Alabama football is back on the football field for spring practice as they officially flip the page from a disappointing 2024 season to a 2025 season with high expectations once again.
Kalen DeBoer met with the media in the aftermath of Alabama's first spring practice on Monday and provided an update to the media on a plethora of injuries the Crimson Tide is dealing with in spring and listed out the players who will miss the spring and others who will be limited as a result of injuries.
Limited to non-contact:
OT Kadyn Proctor
LB Justin Jefferson
DT James Smith
Out for the spring:
LB Deontae Lawson
CB Domani Jackson
S Keon Sabb
DE Kevonte Henry
TE Danny Lewis Jr.
WR Bubba Hampton
P Alex Asparuhov
LS David Bird
DeBoer mentioned that the vast majority of the injuries are all from last season and are not surprises to the coaching staff. Obviously, Deontae Lawson and Keon Sabb missing the spring comes as no surprise as both suffered season-ending injuries in 2024.
Kadyn Proctor being limited also comes as no surprise with the shoulder issues he dealt with throughout 2024.
Injuries for Kevonte Henry (a JUCO transfer), Bubba Hampton, and Danny Lewis Jr. are tough for three players who need the reps to try and garner playing time. Lewis should be fine as Alabama's limited depth at tight end will allow him to find his way on the field regardless. He has plenty of experience in the program, too.
It's different for Henry and Hampton. Henry is a JUCO transfer looking to come in and compete for playing time on the defensive line. He'll lose valuable reps. Hampton faced an uphill battle to find playing time at WR this year with the Crimson Tide's depth at the position. Missing spring probably ends any hope he had at carving out a role on offense.
Opportunities for younger Alabama players to step up in wake of injuries
For starters, the LB position will allow plenty of opportunities for younger players to develop with Lawson out entirely and Jefferson limited to non-contact. Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green figured to be a contributor regardless, but young players like redshirt freshmen Cayden Jones and QB Reese will gain valuable reps in the spring now.
At tight end, freshman 4-star Kaleb Edwards won't enroll until the summer and with Lewis out, Alabama's scholarship options at the position will be limited. Senior Josh Cuevas, redshirt freshman Jay Lindsay, and true freshman Marshall Pritchett is it in terms of scholarship players. Lindsay and Pritchett will have big opportunities.
How Alabama shuffles the deck at OT this spring will be interesting as well. With Proctor limited to non-contact, it should mean a lot of reps for freshman Jackson Lloyd, who has already impressed in his short time on campus and figures to challenge Wilkin Formby for the starting job at right tackle. They could split reps at LT and RT this spring.
Ball State transfer Arkel Anugwom will get thrown into the fire and might see a lot of time with the 1s in spring. Freshmen Micah DeBose and Mal Waldrep will likely see an increase in reps, too.
It will be interesting to see if there's any positional versatility among some of the interior guys due to Alabama's limited numbers at tackle. Redshirt sophomore Olaus Alinen and true freshman Michael Carroll figure to be prime contenders to get reps at tackle in the spring.