We're less than two weeks before the Alabama football season opener against Florida State in Tallahassee. There's good news and bad news ahead of the tilt with the Seminoles.
The good news is that Alabama has found its starting quarterback. Last week, redshirt junior Ty Simpson was named the starter, and now Kalen DeBoer and the offensive coaching staff can focus fully on getting him prepared for his first collegiate start.
The bad news is that the second scrimmage produced an unfortunate injury. Senior RB Jam Miller went down with an upper-body injury that is expected to keep him out at least until SEC play.
So with Simpson entrenched at QB, and Miller out at RB, let's take a look at what the Crimson Tide's two-deep depth chart might look like for the season opener.
Alabama's projected two-deep against Florida State
Offense:
QB:
Ty Simpson
Austin Mack or Keelon Russell
RB:
Dre Washington
Richard Young or Daniel Hill
WR (X):
Isaiah Horton
Jalen Hale
WR (Z):
Germie Bernard
Cole Adams
WR (H):
Ryan Williams
Rico Scott
TE (Y):
Brody Dalton or Danny Lewis Jr.
Kaleb Edwards
TE (H):
Josh Cuevas
Marshall Pritchett
LT:
Kadyn Proctor
Jackson Lloyd or Olaus Alinen
LG:
Kam Dewberry
Geno VanDeMark
C:
Parker Brailsford
Geno VanDeMark or Joseph Ionata
RG:
Geno VanDeMark
Jaeden Roberts
RT:
Wilkin Formby
Michael Carroll or Olaus Alinen
Ty Simpson will make his first career start against Florida State. He'll be surrounded by talented playmakers. There's little question that at WR, Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, and Miami (FL) transfer Isaiah Horton will be the trio of listed starters. But there's expected to be a big role for redshirt freshman Rico Scott, and reports have indicated that Jalen Hale has had a really nice camp as he continues to get back to full speed from his knee injury.
Alabama is likely to play three running backs next weekend: Dre Washington, Richard Young, and Daniel Hill will all get an opportunity in the game. Who starts isn't all that important, but I lean toward the veteran Washington. He gives Simpson a backfield mate who has been there, done that on the collegiate level. He's likely to be more reliable as a pass blocker and more reliable as a QB-friendly pass-catcher in the checkdown game. Washington may not have the ceiling of the Young or Hill, but he's got the highest floor and could be relied upon for a big role in the absence of Jam Miller.
With Jaeden Roberts missing two consecutive scrimmages as he goes through concussion protocol, I think we are trending more and more to Kam Dewberry starting at LG and Geno VanDeMark starting at RG, at least in Tallahassee. I suspect a fully healthy Roberts will start at RG, but for now, it might make sense to go with the OL that has gotten the majority of the reps in practice the last two weeks.
I'm also quite intrigued by what Alabama does at TE for the opener. Reports indicated that Alabama tried a lot of different combinations during the scrimmage. When healthy, most expect Josh Cuevas and Danny Lewis Jr. to start, but DeBoer has options. Troy transfer Brody Dalton was brought in to perhaps replace the blocking lost from Robbie Ouzts's graduation. He could end up starting at the "Y."
Keep an eye out for the two freshmen tight ends, too. Both of them - Marshall Pritchett and Kaleb Edwards - have impressed during camp and could see more and more playing time as the season progresses.
Defense:
Bandit:
LT Overton
Jordan Renaud or Keon Keeley
NT:
Tim Keenan
Jeremiah Beaman
DT:
James Smith
Edric Hill or Kelby Collins
Wolf:
Qua Russaw
Jah-Marien Latham or Yhonzae Pierre
Mike:
Justin Jefferson or Nikhai Hill-Green
QB Reese
Sting:
Deontae Lawson
Cayden Jones
CB:
Domani Jackson
Dijon Lee
CB:
Zabien Brown
Cam Calhoun
Husky:
DaShawn Jones
Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. or Cam Calhoun
SS:
Bray Hubbard
Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. or Ivan Taylor
FS:
Keon Sabb
Zay Mincey
Assuming James Smith is able to play - he has missed both scrimmages - I feel pretty confident projecting Alabama's starting 11 on defense against the Seminoles. The two spots that could be subject to change are at the Mike LB spot and at Husky (nickel).
If Deontae Lawson is healthy, he'll start at Sting next to (probably) Justin Jefferson at Mike. I expect Jefferson will have a time share with Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green, however, and they could see the field together at times this season if the staff wants to be more cautious with Lawson.
At Husky, nobody has taken the job away from DaShawn Jones yet, though both Utah transfer Cam Calhoun and Dre Kirkpatrick have put forth the effort. Calhoun and Kirkpatrick figure to provide depth at multiple positions. Calhoun will play both corner and husky, while Kirkpatrick is likely Bray Hubbard's top backup at strong safety, though it's possible that Zay Mincey could play either safety spot and be the top backup at both.
At corner, Zabien Brown and Domani Jackson will start, but freshman Dijon Lee and Calhoun will see plenty of playing time. Kane Wommack showed last year he was comfortable rotating corners, and he'll do so again this year with more quality depth on the outside.
If James Smith is healthy, he'll start up front alongside Tim Keenan and LT Overton, but Alabama has some intriguing depth there. Kelby Collins will likely play inside and outside on the defensive line. Jordan Renaud and Keon Keeley have both had strong camps and should provide quality depth behind Overton.
At Wolf LB, Qua Russaw is in line for a monster season, but Alabama has some intriguing options behind him. Jah-Marien Latham is a sixth-year senior who gives the Tide a bigger body in the room. Yhonzae Pierre is in his third year in Tuscaloosa and has had a strong camp showing. Redshirt freshman Noah Carter has flashed, too, and could earn some playing time.