Alabama Football: Crimson Tide Roster Updates and other news

As college football programs across the country gear up for spring practice, rosters are gradually becoming finalized. There will be another wave of transfers following spring games, as well as summer enrollees and some other minor adjustments, but most teams are close to complete by now. Alabama football has posted some 2023 roster updates on its official website, including the addition of its early enrollees from the class of 2023.

The 26 early enrollees include 22 incoming freshmen from Bama’s top-ranked recruiting class. They also account for the top two JUCO prospects in the country in wide receiver Malik Benson and linebacker Justin Jefferson.

The last two additions are a pair of transfers, former Maryland tight end CJ Dippre and former Georgia linebacker Trezmen Marshall. The new players are listed alongside their pictures, positions, hometowns, and updated measurables. They have yet to be assigned jersey numbers.

Departed players, whether through graduation, NFL draft entry, or transfer portal, have been removed from the official roster. The only four freshmen that signed with Alabama football in the 2023 cycle that have not enrolled are 5-star edge rushers Keon Keeley and Yhonzae Pierre, 4-star running back Richard Young, and 3-star kicker Conor Talty. This quartet will be added to the official roster upon their enrollment in the summer.

Updated names on the official roster include sophomore running Jamarion Miller to Jam Miller, freshman cornerback Desmond Ricks to Dezz Ricks, and freshman offensive lineman RyQueze McElderry to Roq Montgomery.

Additionally, rising sophomore Emmanuel Henderson Jr. appears to have made a permanent move to wide receiver. Henderson Jr. came to Tuscaloosa as a borderline 5-star running back in the 2022 class, where he was ranked as the second-best RB in the country and the second-best player in the state of Alabama.

Alabama Football: Two veterans return in the trenches

Alabama football will welcome back some much-needed experience on the lines of scrimmage. Redshirt senior defensive linemen Justin Eboigbe’s inclusion on the roster confirms longstanding beliefs that he will indeed return for another year.

Eboigbe was off to a strong start to his senior year in 2022 before suffering a season-ending neck injury. He immediately bolsters an Alabama defensive line that also returns players such as Jaheim Oatis and Tim Smith, but is still seeking a true game-changer on the interior.

Offensive lineman Darrian Dalcourt is also listed as a graduate student on the roster. Dalcourt has appeared in 32 career games with 16 starts at center, and provides Alabama with experienced depth on the offensive line. He has battled injuries for much of his career, but he will compete with Seth McLaughlin for the starting center job.

Alabama Football: Additional Updates

In other news, former Alabama football wide receiver Traeshon Holden has been dismissed by Oregon after being arrested on multiple charges in Eugene. Holden left Tuscaloosa and announced he would be entering the NCAA transfer portal shortly after the 2022 Iron Bowl.

Holden’s stint in Eugene was short lived, as he committed to the Ducks on December 12th and is now off the team just two months later.

Alabama football has made another coaching hire, adding Ken Whisenhunt to its staff to serve as a Special Assistant to Head Coach Nick Saban. Whisenhunt was most notably the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 2007-2012, leading the Cardinals to a Super Bowl appearance in 2008.

Former Alabama safety HaHa Clinton-Dix has officially been added to the staff as well, and is listed as the Director of Player Development.

Spring practice will be here before we know it, and there should not be many big surprises until then. Alabama football is still seeking a safeties coach to replace Charles Kelly, and could continue to add analysts and off-field coaches.

Bama Hammer will be back with any updates.