4 projected Alabama starters who should be looking over their shoulders at fall camp

Alabama is two weeks into fall camp and through the first of two scrimmages as preparations for the 2026 season continue.

We are starting to get a clearer picture of what the depth chart might look like this season with some expected starters solidifying their spots and, in some cases, losing ground to younger players who are making big moves.

It's been a competitive - and somewhat costly - fall camp already for Alabama heading into Kalen DeBoer's third season as the Tide's head coach.

Here are four veterans who are looking over their shoulders in fall camp at young players making a real push.

These 4 Alabama veterans could be in danger of losing their starting spots

4. K Conor Talty

DeBoer knew Alabama had to improve on special teams this offseason, and he brought in some legitimate competition for last season's starting kicker, Conor Talty, by landing Marshall's Lorcan Quinn.

Talty and Quinn have continued to split reps in camp, and that could continue into the season. Quinn has a bigger leg and will likely handle kickoff responsibilities and longer field goals, but the kicker who can find the most consistency on the shorter attempts will likely get the bulk of the responsibilities.

That was something both struggled with at times last season. Both Talty and Quinn missed two kicks each from under 30 yards. While making the long kicks provides a useful weapon, nothing matters more than having consistency from inside 40 yards.

If Talty can't do that heading into his senior season, he'll likely lose the gig full-time to the Marshall transfer.

3. S Keon Sabb

Considering Sabb is one half of one of college football's top safety duos with Bray Hubbard, his inclusion on this list might seem surprising. But rising sophomore Ivan Taylor has been making a significant push in fall camp, and there's little doubt that he'll carve out some sort of role in the Alabama secondary.

In fact, onlookers at the scrimmage on Thursday noted that the reps were split about 50/50 between Sabb and Taylor opposite Hubbard. That could be nothing more than just getting Taylor the live reps he needs a lot more of than a fifth-year player like Sabb, but it could also be more notable than that.

Taylor will play a big role on the 2026 defense, whether that's in sub-packages or in the base defense, pushing Sabb to the bench.

Sabb is a good player, but Taylor has the potential to be great.

2. RB Daniel Hill

Had AK Dear not gotten injured during Thursday's scrimmage, Daniel Hill would be feeling even more heat. Dear was noted as the most impressive running back during the scrimmage, and while Hill has worked hard this offseason, Alabama has to get more out of its RB room in 2026.

The other running back who received significant praise on Thursday was freshman Trae'shawn Brown, who could be making a big push toward a legitimate role in his first season. On3's Chris Low made it a point to shout out Brown in the aftermath of Dear's injury diagnosis:

That wasn't an accident. Brown has made a lot of noise this offseason.

There's also 5-star freshman EJ Crowell, who can't be counted out despite the significant reps he's missed with injury in both the spring and the fall. Crowell is an anomaly, but it might be unrealistic to expect him to be ready early in the season with the time missed.

1. LB QB Reese

QB Reese is the only one on this list who isn't a returning starter, but the rising junior has been expected to win the Stinger job throughout the offseason. While he'll undoubtedly still play a role in Alabama's defense, it now looks like sophomore Luke Metz has overtaken Reese.

Metz earned significant praise this week from both Kane Wommack and Kalen DeBoer. He ran first-team next to Virginia Tech transfer Caleb Woodson during Thursday's scrimmage for the majority of the snaps.

It's now Metz's job to lose three weeks before the season-opener against East Carolina.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow