College football season is right around the corner. Programs across the country open fall camp this week. For Kalen DeBoer and Alabama, they hit the practice field on Wednesday, one month before the Crimson Tide's season opener in Tallahassee against Florida State.
Every team is facing question marks heading into the 2025 season. Alabama is facing less than most, but there are still some unknowns that DeBoer and the coaching staff are hoping to sort out between now and kickoff on August 30th.
We already know a few things about this football team. It is supremely talented, for one. The skill position talent, particularly at WR, should stack up against anyone. The secondary may very well be the best in the entire country.
But there are still a few things that need to get sorted over the next month before toe meets leather.
These are the biggest unknowns for Kalen DeBoer to sort out before Alabama kicks off
Who starts at QB?
No better place to start than the obvious one. Sorting out the starting QB is priority No. 1 in fall camp. It's the most important position on the team and is the biggest question mark facing the Crimson Tide.
Ty Simpson is a big favorite to win the job. He exited spring practice with the lead, but both Austin Mack and Keelon Russell are ready to mount a challenge in fall camp. Simpson has worked hard to improve his game and has undoubtedly emerged as one of the leaders on this team. Can he provide the steadying presence at QB that DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb need?
That presence was missing last season with Jalen Milroe. The third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks had some spectacular moments, but also put together some of the worst overall performances from the QB position for an Alabama starter in 20 years.
Alabama has to get more consistency from the position in 2025. Simpson is likely to get the first crack at providing it, but if he struggles, he won't have nearly as long a leash as Milroe did last season.
Can Alabama be balanced on offense with the traditional running game?
Alabama's raw rushing statistics were solid, but that was mainly due to so many explosive plays on the ground from Milroe. While Simpson can provide more dual-threat ability than a lot of pundits are giving him credit for, it's no secret that the Crimson Tide hopes to find more success in the traditional running game in 2025.
Alabama's average EPA ranked in the 73rd percentile last season, per Game on Paper. But they were in the 22nd percentile in stuff rate and the 5th percentile in line yards.
Alabama running backs rushed for under 1500 yards last season. Returning leading rusher Jam Miller averaged only 4.7 yards per carry, and it's fair to have questions over whether he can be good enough as a lead back. Alabama has talent behind him in Richard Young, Daniel Hill, Louisiana transfer Dre Washington, and true freshman AK Dear. Someone, or really multiple someones, need to emerge as difference makers.
Of course, the running backs are only one part of the running game. Alabama's offensive line will need to find more consistency - and good health - in order to reach their potential.
Can Alabama generate more of a pass rush without blitzing?
Alabama had a Top 10 defense in the country a year ago without producing a lot of negative plays. On paper, the Crimson Tide looks even better defensively this year, but the one thing holding them back from being perhaps the best defense in the country is producing more of a pass rush, particularly without having to blitz.
Alabama ranked 63rd nationally in sacks last season (14th in the SEC) with just 25, and lost its two most productive pass rushers - Jihaad Campbell and Que Robinson - to the NFL. Alabama should benefit from the natural progression of two guys.
The first is senior DL LT Overton, who was one of the top players in the country at getting into the backfield a year ago. He just struggled to actually finish plays. If that normalizes, Overton could be in for a monster season that lands him on an All-American team.
Second is Wolf LB Qua Russaw, who is entering his third year in the program and has worked all offseason to improve as a pass rusher. Russaw was good last season, but wasn't much of a threat as a rusher, producing just a single sack. He should make a leap this year.
Alabama could also get a boost from the interior of the defensive line, particularly from James Smith. Smith took a big step during bowl practices last year and had a breakout performance against Michigan with 2 tackles for loss and a sack.
If Alabama can get after the quarterback this year, with the talent they have on the back end in the secondary, the Crimson Tide could field the nation's top defense.
Can Alabama get steady play from Special Teams despite so many new faces?
It should not be glossed over how much Alabama is replacing at special teams. The Crimson Tide is replacing its kicker, punter, and long snapper from a season ago. Alabama was steady at special teams last season, and in a league like the SEC with razor-thin margins, poor play from the unit that often gets overlooked could be the difference in a game or two, which ultimately could be the difference in making the College Football Playoff or not.
Alabama has solid options at all three positions. At punter, Colorado School of the Mines transfer Blake Doud has experience, and freshman Alex Asparuhov was the No. 2 punter in the country as a high schooler last year.
Conor Talty was a highly rated kicker coming out of high school and was brought in as the heir apparent to Will Reichard. DeBoer and company didn't think he was ready in spring practice last year, so they went out and added Miami (OH)'s Graham Nicholson. They didn't pursue a kicker in the portal this offseason, signaling more of a confidence in Talty taking the job.
At long snapper, Kneeland Hibbett was a steadying presence for years. It's a position where most fans don't even know the starter's name, unless they do something catastrophically wrong. Cal transfer David Bird will hope to live his Tide career in anonymity.