Alabama football has seen some significant, but not unexpected, roster turnover in the winter Transfer Portal cycle. But the portal window is now closed for Alabama and the majority of college football teams outside of the remaining four teams in the College Football Playoff.
With over two months to go before spring practice even starts, it's way too early to project what the depth chart might look like for the Crimson Tide next season. I would expect another wave of transfers in and out during the spring window at the conclusion of spring practice, too, so there's quite possibly a key contributor or two on next season's team that we don't even know about yet.
But we like to have fun here at Bama Hammer, and it's fun to project and look back on this come August and laugh at how wrong these projections ultimately end up being.
Alabama's projected 2025 offensive depth chart
Quarterback:
Starter: Ty Simpson (RS JR)
Backup: Austin Mack (RS SO) or Keelon Russell (FR)
Freshman Keelon Russell has the juice and will push for the starting job as a true freshman. I believe he's the most talented quarterback on the roster, but the trick will be how quickly he's able to learn the playbook and all the vast idiosyncrasies that come with starting at quarterback for a major college football team.
It's not all about his ability to throw; it's his ability to diagnose complex coverages, make checks at the line of scrimmage, set up his protection, etc. He could also use some time in a college strength and conditioning program to bulk up a little to help avoid injury.
The smart money for the starting quarterback job is Ty Simpson, who is entering his fourth year in the program and his second in the offense. Simpson will be at the top of the pecking order at the start of spring. He was Alabama's primary backup quarterback the last two seasons and he's a former highly rated recruit in his own right.
Mack might have a slight leg up on the other two guys because he has two years under his belt working in Kalen DeBoer's system. Mack is raw, but he's undeniably talented and showed some of what he could do with a nice touchdown pass to Rico Scott in the second half of the Mercer game.
I think Simpson is likely going to start, but I would not count out Russell's talent being too undeniable for him to sit on the bench.
Running Back:
Starter: Jam Miller (SR)
Backup: Richard Young (JR) or Dre'lyn Washington (SR)
Depth: Daniel Hill (RS FR), Kevin Riley (RS FR), AK Dear (FR)
Alabama lost Justice Haynes to the Transfer Portal but added a depth piece in Louisiana's Dre'lyn Washington, who likely will compete with Richard Young to be the No. 2 RB in the rotation behind returning senior Jam Miller.
Miller was Alabama's leading rusher in the running back room with 668 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2024. Young will be looking to make his move in his third season in the program, and his competition with Washington should be heated in the spring.
It's difficult to imagine any increased role for either Daniel Hill or Kevin Riley, but the wildcard is incoming freshman RB AK Dear, who was the No. 2 ranked RB in the country in the 2025 class.
Even without Haynes, Alabama is deep and talented at running back and with Jalen Milroe moving onto the NFL, the Crimson Tide should have a more traditional running game next season, which should lead to more opportunities for the running backs.
Wide Receiver:
X: Ryan Williams (SO)
Backup: Jalen Hale (RS SO)
Z: Germie Bernard (SR)
Backup: Jaylen Mbakwe (SO)
H: Isaiah Horton (JR)
Backup: Cole Adams (RS SO)
Depth: Rico Scott (SO), Bubba Hampton (RS FR), Derek Meadows (FR), Lotzeir Brooks (FR)
Germie Bernard's return for next season solidifies Alabama's WR room as one of the best in the country, even after the Tide saw six wide receivers leave in the Transfer Portal this winter. Ryan Williams was one of the best freshmen in the country and he'll return for his sophomore season ready to take an even bigger leap.
Alabama added Miami (FL) transfer Isaiah Horton to the room, giving Alabama a much-improved No. 3 option at WR behind Williams and Bernard. Horton had 616 yards and five touchdowns for the Hurricanes in 2024.
Jalen Hale's return from a torn ACL will be a boost to the room. Hale flashed a lot of potential as a freshman and seemed in line for a breakout in 2024 before his injury in the offseason.
Jaylen Mbakwe figures to be the wildcard of the room as he continues his transition to offense from playing corner as a freshman. Adding a healthy Cole Adams back provides quality depth, and Rico Scott flashed a bit in the ReliaQuest Bowl when he was thrust into action.
Derek Meadows and Lotzeir Brooks are an impressive haul in the recruiting class, but it remains to be seen if either is ready to contribute right away.
Tight End:
Y: Josh Cuevas (RS SR) or Danny Lewis (RS JR)
Backup: Kaleb Edwards (FR)
H: Jay Lindsey (RS FR)
Backup: Marshall Pritchett (FR)
At a glance, this feels like a room Alabama might look to add some depth in during the spring portal cycle. Alabama lost its top two tight ends - CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts - to graduation. Dippre's production should be easily replaced with Josh Cuevas or Danny Lewis Jr. taking over as the starter. Cuevas flashed in a backup role and started seeing more playing time as the season progressed. Lewis Jr. initially entered the Transfer Portal, but the Tide successfully recruited him out of it.
The big question mark is if redshirt freshman Jay Lindsey is ready to step up into that Ouzts role. Ouzts wasn't a huge threat as a receiver, but his ability as a blocker was invaluable to the Crimson Tide and he's not easily replaced.
If Lindsey isn't ready, then either Lewis Jr. or Cuevas will have to step up as a blocker.
Offensive Line:
LT: Kadyn Proctor (JR)
Backup: Olaus Alinen (RS SO)
Depth: Jackson Lloyd (FR)
LG: Kam Dewberry (SR) or Geno VanDeMark (RS SR)
Backup: Michael Carroll (FR)
Depth: William Sanders (RS FR)
C: Parker Brailsford (SR)
Backup: Roq Montgomery (RS SO)
Depth: Joseph Ionata (RS FR)
RG: Jaedan Roberts (RS SR)
Backup: Geno VanDeMark (RS SR)
Depth: Casey Poe (RS FR)
RT: Wilkin Formby (RS SO)
Backup: Arkel Anugwom (SO)
Depth: Micah DeBose (FR)
Alabama returns three starters in LT Kadyn Proctor, C Parker Brailsford, and RG Jaedan Roberts. They return another player, RT Wilkin Formby, with some starting experience. Alabama landed Texas A&M transfer Kam Dewberry in the Transfer Portal, who started eight games over his three seasons in College Station. Dewberry figures to be the favorite to take over for Tyler Booker at LG, but I would expect to see Geno VanDeMark, who played a lot of snaps at guard and some at center as a utility lineman for the Crimson Tide in 2024, challenge Dewberry in the spring and summer.
I wouldn't count out incoming 5-star freshman Michael Carroll in that competition, either. Right tackle is a bit of a question mark with 2024 starter Elijah Pritchett transferring to Nebraska. Formby actually won the job in the fall but was ultimately benched after a poor performance against USF. He played more and more down the stretch of the season, though, with Pritchett's struggles.
Alabama added Ball State transfer Arkel Anugwom in the Transfer Portal, but he's inexperienced and unlikely to be ready to play. Unless the staff is confident in Formby's growth, targeting a tackle in the spring who could be a plug-and-play starter makes sense.
Outside of VanDeMark, Alabama has a lot of inexperience in the backup roles. There are plenty of talented guys, but they're all unproven at this point.