Alabama Football: Some Speculation on the 2023 Roster
Alabama football will likely see a large amount of roster turnover this offseason. In addition to the typical transfer portal exodus, Alabama is loaded with draft eligible upperclassmen that will have the option to move on to the professional ranks. The portal migration has already begun, although conference championship games have yet to be played. In the coming weeks, we will gradually discover which draft-eligible juniors and seniors will be departing from the program.
Alabama Football Near-Certain Departures
Alabama boasts a quartet of players that are likely to be early-round selections in the 2023 NFL Draft, and should be assumed to be departing. Junior quarterback Bryce Young and junior linebacker Will Anderson Jr. will be top-10 picks in the draft, and it should surprise no one that they are on this list.
Both Young and Anderson Jr. were among the best players in college football in 2021, and Alabama fans knew coming into the 2022 season that it would be their final ride. Despite not achieving the team success they would’ve liked, Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. will be etched in the record books as two of the best players in Alabama football history.
Junior running back Jahmyr Gibbs had a breakout season in the Crimson Tide backfield. He fits the mold of modern NFL running backs, and will be one of the first players selected at his position in the draft. Gibbs has elite quickness to go with impressive long speed and contact balance, and is one of the top pass-catching running backs in the country. His versatility is exhibited by the fact that he is currently leading Alabama in rushing yardage, kick return yardage, and pass receptions. Jahmyr Gibbs has totaled 1,455 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
Junior defensive back Brian Branch is also considered one of the best prospects in the country at his position. While he is not suited to playing man coverage against elite receivers, he has no other glaring weaknesses and brings incredible versatility to the defensive backfield. Branch is capable of playing in the box or on the back end, and is adept at covering running backs, tight ends, and slot receivers. He is one of the surest tacklers college football has seen in several years, and is impactful as a blitzer.