The five biggest strengths for the Alabama Football team in 2024
2. Inside Linebacker
The inside linebacker core for Alabama is one of if not the best inside backer groups in the country. Deontae Lawson returns with two seasons of significant playing time and will be a preseason favorite for the Butkus Award. Lawson recorded 67 tackles with three sacks in 2023 despite missing time with an injury. Jihaad Campbell saw extended playing time down the stretch and may be in line for the biggest breakout season among returning players. Campbell recorded 66 tackles, half a sack, two fumble recoveries, an interception, and a touchdown in 2023.
In Kane Wommack's 4-2-5 defense, Lawson and Campbell will have plenty of responsibility while playing slightly different roles than they did in Kevin Steele's defense. The group lost some of the depth they had with Trezmen Marshall heading to the draft while role players like Kendrick Blackshire, Ian Jackson, and Shawn Murphy entered the transfer portal.
The additions of Justin Okoronkwo, QB Reese, and Cayden Jones in the 2024 signing class will help rebuild some of the depth the group lost to the transfer portal.
1. Interior Offensive Line
The strongest returning group on the Alabama Football team will be its interior offensive line. The returns of Tyler Booker and Jaeden Roberts give Alabama one of the top guard tandems in the country. Center will be the only position the team sees turnover with Seth McLaughlin transferring to Ohio State. In replacing McLaughlin the Alabama Football team has brought in one of the top centers in the country Parker Brailsford. Brailsford was a member of Kalen DeBoer's team at Washington where he graded out as one of the top centers despite being "undersized".
Brailsford was a first-team All-Freshman member at Center, All-Pac 12 second team, and was ranked the top interior offensive line transfer in the portal. PFF gave Brailsford an 82.6 pass-blocking grade while his run-blocking grade was 80.8. In 612 pass-blocking snaps, Brailsford allowed just one sack in his time at Washington. Brailsford will be a welcome addition to a group that allowed 49 sacks in 2023.
The strong interior offensive line group will be vital in the productivity of the offense in 2023. The group is filled with maulers in the running game which should help create explosive plays for the running backs. With two new starting offensive tackles the group will need solid play out of the group on the inside while the tackles gain their footing.