If you are jonesing for your football fix, spring practice has arrived. Alabama takes to the practice field for the first time this spring on Sunday, March 8th. Alabama will have 15 practices between then and April 11th's A-Day game/event/scrimmage/whatever it ends up being this year.
Positional battles will take center stage, and all eyes will be on the Austin Mack vs. Keelon Russell QB competition, but there's plenty of other intrigue as the Crimson Tide returns to the practice field and looks to put the memory of the Rose Bowl beatdown behind them.
There will be plenty of new faces in Tuscaloosa, but these four returnees on the offensive side of the ball need to make a move this spring. It's now or never for them.
4 Alabama offensive players who must make a move this spring
1. WR Rico Scott
Rising redshirt sophomore WR Rico Scott initially entered the Transfer Portal this offseason, but ultimately decided to return to Tuscaloosa for a third season.
Scott was expected to carve out a role in 2025 as Alabama's WR4 behind Germie Bernard, Ryan Williams, and Isaiah Horton, but the emergence of freshman star Lotzeir Brooks threw a wrench in Scott's plans and reduced him to a smaller role than he envisioned for himself.
That's what led Scott to weigh his options in the portal, but with Bernard heading to the NFL and Horton transferring to Texas A&M, there's a big opportunity for Scott to potentially earn a starting role in 2026.
To do so, he'll have to hold of NC State transfer Noah Rogers, rising sophomore Derek Meadows, and incoming 4-star freshman Cederian Morgan. It won't be easy, but Scott needs a big spring to position himself for that role.
2. RB AK Dear
Alabama overhauled its offensive line this offseason in an effort to ignite a dormant ground game. After striking out on NC State transfer Hollywood Smothers, Kalen DeBoer will have to rely on 5-star incoming freshman EJ Crowell and returning talent to become difference-makers in the RB room.
One of the guys DeBoer and company are counting on a big year-to-year jump from is rising sophomore AK Dear, who will look to navigate a crowded RB room into meaningful carries in 2026.
Most expect Crowell to earn immediate playing time, and Alabama returns both Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley, who saw plenty of meaningful action last season. Dear will have his work cut out for him, but probably has the highest ceiling of anyone outside of Crowell in the room.
3. TE Jay Lindsey
Alabama keeps stockpiling talent in the TE room, and this might be the last opportunity for third-year TE Jay Lindsey to carve out a role on the offense. Lindsey was a core special teams player a year ago and earned his first career start against Eastern Illinois, but heads into the spring with an uncertain role.
Part of Alabama's struggles running the football came down to an inability to replace departing inline TE Robbie Ouzts. Alabama didn't get the production from Lindsey or a couple of portal additions that they hoped for, coupled with season-long injury issues for Danny Lewis Jr.
DeBoer looked to correct that this offseason by adding Oklahoma State TE Josh Ford to the room and hiring Louisville OL coach Richard Owens to lead the group.
With the addition of another talented TE in Mack Sutter from the 2026 recruiting class, the room is filling up with talent, and Lindsey will need to make a move this spring or risk being permanently buried on the depth chart.
4. OG Casey Poe
Redshirt sophomore Casey Poe is one of just five returning players from Alabama's offensive line a year ago. DeBoer completely overhauled the room, with 11 newcomers split amongst the Transfer Portal and the 2026 high school class.
With William Sanders expected to miss the spring with an injury, the door is wide open for Poe to make a move and push for one of the two vacant starting spots at guard.
Transfers like Kaden Strayhorn (Michigan) and Ethan Fields (Ole Miss) were brought in to push for immediate playing time at guard, and both Nick Brooks (Texas) and Ty Haywood (Michigan) could be factors at both guard and tackle.
Poe has the edge over the newcomers with two years of experience in this system under his belt, and he was retained for a reason, but this spring is likely Poe's last opportunity to make a push for a starting job.