Football season is almost here. Alabama starts fall camp in just two days, and we're now just 33 days away from the Crimson Tide's season-opening clash in Tallahassee against Florida State.
Heading into the first practice of fall camp, there are plenty of position battles that still need to be hashed out. Playing time is up for grabs, and a plethora of young talent will push the veterans for it.
While all eyes will obviously be on the quarterback competition as Kalen DeBoer looks to replace multi-year starter Jalen Milroe, there's plenty of intrigue at other positions.
Let's examine the position battles and make some predictions on who is going to win them:
Examining Alabama's position battles and the likely winners
QB:
Winner: Ty Simpson
Top Competition: Austin Mack, Keelon Russell
No use in burying the lede. The QB competition is the top position battle to watch for obvious reasons. It's the most important position on the field and seems to be the only thing potentially standing in the way of the Crimson Tide being one of the two or three best teams in the country.
Alabama has a stacked roster, but it's hard to be certain about how good this team can be without knowing what kind of play they will get at QB. As high of a ceiling as Jalen Milroe had, he also had a remarkably low floor. DeBoer needs more consistency out of the position, and even if the highs aren't the same as they were with Milroe, the floor should also be much higher.
At this point, it would be a major upset if anyone other than Simpson takes the first snaps in Tallahassee. He should be considered a massive favorite, and the real competition in camp is likely between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell to determine who is ultimately Simpson's primary backup.
RB2
Winner: Richard Young
Top Competition: Daniel Hill, Dre Washington
Senior Jam Miller will be the top running back on the depth chart at the beginning of the season, but there is competition after that. Alabama will be looking for more consistency out of the traditional ground game this season and will need more than just Miller to step up.
With Justice Haynes transferring to Michigan, there's an opening for carries at the RB2 spot. Junior Richard Young figures to be the leading candidate for carries after Miller. When he was healthy last season, Young was the No. 3 back and ran for 146 yards on 27 carries. He had an eye-opening 62-yard run against Missouri.
But Alabama has plenty of depth in the backfield. Sophomore Daniel Hill has reportedly had a strong offseason and will push for carries. Louisiana transfer Dre Washington didn't make the move to Tuscaloosa to sit on the bench for his final season of eligibility, either.
The wildcard will be true freshman AK Dear, who was the No. 2 RB in the country in the 2025 recruiting class.
LG
Winner: Kam Dewberry
Top Competition: Geno VanDeMark
Four of Alabama's five starters on the offensive line seem to be entrenched heading into fall camp. LT Kadyn Proctor, C Parker Brailsford, RG Jaeden Roberts, and RT Wilkin Formby will form four-fifths of the Tide's line when they open at Doak Campbell, barring injury.
There will be a hotly contested battle for the open left guard position in camp. Tyler Booker leaves gigantic shoes to fill, and Texas A&M transfer Kam Dewberry and returning fifth-year senior Geno VanDeMark are the top contenders to replace him.
Currently, the edge goes to Dewberry. He started eight games during his career in College Station and seemed to hold a slight lead following spring practice. The staff loves VanDeMark's versatility and likely wants him as the sixth man of the offensive line. While he probably can't play tackle, he would slot in as the top backup at all three interior positions if he doesn't win the starting job at LG.
MIKE
Winner: Justin Jefferson
Top Competition: Nikhai Hill-Green
Alabama has a good problem at inside linebacker in that they have three guys who are capable of starting and playing well. DeBoer and company figured they were going to have a major need at ILB with Jihaad Campbell going pro early and Justin Jefferson out of eligibility. Alabama went out and landed Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green as a result.
But the NCAA's JUCO ruling allowed Jefferson to return, and now he and Hill-Green will be in competition for the starting spot next to Deontae Lawson.
While I will project Jefferson as the "winner", I would expect more of a time-share at the position. Jefferson is better in coverage and will be helpful against the more mobile quarterbacks on the Tide's schedule. Hill-Green is the downhill thumper and will see plenty of playing time on running downs.
HUSKY
Winner: DaShawn Jones
Top Competition: Dijon Lee, Cam Calhoun, Zay Mincey
The widest range of potential outcomes in Alabama's fall camp battles will occur at the Husky position. DaShawn Jones emerged later in the season at Husky due to injuries to DeVonta Smith and Red Morgan. Smith is now at Notre Dame, and Morgan has changed positions to corner.
Jones will be the leading candidate at Husky, but there are quite a few possibilities for Wommack and DB coach Maurice Linguist.
The Husky position could be a way to get either Dijon Lee or Cam Calhoun on the field more. Both are starting-caliber corners who are currently behind Alabama's returning starters at CB from last season: Domani Jackson and Zabien Brown.
There's also Zay Mincey, who made the move from corner to safety during the season, and filled in admirably for an injured Malachi Moore in the ReliaQuest Bowl. He's a guy who will be hard to keep off the field in some capacity.