Alabama Football: 85 scholarship deadline and why it does not matter

This week the Alabama Football roster must not exceed 85 scholarship players. Alabama has ‘over’ the scholarship limits in so many summers, Crimson Tide fans know Nick Saban always is able to make the numbers work.

Except it is different this year. Not that Saban will fail to make the numbers work. He will, but this August, if he chooses, he has an additional option. There’s more on that option below, but let’s review the numbers first.

Alabama Football and every other program can have an unlimited number of players on its roster. That has been true since May 2022. Many teams have 125-130 players. Though the Crimson Tide roster number provided by rolltide.com is not official, there are 139 Alabama football players listed.

In terms of scholarship players, almost every source calculates there are currently 88, three over the limit.

Current Alabama Football Scholarship Players

• Quarterbacks (5) – Jalen Milroe, Tyler Buchner, Ty Simpson, Eli Holstein and Dylan Lonergan
• Running Backs (5) – Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, Jam Miller, Justice Hayne and Richard Young
• Wide Receivers (12) – Jermaine Burton, Ja’Corey Brooks, Thaiu Jones-Bell, Malik Benson, Kendrick Law, Isaiah Bond, Kobe Prentice, Emmanuel Henderson, Shazz Preston, Cole Adams, Jalen Hale and Jaren Hamilton
• Tight Ends (6) – Robbie Ouzts, Miles Kitselman, C.J. Dippre, Amari Niblack, Danny Lewis and Ty Lockwood
• Offensive Linemen (13) – Darrian Dalcourt, Seth McLaughlin, J.C. Latham, Tyler Booker, Jaeden Roberts, Terrence Ferguson II, James Brockermeyer, Elijah Pritchett, Kadyn Proctor, Wilkin Formby, Miles McVay, Roq Montgomery and Olaus Alinen
• Defensive Linemen (14) – Tim Smith, Justin Ebiigbe, Jah-Marien Latham, Damon Payne, Jaheim Oatis, Monkell Goodwine, Tim Keenan III, Khurtis Perry, Anquin Barnes, Isaiah Hastings, James Smith, Jordan Renaud, Edric Hill and Hunter Osborne
• Linebackers (15) – Quandarius Robinson, Chris Braswell, Dallas Turner, Trezman Marshall, Justin Jefferson, Kendrick Blackshire, Deontae Lawson, Ian Jackson, Jihaad Campbell, Keanu Koht, Jeremiah Alexander, Shawn Murphy, Keon Keeley, Yhonzae Pierre and Qua Russaw
• Defensive Backs (15) – Malachi Moore, Kristian Story, Jaylen Key, Trey Amos, Kool-Aide McKinstry, Devonta Smith, Terrion Arnold, Dezz Ricks, Antonio Kite, Earl Little II, Jahlil Hurley, Jake Pope, Caleb Downs, Bray Hubbard and Tony Mitchell
• Special Teams (3) – Will Reichard, James Burnip and Conor Talty

The wrinkle mentioned above is possible in the no-rules world of NIL. It is possible all 88 players will get the equivalent of a full scholarship. The difference is three of them would use NIL funds to pay their tuition, fees and housing costs. Nick Saban may not allow such an approach, but like everything else with NIL, the NCAA has no power to monitor or stop it.

Especially this year, waiting on an official roster count could take weeks. Or it is possible there will never be one published.