Spring practice has come to a close in Tuscaloosa, and plenty of players have made moves up the depth chart. With injuries carrying over from the end of the 2024 season, there were plenty of opportunities for players to earn valuable reps and position themselves for playing time next season.
The spring portal window is about to open up and if Alabama decides to target anyone, they will be strategic and limited in who they target. Defensively, Alabama has built quality depth at each level and with consistency in scheme with Kane Wommack back for his second year as the defensive coordinator, the Crimson Tide should field one of the nation's top overall defenses next season.
Let's take a look at what the depth chart might look like in the fall based on what we've seen in spring practice:
Alabama's projected 2025 defensive two-deep depth chart
Defensive Line:
Bandit:
Starter: LT Overton (SR)
Backup: Kelby Collins (JR) or Jordan Renaud (RS SO)
Depth: Keon Keeley (RS SO) and Kevonte Henry (JR)
Nose Tackle:
Starter: Tim Keenan (RS SR)
Backup: Jeremiah Beaman (RS FR)
Depth: Steve Mboumoua (JR)
Defensive Tackle:
Starter: James Smith (JR)
Backup: Edric Hill (RS SO)
Depth: Isaia Faga (RS FR) and London Simmons (FR)
If Alabama was going to add in the Transfer Portal in this prorated spring window, it would be up front on the defensive line. While Alabama is deep and experienced at the Bandit position, after the starters at Nose and Defensive Tackle, the Crimson Tide has talent but no real experience.
With LT Overton, Tim Keenan, and James Smith, Alabama's starters up front are as good as it gets. Florida transfer Kelby Collins could be the top backup at both Bandit and DT; he got a lot of reps at defensive tackle during spring practice.
Both Jordan Renaud and Keon Keeley look ready for legitimate roles. Edric Hill had a nice spring, and Jeremiah Beaman has made major strides with his body to hold up as a nose tackle.
Linebacker
WOLF:
Starter: Qua Russaw (RS SO)
Backup: Jah-Marien Latham (RS SR) or Yhonzae Pierre (RS SO)
Depth: Noah Carter (RS FR) and Justin Hill (FR)
MIKE:
Starter: Justin Jefferson (RS SR)
Backup: Nikhai Hill-Green (SR)
Depth: Abduall Sanders (FR) and Darrell Johnson (FR)
STING:
Starter: Deonta Lawson (RS SR)
Backup: QB Reese (RS FR) or Cayden Jones (RS FR)
Depth: Luke Metz (FR)
Alabama has a ton of talent at linebacker. At the off-ball positions, Mike and Sting, the Tide has three legitimate starting options. Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson both missed spring practice, but they project as the starters when healthy. If Lawson isn't ready immediately, Jefferson slides up to Sting, and Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green would start at Mike.
We could also see a platoon at Mike between Hill-Green and Jefferson. Hill-Green is a downhill thumper and could play more on early downs, with Jefferson coming in for sub-packages and obvious passing downs.
With Lawson and Jefferson out, both QB Reese and Cayden Jones - a pair of second-year players - got opportunities repping with the first team. That will help the Tide's depth once the season starts and everyone is healthy.
At Wolf, Alabama returns starter Qua Russaw and has a couple of interesting options backing him up. Fifth-year senior Jah-Marien Latham made the move from Bandit to Wolf and gives Alabama a bigger option setting edges. Yhonzae Pierre might be the best pass rusher on the roster.
Justin Hill and Noah Carter might have trouble getting on the field this year, but both are talented guys who will provide some quality depth.
Defensive Back
LCB:
Starter: Domani Jackson (SR)
Backup: Cameron Calhoun (JR)
Depth: Chuck McDonald (FR)
SS:
Starter: Bray Hubbard (JR)
Backup: Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. (RS FR)
Depth: Ivan Taylor (FR)
FS:
Starter: Keon Sabb (RS JR)
Backup: Zay Mincey (SO)
Depth: Kameron Howard (JR)
RCB:
Starter: Zabien Brown (SO)
Backup: Dijon Lee (FR)
Depth: Red Morgan (SO)
Husky:
Starter: DaShawn Jones (RS JR)
Backup: Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. (RS FR)
Depth: Red Morgan (SO)
This might be the best secondary in the country. Last season's youth is this season's experience. Alabama returns both starting corners from a year ago - Domani Jackson and Zabien Brown - and added two more starting caliber talents in Utah transfer Cam Calhoun and 5-star freshman Dijon Lee.
Wommack showed a willingness to rotate defensive backs last season. Don't be surprised to see that again in 2025 as both Calhoun and Lee are too talented to sit the bench.
At safety, Alabama has three players they would be comfortable starting in Bray Hubbard, Keon Sabb, and Zay Mincey. Mincey started the ReliaQuest Bowl with Malachi Moore out with an injury and performed well. He got a lot better this spring, too. Hubbard was a backup last season who was thrust into a starting role once Sabb went down with an injury. It's a role he's not giving back.
At Husky, Wake Forest transfer DaShawn Jones seems entrenched as the starter, but Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. has had an outstanding spring and looks like he's earned some playing time. Red Morgan played a lot as a freshman last season and could fill in at multiple positions in the secondary if needed.