Fall camp gets underway on Wednesday, and Alabama players all reported back to Tuscaloosa on Tuesday. The night before fall camp always brings some intrigue as Alabama updates its online roster with updated weights, showing gains/losses for returning players and the incoming freshmen.
While plenty of fluctuations stood out, including some prominent differences on the offensive line, none jumped off the page more than a freshman who enrolled this summer.
4-star defensive lineman Nolan Wilson, the No. 70 overall recruit in the 247 composite in the 2026 class, has undergone a stunning body transformation since his senior year of high school. He was listed at 250 pounds last year. According to Alabama's official online roster, Wilson is up to 285 pounds.
Freshman DL Nolan Wilson has had a major weight gain as he positions for rotational snaps for Alabama
Wilson seemed likely to be a guy who would take a year before he was ready for snaps. That had a lot to do with his weight at the time and the fact that he wasn't an early enrollee. He didn't arrive on campus until late May.
Wilson always projected to be a Bandit in Kane Wommack's defensive system, and the added weight means he might be ready for legitimate snaps a lot earlier than expected. Alabama fans should still be cautious with their expectations for Wilson, however, because despite how dominant he was as a high school senior last year in Picayune, he's still relatively new to football.
Wilson didn't start playing until his sophomore year. He's still raw, but he has the power and physical tools to develop into a really good player.
He'll face an uphill battle to earn snaps along Alabama's deep defensive line. The Crimson Tide is in need of a few legitimate difference-makers to step up, but there is a loaded field of candidates to do so, making it likely that a few guys turn into legitimate studs.
Alabama has 10 or 11 guys up front who are capable of being in the rotation. That won't be easy for Wilson to break into. If he's able to get snaps, that'll be a good sign for the Tide and his development. There's a lot of talent in the room, so if he can break through right away, that's a strong indicator that he's going to be a special player.
Wilson and his teammates will hit the practice field later this morning as preparation begins for the 2026 season.
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