Spring practice isn't quite over despite the A-Day scrimmage taking place on Saturday. Alabama still has two practices next week, but A-Day gave us a real indication of the pecking order at several positions across the roster.
While there's still a lot of competition that will take place next week and into the summer and the fall, we're at a place now where we are finally comfortable enough to make a 2026 depth chart projection.
We did this exercise back in January, following the conclusion of the Transfer Portal window, and things have already changed a decent bit. That will happen again when we do projections in the summer and then our final projection in the fall.
Alabama's post-A-Day 2026 project depth chart
Quarterback:
Starter: Keelon Russell
Backup: Austin Mack
Depth: Jett Thomalla, Tayden-Evan Kaawa
The QB competition isn't over, but rising redshirt freshman Keelon Russell took a major step toward winning the job by outperforming Mack throughout A-Day. Kalen DeBoer clarified after the scrimmage that Mack was "dinged-up," but it's in DeBoer's - and the team's - best interest for this competition to extend as long as possible.
But the reality is that Mack was always going to have to be darn-near perfect to win this job. Russell's ceiling is just much higher - it's much higher than most quarterbacks across college football. He's a playmaker, and while Alabama will have to live with some young QB mistakes, the former 5-star recruit will also make a plethora of mind-blowing plays that more than make up for them.
Running Back:
Starter: Daniel Hill
Backup: Kevin Riley or AK Dear
Depth: EJ Crowell, Trae'shawn Brown, Khalifa Keith
The biggest change in where I saw the depth chart in January is that Crowell has dropped from the backup line to the depth line. That's not due to anything other than the freshman dealing with injuries and missing the majority of spring practice. He was in a boot and riding a scooter during A-Day.
Daniel Hill looks like the unquestioned starter right now, and the rising redshirt sophomore had a couple of promising runs during A-Day where he showed more wiggle and a little more explosiveness. than he did last year. By all accounts, his classmate Kevin Riley has had a strong spring as well. Those who were at Alabama's scrimmage the week before A-Day commented that Riley was the best back that day.
AK Dear will have trouble holding off the freshmen. If Crowell can get healthy and get the reps in the summer and fall, there's still a strong chance he carves out a role next season. And his classmate - fellow freshman Trae'shawn Brown - has had some eye-opening moments throughout spring practice. He looks like another excellent evaluation by DeBoer and his staff, and he could get on the field much quicker than anyone anticipated.
Wide Receiver:
Starters: Ryan Coleman-Williams, Lotzeir Brooks, Noah Rogers
Backups: Rico Scott, Cederian Morgan, Derek Meadows
Depth: MJ Mathis, Tyler Henderson, MJ Chirgwin
Ryan Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks are locked in as starters, but the third starting spot at WR is still up for grabs. It appeared that NC State transfer Noah Rogers was close to locking that spot up, but he suffered an injury during A-Day that could throw a wrench into those plans.
Regardless, A-Day showed that Alabama has some really impressive depth at the WR spot with six guys capable of going out there and making plays.
Cederian Morgan and Derek Meadows are matchup problems with their size, and DeBoer and Ryan Grubb threw out some packages where they were on the field at the same time, which caused some stress to Kane Wommack's defense.
Rico Scott has had a strong spring, too, and made some impressive catch-and-runs throughout the scrimmage.
This is a talented group, and one that will make life easier on Russell and Mack.
Tight End:
Starters: Kaleb Edwards, Josh Ford
Backups: Marshall Pritchett, Danny Lewis Jr.
Depth: Jay Lindsay, Jack Sammrco, Mack Sutter
A change from a couple of months ago, Oklahoma State transfer Josh Ford appears to be the obvious starter at Alabama's in-line TE spot. Ford has impressed coaches and teammates throughout spring, and should give the Crimson Tide a physicality in the run game that was missing last year without Robbie Ouzts.
Kaleb Edwards has taken advantage of his first spring, and both he and Marshall Pritchett have put their best foot forward during spring. Edwards will be the starter, but Pritchett will see plenty of work.
With Danny Lewis out of the spring, Jay Lindsay has taken advantage of the extra reps and could grab the backup spot behind Ford.
Offensive Line:
LT:
Starter: Jackson Lloyd
Backup: Tyrell Miller
LG:
Starter: William Sanders
Backup: Mal Waldrep
C:
Starter: Racin Delgatty
Backup: Kaden Strayhorn
RG:
Starter: Michael Carroll
Backup: Ethan Fields or Casey Poe
RT:
Starter: Jayvin James
Backup: Nick Brooks
OL Depth: Ty Haywood, Chris Booker, Jared Doughty, Bryson Cooley, Bear Fretwell
There's a lot more clarity on the offensive line right now than there was a couple of months ago. Three of the five starters appear pretty well locked in: Jackson Lloyd, Racin Delgatty, and Michael Carroll. Lloyd will be the left tackle, and Delgatty will be the center. Carroll will start, but it remains to be seen whether that's at right guard or right tackle.
Carroll took over the starting job at RT last year down the stretch as a true freshman, and it seemed likely that he would stick there for 2026. But he shifted inside to guard over the back-half of spring practice with Mississippi State transfer Jayvin James - who started at LT last year for the Bulldogs - sliding it at RT.
How the right side ultimately sorts out remains to be seen. DeBoer has options, thanks to Carroll's versatility. James looked shaky during A-Day, and Texas transfer Nick Brooks could push for the job over the summer and fall. Ole Miss transfer Ethan Fields could also become more of a factor at guard, which could kick Carroll back outside. There are several variables.
Despite missing spring practice with an injury, I still project rising redshirt sophomore William Sanders to win the starting job at LG. Mal Waldrep got the start at that spot during A-Day with Sanders out.
Defensive Line:
Bandit:
Starter: Devan Thompkins
Backup: Desmond Umeozulu
Depth: Fatutoa Henry, Caleb Smith, Nolan Wilson, Jamarion Matthews, Malique Franklin
DT:
Starter: London Simmons
Backup: Edric Hill or Steve Bolo Mboumoua or Isaia Faga
Depth: Kamhariyan Johnson, Corey Howard
NT:
Starter: Terrance Green
Backup: Kedrick Bingley-Jones or Jeremiah Beaman
What has been obvious throughout spring practice is that Alabama's defensive line has a ton of positional versatility, and DeBoer and Wommack have been experimenting with a lot of different looks up front. That includes Wolf LBs like Yhonzae Pierre, Justin Hill, and Desmond Umeozulu putting their hands in the dirt in a lot more four-man front looks than were typical of the Crimson Tide the last two seasons.
USC transfer Devan Thompkins has had an awesome spring and will likely start at Bandit, though he'll slide inside to DT in some looks, particularly when Alabama wants to put more pass rushing on the field.
London Simmons missed spring practice, but he'll likely start at DT after a strong freshman season. Steve Bolo Mboumoua is starting to see things click, and will be hard to keep off the field this fall. He was one of the first defensive linemen to rotate in during A-Day.
At nose tackle, interestingly enough, it was Mississippi State transfer Kedrick Bingley-Jones who earned the A-Day start over Oregon transfer Terrance Green. When Jeremiah Beaman is full strength, he'll also be a factor in that positional battle, and guys like Mboumoua are interchangeable between NT and DT. Right now, I'll stick with projecting Green as the starter at nose, but there has been some quality depth emerge across the defensive line during the spring. That's a positive development.
Linebacker:
Wolf:
Starter: Yhonzae Pierre
Backup: Justin Hill or Desmond Umeozulu
Depth: Jah-Marien Latham, Xavier Griffin
Mike:
Starter: Caleb Woodson
Backup: Cayden Jones
Sting:
Starter: QB Reese
Backup: Luke Metz
Off-Ball LB Depth: Xavier Griffin, Abduall Sanders, Duke Johnson, Zay Hall
Yhonzae Pierre is poised to be one of the nation's best pass rushers in 2026, and both Justin Hill and Desmond Umeozulu have had strong springs. There will be packages where two of those three are on the field to get after quarterbacks.
Freshman Xavier Griffin will move between on and off-ball linebacker. He showed some pass-rushing prowess during A-Day and already looks like a Jihaad Campbell clone.
There may not be a position on the roster more up for grabs than Alabama's second off-ball LB starting spot. Virginia Tech transfer Caleb Woodson will start at one spot, but who stands next to him is anybody's guess at this point.
I'll stick with projecting QB Reese as the starter, though Cayden Jones was the guy during A-Day, and guys like Luke Metz and Abduall Sanders have taken first-team reps during practice. Don't sleep on Griffin emerging as a serious option here, either, and one intriguing observation from A-Day was freshman safety Jireh Edwards lining up in the box. Like Griffin, he's an intriguing chess piece for Wommack. He's also roughly the same size.
Defensive Back:
CB:
Starters: Zabien Brown, Dijon Lee
Backups: Carmelo O'Neal, Jorden Edmonds
Depth: Nick Sherman, Zyan Gibson
Safety:
Starters: Bray Hubbard, Keon Sabb
Backups: Zay Mincey, Ivan Taylor, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., Jireh Edwards
Depth: Rihyael Kelly
Husky:
Starter: Red Morgan
Backup: Chuck McDonald
Depth: Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., Ivan Taylor, Jireh Edwards
There may not be a deeper or more talented defensive backfield in the country than the one in Tuscaloosa. Alabama returns starting corners in Zabien Brow and Dijon Lee and starting safeties Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb. Despite that, they lost little to no depth in the Transfer Portal.
Mercer transfer Carmelo O'Neal has emerged as a top backup option at CB, and freshman Jorden Edmonds has had his moments.
With Bray Hubbard limited this spring, there's been a big opportunity for both Zay Mincey and Ivan Taylor, and both look ready for bigger roles. Mincey is likely in the driver's seat as Alabama's sixth DB in sub-packages, but Taylor is pushing hard. So, too, are Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. and Jireh Edwards.
At Husky, the job is Red Morgan's after an impressive second half of last season. Redshirt freshman Chuck McDonald appears to be the primary backup right now, but guys like Kirkpatrick Jr., Taylor, and Edwards could also be factors.
Special Teams:
Kicker:
Starter: Lorcan Quinn
Backup: Conor Talty
Punter:
Starter: Adam Watford
Backup: Alex Asparuhov
Kick/Punt Returner:
Starter: Ryan Coleman-Williams
Backup: Lotzeir Brooks
Little seems to be fully settled in the kicking game, but the smart money is on transfers Lorcan Quinn (Marshall) and Adam Watford (North Alabama) winning the kicker and punter jobs, respectively. Quinn made both of his field goals during A-Day, while returning starter Conor Talty missed a chip-shot, something that has been his Achilles Heel.
The only punt of A-Day was by Alex Asparuhov, and it was a shank. He's a talented kid, but he's probably not quite ready to take the job.
In terms of the return game, perhaps to the chagrin of Alabama fans, it appears that Coleman-Williams is the leader in the clubhouse. He's electric in space, but he'll have to take better care of the football to avoid that being disastrous again.