Happy Fall Camp day! Alabama has actual live football practice today as preparations begin for the season opener against Florida State, which is exactly one month from today. We made it!
Here's an update on the news and notes around Alabama from Monday and Tuesday, in case you missed anything and need a quick recap:
Tyler Booker delivers the best description of football of all time
Former Alabama guard Tyler Booker is working hard in Dallas Cowboys Training Camp as he looks to secure a starting spot at guard. Booker has made the flip from the left side to the right side, and when asked about the learning curve, he may have come up with the most perfect description of football I have ever heard:
"We're doing algebra in a fist fight," Booker said.
Is that not perfect? Football is a physical game, obviously, but the mental side of things often gets lost on the layman. In seven words, Booker described it better than anyone ever has.
Kalen DeBoer is making moves in the 2027 recruiting class
Alabama's 2026 class is nearly complete. The Crimson Tide has 21 commitments in the class, and for the most part, the work left until December's early signing period is just hanging on to the guys who already committed. Alabama still has a couple of targets on the board, most notably 5-star EDGE Anthony 'Tank' Jones, who is expected to make a commitment announcement sometime in the next week or so.
Because of most of the work being finished in 2026, Kalen DeBoer and staff are getting a jump start on 2027. A couple of 5-star prospects in next year's class are eyeing gameday visits to Tuscaloosa this fall.
RB Kemon Spell, a Penn State commitment, has scheduled a visit to Alabama on October 18th for the Crimson Tide's Third Saturday in October matchup with Tennessee. It's a perfect game for a visit as Bryant-Denny is surely going to be jumping as Alabama looks to avenge last season's loss in Knoxville.
5-star QB Elijah Haven is considered by some as the top prospect in the 2027 class. He's setting up visits and is expected to take a trip to Tuscaloosa this fall. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but Haven probably won't end up in this class. He's going to command a monster payday, and it's hard for me to believe DeBoer will pay what he wants. Instead, Alabama's 2027 QB will likely come down to a pair of in-state kids: Trent Seaborn and Gunner Rivers.
Ryan Williams sends a message that should excite Alabama fans, scare everyone else
On a recent Twitch stream, Ryan Williams delivered a message that should be exciting for all Alabama fans. It should terrify everyone else.
“Y’all just don’t know… everything I was dealing with last year… Lord willing, got a lot in store, but this wasn’t nothing," Williams said.
Of course, some take that as Williams throwing shade at his QB from last year - Jalen Milroe. In reality, Williams is likely talking about dealing with nagging injuries down the stretch of the season that limited his effectiveness.
Even still, grading on a "holy cow this kid is 17 years old" curve, it's hard to be upset with his production as a freshman.
Alabama continues to be featured prominently on preseason watchlists
Two preseason watchlists were released on Tuesday, and Alabama was featured prominently on both.
First, the Outland Trophy released its watchlist with three Crimson Tide players among the 50 players listed. OT Kadyn Proctor, C Parker Brailsford, and OG Jaeden Roberts represented Alabama on the list. The Tide was one of just two teams with three players on the list, joining Oregon. The Outland Trophy is given annually to the nation's top interior lineman on either side of the football.
Secondly, the Bronco Nagurski watchlist was released, an award given annually to the nation's best defensive player. Like the Outland, Alabama landed three players on that watchlist: DL Tim Keenan III, DL LT Overton, and LB Deontae Lawson.