Alabama football is heading into the 2026 season with a roster that’s got plenty of experience-but not everywhere. While the Crimson Tide will return key veterans on both sides of the ball, there are a few critical positions where new faces will need to rise quickly if Alabama wants to stay in the national title hunt. Let’s take a closer look at three spots where the Tide will be leaning on youth, transfers, and unproven talent to fill some pretty big shoes.
Quarterback: A New Era Begins in Tuscaloosa
Ty Simpson is off to the NFL after just one season as Alabama’s starting quarterback, and with his departure, one of the most high-profile jobs in college football is officially up for grabs. The Tide will enter spring ball with a wide-open competition under center, and all eyes will be on who can seize control of the offense.
Right now, the battle looks like a two-man race, though Alabama has two true freshmen in the mix who could shake things up. Austin Mack and Keelon Russell will get their first real chance to separate themselves when spring practice kicks off next month. And the annual A-Day scrimmage, set for April 11, should offer fans their first real glimpse at how this quarterback room is shaping up.
This is a position Alabama can’t afford to get wrong. With the weapons they’re returning, the offense has the potential to be explosive-but that hinges on finding a QB who can lead with confidence and consistency. Whether it’s Mack, Russell, or someone else, the Tide’s next signal-caller will have big cleats to fill and a short runway to get up to speed.
Inside Linebacker: A Youth Movement in the Middle
Alabama's defense took a hit with the departures of both starting inside linebackers-Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson-along with key depth piece Nikhai Hill-Green, all of whom are headed to the NFL. That leaves a young, largely untested group tasked with holding down one of the most important spots in Kane Wommack’s defensive scheme.
The Tide returns several promising players at the position-QB Reese, Cayden Jones, Duke Johnson, Luke Metz, and Abduall Sanders-but none have started a game, and meaningful snaps have been hard to come by for all of them. Virginia Tech transfer Caleb Woodson brings some much-needed experience to the room and could be a stabilizing force early on. Alabama also added Zay Hall from the high school ranks, a young linebacker with upside.
Wommack’s system typically rotates three inside linebackers, so it’s not just about finding one starter-it’s about building a reliable rotation. That means at least a couple of these young players will need to grow up fast.
One name to watch? QB Reese.
Coaches and teammates raved about him last spring, and his speed and coverage skills made him a standout at Ramsay High School. He’s got breakout potential written all over him heading into 2026.
Bandit (Defensive End): A Position in Flux
The Bandit position-Alabama’s hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker role-has been hit hard by departures. LT Overton is NFL-bound, and the trio of Jordan Renaud, Keon Keely, and Kelby Collins have all transferred out of the program. That’s a lot of talent and production walking out the door, and it leaves the Tide with more questions than answers at a key edge spot.
Fatutoa Henry is the most experienced returner in the room, though his playing time was limited to about four games in 2025 after transferring in from Cerritos Community College. He’s got the frame and physicality to compete at the position, but he’ll need to take a big step forward to become a consistent contributor.
Alabama also dipped into the portal to bring in Desmond Umeozulu and Devan Thompkins. Their exact roles are still to be determined-Thompkins may see more time at defensive tackle, while Umeozulu could slide over to the Wolf linebacker spot. That uncertainty opens the door for some true freshmen to make an early impact.
Jamarrion Matthews, Nolan Wilson, and Kamhariyan Johnson are three names to keep an eye on. Matthews, in particular, has drawn some early buzz as a freshman who could benefit from the roster turnover and carve out a role right away. With so many moving parts, this position could be a revolving door early in the season until the coaching staff finds the right mix.
Final Thoughts
Alabama’s not short on talent-this is still the Crimson Tide, after all. But at quarterback, inside linebacker, and Bandit, they’ll be relying on fresh faces to step into the spotlight. Whether it’s highly touted freshmen, under-the-radar returners, or transfers looking for a new start, someone will have to rise to the occasion.
Spring ball can’t come soon enough. The competition is about to heat up in Tuscaloosa, and for a few key positions, the future of Alabama football may hinge on how quickly the next wave of stars can emerge.