Spring practice for Alabama football begins in less than a week, with A-Day on April 13 just around the corner.
Many decisions have to be made. On defense, how will the players employed in Nick Saban's defensive system fit into the 4-2-5 “Swarm” system expected to be run by new defensive coordinator Cain Womack? ? Who will get the vacant slot? How will Alabama replace all the ejected players in the secondary?
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There are a lot of questions, but a combination of spring practice and fall camp will allow DeBoer and the coaching staff to answer them.
Trying to predict the depth chart in advance of spring practice is a waste of time when the season is still far away. Still, let's try our best.
After already predicting the depth of the offensive line at the beginning of February, here is a premature prediction of the depth of the defensive line before spring practice.
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defense line
starter: LT Overton Jr. (Bandits); Tim Keenan III, RS-JR. (nose guard); Jahiem Ortiz Jr. (defensive tackle) Quandarius Robinson, RS-SR. (wolf)
Reserves: Tim Smith, G. Jah Marien Latham, RS-Sr.; Damon Payne, RS-Jr. James Smith, yes. Curtis Perry, yes. Father Jordan Renaud, Hunter Osborn, RS-FR. Edric Hill, Father. Isaiah Faga, Fr. Father Jeremiah Beeman. Steve Mboua, Florida. Kean Keely, rs-fr. Keanu Court, rs-junior. Father Yonze Pierre, Cua Rousseau, Fr. Jayshawn Ross, Florida.Father Noah Carter
There are some important things to know. His four-man front of Womack's defense consists of Bandit, Nose his guard, Defender his tackle, and Wolf. The nose guard and defensive tackle would be pretty obvious, as the two down linemen would be players who previously played defensive line at Alabama. Bandit and Wolf are a little more interesting. Bandit is expected to play a hybrid role of linebacker and defensive end. Wolf, on the other hand, will likely acquire a player who will be an edge defender in Saban's defensive system. Overton appears to be a logical fit for the Bandits, and Robinson, the oldest member of the edge rushers, could give the Wolf starting offense. Other players to keep an eye on include Cote, Keeley and other players in his sophomore year.
linebacker
starter: Deonte Lawson, RS-JR. (Mike); Jihad Campbell Jr. (Stinger)
Reserves: Justin Jefferson Sr. Jeremiah Alexander, yes. Justin Okoronkwo, Florida. QB Reese, Florida. Sterling Dixon, Florida. Kayden Jones, Florida.
The starters here are pretty clear, with Lawson and Campbell back in the middle of the defense. When it comes to reserve players, there may be some differences as to who is a “defensive lineman.” Some traditional edge rushers will remain as defensive linemen, while others will move to linebacker and work on the inside of the defense.
defensive backs
starter: Malachi Moore, GR. (Huskies), Keon Sabu, Jr. (Free Safety), DeVonta Smith, R-JR. (Rover); Domani Jackson Jr. (Boundary Corner); Xavien Brown (Field Corner)
Reserves: Tony Mitchell, yes. Jalen Mbakwe, Florida. Xavier Mincey, Florida. Jalil Hurley, Father; Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., Florida. Peyton Woodyard, Florida. Bray Hubbard, yes. Red Morgan, fr.
Alabama has several pieces that can be used at multiple spots (see: Moore), and the spring and fall will help sort out who plays where. Many of Alabama's secondary players left before the season, whether through the transfer portal or the NFL Draft. So this group will look very different in 2023.
As for the meaning of the name, Husky is the new star: Nickelback. Rover has strong safety features.
It's entirely possible that Moore and Sabu are reversed, with Sabu taking the nickelback spot and Moore being moved to safety. It depends on how the coaching staff wants to use them. Moore, Sabu and Jackson will each likely have roles in the secondary this season. Moore was the only returning player, with Sabu and Jackson not transferring to Alabama to sit on the bench. There are more questions about his other two spots. Brown, a five-star signee, might be the best option at cornerback opposite Jackson, but there should be competition there to figure it out. Smith could be in line to be the starter. Maintaining his health will be key for him. It also wouldn't be too surprising to see Alabama add a piece or two to its secondary in the spring transfer portal window.
Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for the Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, covering Alabama football and men's basketball. Contact us at nkelly@gannett.com or follow us @_Nick Kelly on the social media app X, formerly known as Twitter..
