Fall camp is about to turn into a proving ground at Alabama, and for a handful of players, the stakes go well beyond August. The quarterback battle will grab most of the headlines, but there’s another layer to watch: several Tide backups are running out of runway to make their case in Tuscaloosa.
If they don’t seize a role now, the Transfer Portal could be waiting after the 2026 season.
One of the clearest names on that list is LB QB Reese. The rising junior is currently the favorite to start next to Virginia Tech transfer Caleb Woodson, and he’s had a strong offseason that drew praise from teammates, coaches, and even former players.
Still, the competition behind him is young, and if one of the underclassmen jumps him, Reese may not get another chance to climb back up. Sophomore Luke Metz looks like the main threat, though others will be in the mix once practice opens later this week.
The same pressure applies to DL Isaia Faga, who enters a loaded battle up front. Alabama wasn’t satisfied with the room and attacked the portal, bringing in three transfers they expect to matter right away: Devan Thompkins from USC, Terrance Green from Oregon, and Kedrick Bingley-Jones from Mississippi State.
That group joins returning contributors London Simmons, Edric Hill, and Jeremiah Beaman, which already makes for a crowded field before factoring in Faga. He’ll also have to fend off Steve Bolo Mboumoua, who has breakout potential, while the freshman class adds even more bodies, led by Nolan Wilson and Jamarion Matthews.
At receiver, Rico Scott’s situation is a little different, but no less urgent. He once planned to enter the portal after last season before deciding to come back for his junior year.
He had plenty of buzz last offseason, but freshman Lotzeir Brooks passed him as the top backup behind Germie Bernard, Ryan Coleman-Williams, and Isaiah Horton. This summer offered another opening after NC State transfer Noah Rogers was injured during the A-Day scrimmage, yet Scott hasn’t generated much momentum.
The feeling now is that sophomore Derek Meadows and freshman Cederian Morgan have the edge for the WR3 job. Scott still has a path, and his experience could help him, but the climb looks steep.
RB Kevin Riley already showed he can matter. As a sophomore, he wasn’t expected to do much, then delivered enough against Florida State in the opener to earn his first career start the next week against UL Monroe.
He followed that with another strong performance in Week 2, but consistency never really came after that. Injuries were part of the story, too, including a broken jaw against Eastern Illinois that kept him out of the Iron Bowl, the SEC Championship, and the first round of the College Football Playoff.
Daniel Hill appears to be the front-runner at running back, and Riley now has to hold off younger challengers like sophomore AK Dear and freshmen EJ Crowell and Trae'shawn Brown.
Then there’s QB Austin Mack, who is almost certainly staring at his final shot to win Alabama’s starting job. He could have transferred after last season, but instead came back to compete with Keelon Russell for the chance to replace Ty Simpson.
Russell has been considered the favorite since his standout A-Day performance, but Mack is still very much in the race. His experience in the system gives him a real case, and he can’t be written off.
If Russell wins the job, though, Mack is expected to head to the portal after the season with one year of eligibility left and plenty of teams willing to promise him a starting role.
In Other News...
Alabama Fans Just Found A New Team To Root Against In 2026
Alabama fans have long kept a mental list of programs they love to see lose, especially around SEC rivalries and the usual collection of college football villains. But Indiana is starting to creep onto that radar because of Curt Cignetti, whose blunt style and past comments have given Crimson Tide followers another out-of-state team to keep an eye on as the 2026 schedule takes shape.
Indianas slate does not look like a routine walk through the Big Ten, with several games that appear far more winnable than others and a few matchups that should bring real resistance. For Alabama fans looking for a fresh rooting interest, the appeal is obvious: if Cignetti keeps talking, some may be just as happy pulling for Indianas opponents as they are watching the Hoosiers try to navigate a tricky schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Nate Oats May Have Found An Unexpected Frontcourt Opportunity
Alabama entered the offseason with a full 15-man roster already taking shape for 2026-27 after adding three big men through the transfer portal and keeping several important pieces in place. That kind of early roster security usually leaves little room for surprises, but the recent eligibility ruling involving seniors from the class of 2022 has opened an unusual window around the sport, at least for now.
One name tied to that opportunity is former Michigan State big man Jaxon Kohler, whose status under the preliminary injunction has drawn interest from multiple programs, Alabama included. Even so, the Crimson Tide are not viewed as a likely landing spot, which makes this more of a monitor-and-wait situation than a clear pursuit, but it is the sort of frontcourt wrinkle Nate Oats and his staff will keep on the radar as the roster picture continues to settle. [Read more 🡒]