Unfortunately for Kalen DeBoer and his Alabama coaching staff, spring practices didn't come with full answers across the board—and for all the progress that the Crimson Tide made in identifying solutions, a few key areas remain very much unsolved heading into the summer. After the final whistle, Thursday marked the completion of 15 highly competitive practices across the last month and a half. Some parts of the Tide roster began to stabilize and take shape, but there are still glaring foundational questions that will directly shape how far this team can go in 2026.Â
Luckily for Alabama fans, those lingering questions won't show up on the scoreboard this Saturday—but they'll matter far more once the games start counting in the fall. For DeBoer and company, as they lie their heads on their pillows at night over the next three months, those same issues don't fully disappear—they sit at the forefront of their minds ahead of every evaluation point and every projection for what this team has to become in both sides of the ball during fall camp.Â
Those remaining concerns now become the focus—not just in what the staff is trying to fix, but in what still needs to be defined. And as spring evaluation gave way to projection mode, three notable issues still stand out as the most pressing gaps left to address before Alabama takes the gridiron on September 5th inside of Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium to kick off its season opener against East Carolina.Â
The 3 biggest question marks Alabama leaves spring practices with
1.Lack of complete cohesion up front on offensive line—finding the most effective five-man combination
The most pressing issue that Alabama carries out of spring sits directly in the trenches, where the offensive line still hasn't fully settled into a consistent identity up front. While DeBoer, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, and new offensive line coach Adrian Klemm came away with a clearer picture of where certain pieces fit, the reality is that the Tide is still working to lock in the most effective five-man combination heading into fall camp.
The foundation, at least on paper, has already started to take shape with a few projected anchors. Redshirt sophomore left tackle Jackson Lloyd was named the starter early on this spring, bringing a combination of upside and size at 6-foot-7 and 318 pounds on the outside. Inside, Cal Poly transfer Racin Delgatty has been the day-one starter at center, giving the unit a steady option in the middle of the line where communication and consistency are non-negotiable. Alongside him, at least for now, Michael Carroll's versatility at right guard and right tackle gives the staff flexibility—but also reflects the larger issue: Alabama is still sorting out where its best five truly fit together rather than simply identifying individual starters.Â
That's the challenge heading into the summer. It starts at left guard, identifying exactly which player will claim that role. The foregone conclusion is that it'll be Will Sanders' job to lose this fall after missing all of spring due to injury. That absence left the door open for Texas transfer lineman Nick Brooks and developing redshirt sophomore Mal Weldrap to both compete for meaningful spring reps, each using the opportunity to build a case of their own heading into summer evaluations. At right tackle, Carroll and Mississippi State transfer Jayvin James have rotated on the perimeter while Ole Miss transfer Ethan Fields and Brooks take their swings inside at right guard.Â
With emerging depth and transfers still looking to prove they belong, this leaves DeBoer and company with a mixed blur of unsettled rotation that Alabama will have to sort through this fall.Â
2. In a crowded backfield of talented options, who does Alabama ultimately lean on to be the true difference-maker at running back?
A true difference-maker at running back remains one of Alabama's biggest unanswered questions coming out of spring, even with junior tailback Daniel Hill viewed as the Crimson Tide's projected starter. Hill is the most experienced rusher in the room, totaling 75 carries for 284 yards and 6 touchdowns in 14 games in 2025, while adding 28 receptions for 203 yards and a score, but only averaging 3.7 yards per attempt. Coming off this modest production, Hill has notably transformed his build, shedding eight pounds to drop from 244lbs to 236lbs to become a faster and more reliable option as a three-down back ahead of the season.Â
Kevin Riley, AK Dear, and underrated three-star signee Trae'shawn Brown all used this spring to flash in different ways, whether it was bursting through the line, versatility in space, or showing enough consistency to stay in the rotation conversation. Each offered something slightly different, but none have separated themselves enough to lock down a true role as a primary contributor just yet, leaving the depth chart fluid heading into the summer.Â
Then there's five-star true freshman EJ Crowell, who was limited throughout the spring but still most view him as the back with the highest long-term ceiling in the room. Even without a full workload, his talent level and potential impact have kept him firmly in the mix as an option that could change up the entire dynamic at the position once he's fully healthy in the fall. That combination of hope and intrigue from Crowell to Hill, Dear, Riley, and Brown still leaves DeBoer and Grubb questioning who exactly it'll be to step forward as a true weekly game-changer.
In my opinion, Alabama may go with the approach of running back by committee heading into September if this doesn't change in August. Nevertheless, DeBoer and Grubb have many options to pick from that can each be effective. Of course, the offensive line plays a huge part in their effectiveness, which is why both positions are key in evaluating this summer.Â
3. Who claims the starting linebacker position next to Caleb Woodson?
The battle at linebacker, besides projected senior starter Caleb Woodson, remains wide open, with young backers QB Reese, Cayden Jones, and Luke Metz—all talented but vastly inexperienced. That uncertainty stands out even more coming out of spring, especially with how complete the rest of Alabama's defense appears to be.Â
The secondary looks like the unit's biggest strength, boasting cohesion, length, and experience across Zabien Brown, Dijon Lee, Bray Hubbard, Keon Sabb, and Red Morgan. Up front, the defensive line has also taken on its most versatile shape in Wommack's three seasons as defensive coordinator, featuring Yhonzae Pierre, Justin Hill, and transfers Devan Thompkins, Terrance Green, and Desmond Umeozulu, along with other developing pieces.Â
That context is what makes the linebacker situation so pivotal. If Alabama's defensive staff can identify and stabilize the right rotation next to Woodson, it could be the piece that elevates this defense from simply promising to truly elite in 2026.Â
Of course, the winner of Alabama's highly anticipated quarterback battle between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack is also the biggest domino to fall into place this fall, but these three unsolved areas hold just as much weight in my opinion when most determine the ceiling and floor of the Crimson Tide's 2026 regular season. And with DeBoer facing a pressurized third year in Tuscaloosa, it'll be interesting to see what solutions he and his staff come up with over the summer and in fall camp.
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