word.

• Quarterback – Bryce Young
• Running Back – Brian Robinson Jr.
• Wide Receivers – John Methchie III, Jameson Williams and Slade Bolden or JoJo Earle
• Tight Ends – Cameron Latu
• Left Tackle – Evan Neal
• Left Guard – Javion Cohen
• Center – Chris Owens or Darrian Dalcourt
• Right Guard – Emil Ekiyor Jr.
• Right Tackle – Kendall Randolph

Alabama Crimson Tide Second Team Offense

• Quarterback – Paul Tyson
• Running Back – Jase McClellan or Roydell Williams or Trey Sanders
• Wide Receivers – Javon Baker or Agiye Hall, Traeshon Holden or Ja’Corey Brooks, Thaiu Jones-Bell or Christian Leary
• Tight Ends – Major Tennison or Jahleel Billingsley
• Left Tackle – Amari Kight
• Left Guard – Tommy Brown
• Center – Chris Owens or Darrian Dalcourt
• Right Guard – Jaeden Roberts or Terrence Ferguson II
• Right Tackle – J.C. Latham or Damieon George Jr.

Alabama Crimson Tide First Team Defense

• Defensive Ends – Justin Eboigbe, Phidarian Mathis or Byron Young
• Nose Guard – D.J. Dale
• Outside Linebackers – Will Anderson Jr. (Jack) and Chris Allen (Sam)
• Inside Linebackers – Henry To’o To’o and Christian Harris
• Cornerbacks – Josh Jobe and Jalyn Armour-Davis
• Safeties – Jordan Battle (Strong) and DeMarcco Hellams or Brian Branch (Free)
• Star – Malachi Moore or Brian Branch
• Money – Dime defense not specified

Alabama Crimson Tide Second Team Defense

• Defensive Ends – Jamil Burroughs, LaBryan Ray or Jah-Marian Latham
• Nose Guard – Tim Smith or Stephon Wynn
• Outside Linebackers – Drew Sanders (Sam) and Chris Braswell or Dallas Turner (Jack)
• Inside Linebackers – Jaylen Moody and Shane Lee or Deontae Lawson
• Cornerbacks – Kool-Aid McKinstry and  Marcus Banks or Khyree Jackson
• Safeties – Daniel Wright (Strong) and Kristian Story (Free)
• Star – Malachi Moore or Brian Branch
• Money – Dime defense not specified

Alabama Crimson Tide Special Teams

• Placekicker – Will Reichard
• Holder – Paul Tyson
• Punter – James Burnip
• Kickoff Specialist – Not specified but likely Jack Martin
• Long Snapper – Kneeland Hibbit
• Punt Returner – Slade Bolden or JoJo Earle
• Kick Returners – Jameson Williams and Jase McClellan

Alabama Football Depth Chart Surprises

• The biggest surprise should not be a surprise at all. Jahleel Billingsley has not worked his way back to starter status at tight end. Former players can attest Nick Saban does not joke around with discipline.
• Kendall Randolph has recovered from an ankle injury and holding on to the right tackle slot.
• Freshman Dallas Turner made a quick move to possible rotation status at outside linebacker. Given the Crimson Tide is loaded at the position, Turner contributing this season would be big.
• Not a big surprise, but given the early, possible starter status, JoJo Earle has a chance to be special.

Also, two Alabama Football players have new numbers. Jalen Milroe changed from No. 15 to No. 2. Agiye Hall changed from No. 17 to No. 84.

In Nick Saban’s Monday media review he said DeMarcco Hellams is questionable for the Miami game. He also said Quandarrius Robinson is suspended following his DUI arrest.