Alabama heads into its 2026 season opener against East Carolina next Saturday with several players already stacked up on preseason award lists and All-America teams.
The biggest wave of recognition has gone to Bray Hubbard and Zabien Brown. Hubbard, a senior safety, and Brown, a junior cornerback, both landed on the Associated Press preseason second-team All-America list and the CBS Sports preseason second-team All-America list.
They also showed up on some of the sport’s most notable defensive watch lists. Hubbard and Brown are on the Bednarik Award watch list, the Nagurski Trophy watch list and the Thorpe Award watch list.
On top of that, both were named preseason All-SEC first team by the media and by the coaches.
Ryan Coleman-Williams, a junior wide receiver, also picked up a busy preseason résumé. He made the Maxwell Award watch list and the Biletnikoff Award watch list, and he was selected preseason All-SEC first team by the media and preseason All-SEC second team by the coaches.
Michael Carroll, a sophomore guard, earned a spot on the Outland Trophy watch list and was tabbed preseason All-SEC second team by both the media and the coaches.
Yhonzae Pierre, a senior outside linebacker, was placed on the Bednarik Award watch list and received preseason All-SEC third-team honors from both the media and the coaches.
Keon Sabb, a fifth-year safety, rounded out the group with preseason All-SEC third-team recognition from both the media and the coaches.
In Other News...
Keelon Russell Gives Alabama A Big Early Offensive Dilemma
Keelon Russell has won Alabamas starting quarterback job over Austin Mack for the 2026 season, giving Kalen DeBoer and his staff an early decision point with one of the programs most gifted young passers. The former five-star prospect arrives with the kind of playmaking profile that can change the feel of an offense, and DeBoer has already made clear the staff plans to lean into those traits as it builds around him.
The challenge, of course, is balancing aggression with control, especially for a first-time starter being handed the keys in September. Russell is set to make his first career start on Sept. 5 against East Carolina, and Alabamas early offense will reveal how quickly the Tide can let him play freely without losing the ball security DeBoer has emphasized. [Read more 🡒]
Thompson Just Sent A Clear Message To Alabamas Other Contenders
Thompson had no intention of letting an early hole linger Friday night, shaking off a 7-0 deficit and steadily taking control in a 37-13 win over Clay-Chalkville. The Warriors, already viewed as one of Alabamas top Class 6A teams, improved to 2-0 and looked the part of a group with bigger ambitions than just a fast start.
The offense found its rhythm behind Trent Seaborn, who kept the pressure on Clay-Chalkville with big-play throws and helped stretch the field with completions to Mason McClure and Darion Moseley. For Alabama followers, it was the kind of early-season result that matters because it says something about the depth of the state race, and Thompsons response after falling behind only adds to the feeling that this team is built for more than routine wins. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Roster Plans Just Got Pulled Into An SEC Eligibility Fight
A fresh round of uncertainty has landed on roster planning across the SEC, and Alabama is right in the middle of it. The league and commissioner Greg Sankey said they will comply with the latest court orders tied to player eligibility and roster rules, after a Louisiana judge expanded a temporary restraining order in a way that pulls the conference into the dispute.
For schools like Alabama, the practical question is how long the current rules hold and what comes next, especially after the SEC had moved to block member schools from pursuing players under NFL, NBA, G League or WNBA contracts. A hearing is set for Thursday in Baton Rouge, where the leagues position and the courts next move will start to clarify whether the Tide and the rest of the conference are dealing with a short-term pause or the beginning of a much bigger roster fight. [Read more 🡒]