With fall camp starting in just a few days, there are plenty of storylines to monitor for Alabama fans and media.
While the quarterback battle will get a lot of the eyeballs, and a lot of attention will be paid to the newcomers with some impressive freshmen and transfers looking to land immediate roles, there's an overlooked storyline that will bring a lot of intrigue, too.
For several Alabama players, this fall camp could be their last shot to carve out a role on the team. If they can't break through now, the Transfer Portal could come calling after the 2026 season.
5 Alabama players who are on the clock during fall camp for Kalen DeBoer
LB QB Reese
QB Reese is the leader in the clubhouse to start alongside Virginia Tech transfer Caleb Woodson at LB. The rising junior has had a strong offseason, earning praise from teammates, coaches, and even former players.
But the guys competing with him are underclassmen. If he gets passed by one of them, then Reese might not be able to climb back up the depth chart.
His biggest competition appears to be coming from sophomore Luke Metz, though others will be involved as soon as practice gets started later this week.
DL Isaia Faga
Another rising in-state junior, Isaia Faga, will be involved in a crowded competition for playing time along the defensive line.
DeBoer and the coaching staff weren't happy with the talent in the room and went portal shopping this offseason. They added three transfers whom they expect to be impactful: Devan Thompkins (USC), Terrance Green (Oregon), and Kedrick Bingley-Jones (Mississippi State).
That's not to mention guys like London Simmons, Edric Hill, and Jeremiah Beaman who are returning contributors. That's six guys before you even get to Faga, who will be looking to get into the mix with them, along with holding off Steve Bolo Mboumoua, who has the potential to be a real breakout star for the Crimson Tide.
There's a talented freshman class coming in, too, highlighted by Nolan Wilson and Jamarion Matthews.
WR Rico Scott
Rico Scott initially planned to enter the Transfer Portal at the conclusion of last season, but ultimately backed off and returned to Tuscaloosa for his junior season. Scott produced a lot of buzz last offseason, but was surpassed by freshman Lotzeir Brooks as the top backup behind the big three of Germie Bernard, Ryan Coleman-Williams, and Isaiah Horton.
This offseason has been different, however. Despite the injury to NC State transfer Noah Rogers during the A-Day scrimmage, which seemingly opened the door for Scott to step into a starting role alongside Coleman-Williams and Brooks, Scott has generated little buzz.
Instead, it's felt like sophomore Derek Meadows and freshman Cederian Morgan have the inside track at the WR3 role. Scott isn't out of it, and his experience could give him an edge this fall, but he may be facing an uphill battle.
RB Kevin Riley
Very little was expected of Kevin Riley as a sophomore, but he quickly earned a role with a solid performance against Florida State in the opener, which led to his first career start the following week against UL Monroe.
After a strong performance in Week 2, Riley struggled from there and couldn't find any consistency. He also dealt with some injury issues, including a broken jaw he suffered against Eastern Illinois that kept him out for the Iron Bowl, SEC Championship, and the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Daniel Hill looks like the obvious starter at RB heading into fall camp, and Riley faces an uphill battle holding off talented young players like sophomore AK Dear and freshmen EJ Crowell and Trae'shawn Brown.
QB Austin Mack
This is almost certainly Austin Mack's last chance of being the starting QB at Alabama. Some expected he might transfer after last season, but he opted to return to compete with Keelon Russell for the right to replace Ty Simpson.
While Russell has been viewed as the favorite in the competition since his sensational outing during the A-Day scrimmage, Mack still has a legitimate chance in fall camp to earn the job. He's much more than an afterthought, and his experience advantage over Russell in the system cannot be discounted.
It's clear, however, that if Russell ultimately wins the job, Mack will head to the portal following the season with one year of eligibility remaining and plenty of suitors willing to guarantee him a starting role.
Add us as a preferred source on Google