The countdown to the 2026 college football season is officially underway with Alabama completing its first week of fall camp. The Crimson Tide practiced on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week as preparations begin for year three of the Kalen DeBoer era.
There are 13 more practices and two scrimmages separating Alabama and the first "game week" of the year, when prep will begin for the season opener at home against East Carolina.
While things have just really gotten started, there have already been some major takeaways from the first few days of camp. Let's examine a few of them:
No separation yet between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell in the QB competition
Keelon Russell is the favorite in the court of public perception, but the QB competition is far from a foregone conclusion.
Austin Mack and Russell have been splitting up reps so far. Mack has been seen going first in most drills during the small media availability early in two practices so far, but there's not much to glean from that. The job is up for grabs, and the performance of the two during the two scrimmages of fall camp will go a long way in determining which QB ultimately wins the job.
Last year, Ty Simpson was named the starter after the first scrimmage. Don't expect that to be the case this time. It's likely to take both scrimmages, and perhaps even split reps in the season opener, before a decision gets made for certain.
Media doubt/last season's failures are fueling Kalen DeBoer and Alabama in 2026
If you look closely at some of the videos released by the University from practices so far, you'll see quite a few players wearing Rose Bowl towels on their pants. That's not an accident. That loss is being used as motivation.
Also being used as motivation is the doubt in the media. When asked if Alabama coaches and players had seen and paid attention to the fact that they were projected to finish lower in the SEC/ranked lower in the Coaches Poll than they had been since 2008, DeBoer gave a direct response:
"Yeah, we are definitely aware," DeBoer said with a smirk.
Adrian Klemm and Richard Owens are major additions for Alabama's OL improvement
DeBoer was serious about improving the run game this offseason. He flipped the offensive line room in the Transfer Portal, and he went out and hired a pair of new coaches who should be instrumental in getting things turned around.
DeBoer hired Adrian Klemm, an experienced OL coach with successful stints at Oregon and UCLA in college, along with the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL, to replace Chris Kapilovic. He's earned praise from his players and from DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb already. DeBoer said that Klemm has given the offensive line room the confidence that they are being coached well.
Alabama moved last year's TE coach, Bryan Ellis, to QB coach to replace Nick Sheridan, who took the Michigan State OC job after the season. To replace Ellis, DeBoer hired Louisville OL coach Richard Owens to coach the tight ends.
Grubb is confident that Alabama will get the run game fixed and believes that Klemm and Owens will lead the charge. Part of what will help Owens is the presence of two big tight ends: Josh Owens and Danny Lewis Jr.
That, and Grubb finally seeing the light and stating that Alabama is focused on finding the "best five" up front instead of rotating guys like last season.
Alabama is confident they've made major upgrades on the defensive line
One of the biggest priorities for Alabama this offseason was getting better on both lines of scrimmage. It was obvious in losses to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game and Indiana in the Rose Bowl that Alabama needed to make some significant changes up front.
While the offensive line is a work in progress in fall camp, there is significant buzz around the program that the defensive line has been upgraded. The additions of Devan Thompkins, Terrance Green, and Kedrick Bingley-Jones should pay quick dividends.
According to Kane Wommack, Alabama had to self-reflect on failures from the last two seasons. He mentioned that Alabama was one of the smaller defensive fronts in the SEC the last two seasons, and now they are among the four or five biggest in terms of frame.
Expect a more aggressive defensive approach from Alabama in 2026
Alabama has fielded good defenses in each of Wommack's two seasons as the coordinator, but the goal for that unit is to be among the very best in college football this season. They have the talent to do it. They've upgraded the defensive line, they're bullish on the young linebackers, and there's not a deeper secondary in the country.
There's no reason this defense can't be one of the best in the country. If anything holds them back, it shouldn't be a lack of aggression in play-calling. Based on comments made by Wommack and sophomore CB Dijon Lee, expect a much more aggressive Alabama defense this season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google