Three Alabama players who didn’t make a move this fall camp
Not everyone can be a “stock up” player coming out of fall camp. Some players struggle to acclimate, or are simply surrounded by teammates that progress faster than them. Here are three players that didn’t quite make as much noise as we expected in fall camp.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Dylan Lonergan remains a very promising prospect. I am one of many who are high on his long term upside as a quarterback, but he will have to show more growth to fend off fellow redshirt freshman Austin Mack.
Lonergan was impressive when he came to campus as a true freshman last season. He outcompeted classmate Eli Holstein, who saw the writing on the wall and hit the portal. By the end of the season, Lonergan had also passed up Tyler Buchner and become the clear QB3 on the depth chart. The obvious progression would’ve been for Lonergan to enter year two with a much more defined role behind Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson, but it hasn’t worked out that way.
Coach Kalen DeBoer brought his own handpicked quarterback from Washington in Austin Mack. Mack has freakish physical tools, a year of experience in DeBoer’s system, and comes in as a second-year player just like Lonergan.
At times throughout fall camp, it appeared that Mack may have already eclipsed Lonergan on the depth chart. At the very least, the two are neck and neck. It will be very fascinating to see who takes the field if Alabama gets to its QB3 in a lopsided early season game.
Redshirt sophomore tight end Danny Lewis Jr. is another promising player who may be relegated to the same role he played last season. Amari Niblack’s departure appeared to create an opening, but Bama brought in Washington transfer Josh Cuevas.
Like Austin Mack, Cuevas comes in knowing the scheme, and he looks to be more ready to take on the role of the primary receiving tight end in DeBoer’s offense.
Lewis was already sitting behind seniors CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts, so his snaps will be limited if Cuevas remains ahead of him. After showing flashes of potential last fall camp as a redshirt freshman, a breakout season didn’t quite come to fruition for Lewis. Now, it looks like it could be another year before he carves out a role in the Alabama offense.
Redshirt freshman cornerback Jahlil Hurley entered this spring with a unique advantage: he was the only corner on the entire roster that played for Alabama last season. Of course, this wasn’t much of an advantage. Hurley failed to appear in any games last year, and Alabama introduced an almost entirely new defensive staff heading into his second season.
Still, as a former 4-star recruit and the lone returner from a cornerback room that produced Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry, Hurley had the opportunity to assert himself. He adopted a leadership role in the spring, carrying on the values he was taught by Coach Nick Saban.
While Hurley has the positive outlook and competitive spirit needed to be successful, it appears the influx of talent Bama brought in at the position will once again have him buried on the depth chart. Heading into 2024, he is joined by a pair of transfers and a trio of true freshmen in the room. Of Bama’s six corners, Hurley may be the one I heard the least about throughout fall camp.
I still have faith in Jahlil Hurley’s abilities. As a former top-50 player in the class of 2023 who spent extensive time as a 5-star, he certainly has the talent. Perhaps he just needs a little more time to develop, but it doesn’t appear he will be competing for a significant role this season.
All three of these players are young relatively speaking. None have more than two years of experience in the program, and Lonergan and Hurley are only entering their second seasons. These are all talented players who are capable of contributing or even becoming starters in the future, but it doesn't look like we will see them much in 2024.