Alabama’s 2026 football captains are set, and this year’s group looks a little different than what Crimson Tide fans have seen the past two seasons.
Ryan Coleman-Williams, Bray Hubbard and Zabien Brown were named the program’s three permanent captains for 2026, Alabama announced Friday. The same trio also represented the Tide at SEC media days in Tampa in July.
That’s a shift from Kalen DeBoer’s first two years, when Alabama went with four captains each season. In 2024, the group was Jalen Milroe, Tyler Booker, Malachi Moore and Deontae Lawson. In 2025, it was Ty Simpson, Parker Brailsford, Deontae Lawson and Tim Keenan III.
The new captain setup comes with another DeBoer touch: the players are chosen before the season and wear the “C” on their jerseys all year long.
All three bring a track record of impact plays. Brown has delivered a pair of eye-catching pick sixes, including a 99-yard interception return against Tennessee before halftime and another in the College Football Playoff against Oklahoma. Hubbard has made his mark by creating turnovers, including the game-clinching fumble he forced to help Alabama win the Iron Bowl last season.
Coleman-Williams, meanwhile, enters the year looking for a bounce-back after what was described as a bit of a sophomore slump. Even so, his late touchdown against Georgia in 2024 still stands as his most memorable moment.
Coleman-Williams and Brown are both entering their third seasons with the program, while Hubbard is in his fourth.
Alabama opens the season Saturday against East Carolina at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Hubbard is set to start at safety again, Brown at cornerback again and Coleman-Williams at receiver again, even with his new name and number.
In Other News...
Alabama's Opener Exposed Two Concerns Fans Can't Ignore
Alabama opened the 2026 season with a win over East Carolina, giving Kalen DeBoer a clean start to his third year on the sideline, but the game still offered an early read on where this team stands. Sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell made his first career start and looked composed enough to settle things down, using his athleticism to help keep the offense moving, while Ryan Coleman-Williams provided a real vertical threat with more than 100 receiving yards.
Even so, the Tide left with a few reminders that September can be revealing in ways a final score does not fully show. The defense looked more ready for SEC-level football than the offense did, and the issues up front on the offensive line were hard to miss as Alabama tried to sort out protection and consistency. Coleman-Williams big day also came with some costly drops, leaving the passing game with both promise and proof that there is still cleanup work to do before the schedule stiffens. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama's Young Offense Has One More Thing To Prove In Second Half
At halftime, Alabama has more than enough cushion against East Carolina, but the game has still offered a useful snapshot of where this young offense is growing and where it still needs work. The ground game has carried the day, the offensive line has given freshman quarterback Keelon Russell a clean pocket, and the defense has mostly done its job against the run while helping the Tide build a 38-7 lead.
The next step is a familiar one for Alabamas offense: making life easier on Russell by creating more separation on the outside and turning good protection into cleaner, quicker answers downfield. The defense has been sturdy in the trenches, but it has also shown a willingness to give up explosive plays when communication slips, which is the sort of detail that can matter more against better competition than it has in a lopsided first half here. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Faces A Familiar Worry With Its Most Explosive Receiver
The opening game of the season brought an old concern back into view for Alabama, as Ryan Coleman-Williams had another rough day at the catch point. The explosive receiver has been central to what the Crimson Tide want to do offensively, and his ability to turn chances into chunk plays remains a key part of Alabamas hopes heading into the rest of the year.
Coleman-Williams did spend the offseason trying to clean up the issue, making changes aimed at improving his hands and sharpening his reliability. Even so, the early signs were a reminder that Alabamas passing attack may have to keep living with a little volatility from one of its most dangerous weapons, which is not exactly the kind of tradeoff a contender wants to carry for long. [Read more 🡒]