The important changes made by Alabama

Alabama Football has gone through significant changes since the end of the 2023 season, beginning with the resignation of famous coach Nick Saban and a staff overhaul following the hiring of new coach Kalen DeBoer.

The end of any college football season in the contemporary era means a lot of roster movement, and the Crimson Tide were no exception. If anything, the unexpected coaching change caused even more personnel movement for the Tide.

NFL Draft picks, a dramatic finale to the 2024 recruiting class, and transfers in and out of the program pushed Bama supporters to re-evaluate the roster almost everyday. Now that National Signing Day and the 30-day transfer deadline for Alabama’s roster have gone, we have a solid idea of what the roster will look like, at least until spring ball.

Overall, Kalen DeBoer fared about as well as one might expect in his first month as head coach at the University of Alabama. That month was mostly spent on recruiting and roster management, which Coach DeBoer had to figure out on the fly while adjusting to his new surroundings and becoming acquainted with the hundreds of people the Alabama football coach must know

With the exception of Caleb Downs, DeBoer kept almost everyone of significance on the roster. A few players took advantage of the transfer portal window before DeBoer was even appointed, while another pair went after the announcement.

Some of these transfers were starters and were huge losses, but I believe that all except Downs are replaceable. Coach DeBoer has already added numerous players who could serve as quality replacements or perhaps upgrades to the Alabama roster.

Where does the Alabama roster stand heading into spring?

Alabama’s 2023 roster returns lots of quality and experience at various positions, including quarterback, running back, offensive lineman, defensive line, and inside linebacker. It has also made roster signings that have strengthened position groups such as center and wide receiver. When regarded as a whole, the roster has only two obvious flaws.

Offensive tackle is a major question mark moving into this spring, and competition should be strong among a group of previous top recruits. Redshirt sophomore Elijah Pritchett is now the elder man in the room; he struggled to gain first-team opportunities at left tackle, but he was a youthful, developing player who appeared in all games in 2023.

The former 5-star recruit will have the opportunity to step up at one of the tackle positions, but he will face competition from other second-year players. Redshirt freshmen Olaus Alinen, Miles McVay, and Wilkin Formby were all four-star recruits who learned a lot as rookies in 2023. All three have returned to fight for a starting spot, along with Texas A&M transfer Naquil Betrand, another redshirt freshman.

Cornerback is another position that lacks depth and experience. Domani Jackson, a USC transfer, received starter reps during his two years in Los Angeles, but SEC Football will be a new experience for the junior. Jackson is a high-potential athlete who was a top-5 player in the country right out of high school.

Jahlil Hurley was a highly regarded player in his own right, and the redshirt freshman may have a minor advantage because he is the only returning scholarship cornerback from the 2023 roster. Sure, the slate has been wiped clean with a new coaching staff, but Hurley is familiar with the school, facilities, and teammates. He and Jackson will face a stacked class of freshmen, featuring 5-star prospects Jaylen Mbakwe, Zay Mincey, and Zabien Brown.

While neither of these position rooms has experience or proven productivity, they do have a lot of talent. Additionally, Coach DeBoer has demonstrated that he will not hesitate to enter the gateway if necessary. It should come as no surprise if one or both of these jobs are no longer a concern.