Fall camp is here and dominating the headlines for the Alabama Crimson Tide right now. An update on the weekend of August 1st-3rd as we head into the second week.
Rico Scott is going to be a factor in 2025
Alabama's WR room is deep and talented. It won't be easy for anyone to supplant the starting trio of Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, and Isaiah Horton, but Rico Scott could be forcing the coaching staff's hand.
Scott has taken first-team reps at times, and coaches and teammates have raved about the second-year player's development. He's firmly entrenched himself as the No. 4 WR on the roster, and he'll get plenty of opportunities throughout the season to make plays.
His speed could be a game-changer. Bernard told reporters last week that they clocked Scott at 23.5 miles per hour.
Two intriguing, under-the-radar position battles from week one
With all the focus on the QB competition, there are a few other position battles that have offered intrigue for Kalen DeBoer's Tide. The first, on defense, is the Husky position. Alabama may have the best secondary in the country, and is looking to solidify it with a playmaker at Husky.
With Alabama's starters at CB (Domani Jackson, Zabien Brown) and safety (Bray Hubbard, Keon Sabb) set, the fifth starting defensive back is the only real battle in the secondary. Wake Forest transfer DaShawn Jones took over the job down the stretch last season, and he was the leader in the clubhouse coming out of spring practice.
But DC Kane Wommack is clearly at least curious about a couple of other players. Second-year safety Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. and Utah transfer CB Cam Calhoun have gotten reps at Husky through the first week of fall camp, and both have a legitimate opportunity to unseat Jones as the starter.
At guard, the battle was assumed to be only at left guard between Texas A&M transfer Kam Dewberry and senior Geno VanDeMark. Instead, both Dewberry and VanDeMark received first-team reps during Sunday's practice, with starting RG Jaeden Roberts reduced to a role on the second team. That's likely to be just to get VanDeMark reps at RG, as the senior guard will be the Tide's primary backup at both guard positions and center regardless of whether or not he wins the open LG spot.
Kane Wommack gives another encouraging update on Keon Keeley
Perhaps the player Alabama fans are most hoping to see take a star turn this season - aside from the team's starting quarterback - is Keon Keeley. The former 5-star recruit has taken a couple of years to adjust to the college game, but entering his third season in the program, Alabama coaches are hoping he'll carve out a role on the Tide's defensive line.
According to DC Kane Wommack, Keeley is performing well in the early goings of fall camp and seems to be trending toward a rotational spot up front. Alabama has really good depth at Bandit, with starter LT Overton and Keeley and Jordan Renaud pushing for playing time behind him.
Other fall camp notes
- No change so far in QB reps. Ty Simpson is still working at the head of the group, followed by Austin Mack, and then Keelon Russell. The team's first scrimmage is coming up and will give the first real chance for someone to make a move. For now, it continues to trend toward Simpson being the starter when the Tide opens the season in Tallahassee.
- There's real competition in the RB room behind Jam Miller. Richard Young, Daniel Hill, and Louisiana transfer Dre Washington are all pushing for carries.
- Alabama is healthy and deep at TE. Josh Cuevas and Danny Lewis Jr. are working at the head of the line, but others are looking to get playing time. Troy transfer Brody Dalton probably has the best chance, but freshmen Kaleb Edwards and Marshall Pritchett both look the part.
- Another deep position group for Alabama is the Wolf LB room. Qua Russaw looks ready for a monster season, but there are guys behind him looking for work. Senior Jah-Marien Latham brings experience and a bigger body to the room, but Yhonzae Pierre should be looking over his shoulder at young players like redshirt freshman Noah Carter and true freshman Justin Hill.