Kalen DeBoer’s first Alabama roster has created a different kind of freshman path than the one Tide fans have gotten used to in recent years. The portal brought in more help than usual, the 2025 high school class stuck around, and that means the runway is tighter for newcomers. But a handful of freshmen have already forced their way into the conversation, and they’re lining up for real roles in year one.
The clearest early buzz belongs to running back Trae'shawn Brown. The former 3-star has been one of the bright spots of spring and fall camp, and he backed that up again in Thursday’s scrimmage.
DeBoer addressed Brown’s growing confidence afterward, and the freshman looks set to jump straight into the backfield mix. He’s likely competing with junior Kevin Riley for the RB2 job behind Daniel Hill.
Brown has shown the burst and contact balance Alabama has needed, and he’s quickly making his recruiting slot look irrelevant.
EJ Crowell is in a slightly different spot, mostly because Alabama has been careful with him after he’s missed so much practice time. Even so, the former 5-star still looms as a major factor.
The Tide know exactly what they have in him, and the expectation is that he’ll be a star. It may take a few weeks for everything to settle in, but once it does, he’s the kind of back who can change the feel of the offense in a hurry.
At receiver, Cederian Morgan has done enough to lock himself into the rotation. The 4-star is expected to have a role this season, even if the starting spots alongside Ryan Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks are likely to go to Rico Scott or Derek Meadows with Noah Rogers out.
Morgan has earned strong reviews from both coaches and teammates, and Brooks said Morgan can "catch the ball better than anybody I've ever seen." DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb will have ways to use his size and hands right away.
On defense, Alabama has already started grooming linebacker Xavier Griffin for meaningful snaps. The 5-star has gotten plenty of one-on-one work with DC Kane Wommack, and the staff has not wasted time preparing him for his Jihaad Campbell-like future role.
An every-down off-ball job this season may be a stretch, but Griffin looks far more likely to contribute as a designated pass rusher off the edge. That kind of piece can help immediately while Alabama looks for more pressure options next to Yhonzae Pierre.
Then there’s safety Jireh Edwards, who has turned preseason praise into a real chance at playing time. The 5-star has made enough noise that it’s clear he’ll have some sort of role, even if the depth chart makes it tough to project a huge one.
Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb are back as starters, and Zay Mincey, Ivan Taylor and Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. all give Alabama more experienced options. That’s the deepest room on the team, which means Wommack will have to get creative to find Edwards snaps.
Still, the freshman is ready to make an impact in some capacity.
In Other News...
Alabama's Quarterback Battle Comes With One Early Concern
Alabama is moving toward a quarterback decision, but the process is being handled carefully as coaches weigh Austin Mack and Keelon Russell ahead of the 2026 season. The staff has spent camp sorting through the competition while also keeping an eye on other key spots, including defensive coordinator Kane Wommacks evaluation of the inside linebacker group as the Tide get closer to opening the year.
What makes the quarterback race notable is the lack of experience on both sides of it, especially when compared with the rest of the SEC. That inexperience is a big reason Alabama is taking its time, and the final call is expected to come after the last fall camp scrimmage, when the staff has one more chance to see how each passer handles live work before settling the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Has A New Contender In Its Wide Receiver Battle
Alabamas receiver competition has started to take clearer shape, with Ryan Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks already locked in as two of the three starters. The open spot exists because NC State transfer Noah Rogers has been sidelined by injury, and that has created an opening for the rest of the room to make a move as fall work continues.
Derek Meadows has been one of the biggest beneficiaries so far, earning more snaps in recent scrimmages and drawing praise from coaches and teammates for the way he has handled the extra reps. Rico Scott has also flashed in practice, giving Alabama another option to sort through as the staff tries to settle on who can claim that third role. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Kicking Battle Is Becoming A Real Fall Camp Concern
The kicking competition in fall camp has become one of the more watched subplots around Alabama, and Kalen DeBoer has made clear it is still very much open. Conor Talty, who entered camp as the 2025 starter, is working alongside transfer Lorcan Quinn, and both have been getting rotating reps as the staff evaluates the position.
Quinn arrived from Marshall with enough attention to land on the preseason Lou Groza Award watch list, which only adds to the intrigue around a job that can swing games in tight spots. For now, DeBoer is framing the battle as a positive one, but Alabama still has not officially named its starter, leaving one of camps most important decisions hanging in the balance. [Read more 🡒]