5 Alabama players trending up following A-Day as spring practice nears its end

Due to some quirky scheduling, A-Day is NOT the conclusion of spring practice this year. Alabama still has a couple of practices scheduled for next week before spring is over. But plenty of conclusions can now be drawn, and many players have made strong impressions as Alabama's preparation for the 2026 season has nearly completed its first phase.

There's a long way to go before the season kicks off, but A-Day provided - assuming you were there or watched a grainy illegal stream (no judgment here) - the first glimpse of next season's team for fans while giving a big stage for players to state their case to the coaching staff for legitimate playing time.

While all eyes were on the QB battle, and one signal-caller made a major statement, there were plenty of others who made significant strides on their own.

These 5 Alabama players made major noise during the A-Day scrimmage

1. QB Keelon Russell

We'll start with the obvious one because by now you've heard plenty about Keelon Russell's performance during the A-Day. The redshirt freshman quarterback was phenomenal, looking totally in command of the offense.

He went through his progressions, worked the pocket, and consistently put throws on the money. He also showed a burst of speed on some read-option keepers that showcased his talent as a runner that has been underrated due to how special a passer he is.

DeBoer mentioned after the scrimmage that Austin Mack was a bit dinged-up, and that was the reason Russell got extra reps during the scrimmage. But following A-Day, it appears the former 5-star recruit is in the driver's seat of the QB competition.

2. WR Cederian Morgan

The freshman WR has looked like anything but a rookie during his first spring practice at Alabama. That culminated in a strong performance during the A-Day game. He made several contested catches, showcasing his elite hands and route-running ability.

Morgan has made enough of an impression this spring to earn the nickname "Gulf of Mexico" from his teammates, which Ryan Coleman-Williams shared after Saturday's scrimmage. That's how wide Morgan's catch radius is.

With NC State transfer Noah Rogers going down with a potentially serious injury, the door is opened further for Morgan to make a move up the depth chart and earn significant playing time as a true freshman.

3. DL Steve Bolo Mboumoua

Alabama appears to have tremendous depth on the defensive line this season. With the addition of Big Ten transfers Devan Thompkins (USC) and Terrance Green (Oregon), along with Mississippi State transfer Kedrick Bingley-Jones, and organic growth from returners like London Simmons, Jeremiah Beaman, Isaia Faga, and Edric Hill - not to mention a talented freshman class - the defensive line has the potential to be a real strength for Alabama in 2026.

And that's not to mention rising redshirt sophomore Steve Bolo Mboumoua, who appears to have things beginning to click for him. He looks ready to take on a rotational role on Alabama's defensive line, and he might have the most raw power on the roster. Just look what he did to poor AK Dear on Saturday:

Mboumoua has been a problem for Alabama's offensive line to handle this spring. He's going to be a problem for everyone on Alabama's schedule this fall.

4. S Jireh Edwards

Cederian Morgan wasn't the only freshman standout during A-Day. Despite Alabama's secondary being deep and experienced, Jireh Edwards looks like a player who is going to carve out some sort of role on the Crimson Tide defense.

Interestingly, the former 5-star DB lined up for a not insignificant amount of snaps in the box, almost as an extra linebacker. He has the size at 6-foot-2 and 221 pounds to contribute in the box, or at safety, or even at the Husky spot.

Bray Hubbard missing spring practice has given Edwards some extra opportunities for reps, and while a starting role seems unlikely as a freshman, the future is bright for the Maryland native and he's going to get on the field quickly.

5. LB Xavier Griffin

It was obvious during A-Day that the 5-star freshman linebacker is going to be used in a variety of ways right away in Wommack's defense. Like Edwards, he can be a chess piece for the Crimson Tide, and the comparisons to Jihaad Campbell seem to be already bearing fruit.

Lost due to the fact that Russell made an incredible throw to Morgan in the video below, was Griffin showing his pass-rushing prowess with a beautiful inside move on RT Jayvin James to get pressure on the QB:

Griffin lined up as both an on and off-ball linebacker during A-Day, and that is the type of versatile role he'll likely play for the Crimson Tide during his career in Tuscaloosa.