Alabama’s offense is walking into fall camp with a lot of the heavy lifting already done.
That doesn’t mean the depth chart is carved in stone, but it does mean the Crimson Tide have eight starter spots that look largely sorted out before the first scrimmage on Thursday, Aug. 13.
A second one follows on Thursday, Aug. 20, and those sessions should help settle the last few questions. Still, the big picture is clear: Alabama’s coaches have already found most of their answers.
The urgency makes sense. Bill Connelly’s numbers put Alabama at No. 119 in the FBS in returning offensive production, which is a massive hole for a team trying to rebuild continuity.
Only two offensive starters are back in Michael Carroll and Ryan Coleman-Williams. Lotzeir Brooks saw plenty of action last season, but outside of a couple of exceptions, he was more of a rotation piece than a true starter.
That kind of turnover forces quick decisions. And right now, the most stable part of the picture appears to be Alabama’s use of 12-personnel, with Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb expected to lean on two-tight end looks as they try to fix last season’s rushing problems. Bama Hammer’s John Mitchell has also noted that 13-personnel packages should not be a surprise either.
If nothing dramatic happens in camp, the Crimson Tide will likely roll into the season with nine players filling eight starter spots on offense.
Michael Carroll is set at right guard.
At tight end, Oklahoma State transfer Josh Ford is expected to bring a needed edge as a run blocker. The other tight end spot looks like a rotation between Kaleb Edwards and Danny Lewis Jr.
That leaves three starting jobs still up for grabs heading into camp scrimmages. Alabama is still sorting out the quarterback battle, and that starter will be named in August, though the competition could keep going into the first few games.
The staff also does not want to rotate on the offensive line, which makes the left guard and right tackle spots especially important. Those are the positions Alabama would prefer to have settled before September arrives.
In Other News...
Yhonzae Pierre Just Put Alabama In A Big 2026 Conversation
Todd McShays latest look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft gives Alabama another sign that its pass-rush pipeline is staying firmly in the national conversation. The NFL Draft analyst recently stacked his top six college edge rushers for that class, and the SEC showed up in force, with names like South Carolinas Dylan Stewart and Texas Colin Simmons leading the way alongside Alabamas Yhonzae Pierre.
For the Crimson Tide, Pierre landing in that mix is the kind of recognition that can change how the rest of the sport talks about a defender before the season even gets rolling. Stewart has already been slowed by a back injury in camp, while Simmons comes in after leading the SEC in sacks last season, but Pierres presence on McShays list suggests Alabama could have a real early say in how the top of the 2026 edge market takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
EJ Crowell Is Building The Alabama Buzz Fans Have Been Waiting For
Fall camp has a way of sorting out the newcomers, and EJ Crowell is making sure Alabamas coaches and teammates keep talking about him. The 5-star freshman running back arrived with plenty of hype, and even before he has taken a college snap that counts, he has already started to look like one of the more intriguing young pieces on the roster. For a team that always seems to be searching for the next difference-maker at the position, Crowells early buzz has given Tide fans something to watch closely.
The challenge now is turning that promise into trust, especially after a spring that was limited by injury and a position where all-around reliability matters as much as burst. Crowell is expected to compete for playing time, but the path to meaningful snaps will depend on how quickly he rounds out his game, particularly in pass protection. If he keeps building the way he has through camp, Alabama may have found a freshman whose impact arrives sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama May Have Found An Under The Radar 2027 Defensive Line Target
Alabamas 2027 defensive line board has been relatively quiet so far, but Jeremiah Mark is the kind of name that can change the feel of a class early. The Picayune, Mississippi, prospect is unranked for now, yet the Crimson Tide have already put a scholarship on the table after he recently returned to football following a stretch centered on basketball. For a staff that spent much of its energy elsewhere after a strong 2026 cycle, it is another sign that Alabama is already combing for developmental pieces along the front.
Mark also has visits lined up for Alabama games this fall, including the East Carolina opener and the Georgia matchup in October, which should give the Tide a better read on where he fits and how much upside remains once he settles back into the sport. With only a few 2027 defensive line commitments in hand, Alabama does not need to rush, but it does need to keep identifying players who could grow into bigger targets as the cycle unfolds. [Read more 🡒]