Alabama’s 2026 opener is still waiting on the official depth chart, but the picture coming out of fall camp is starting to take shape.
The old Monday ritual is gone. Back when Nick Saban was running the show, reporters would get a paper depth chart before his first press conference of game week.
That custom faded late in his tenure, and it hasn’t come back under Kalen DeBoer. These days, Alabama’s Week 1 depth chart usually shows up in the press box only hours before kickoff.
So for now, the best snapshot is the projected two-deep assembled by Bama247 from what has surfaced during camp. It’s not a full availability report, and it’s not a guarantee for Saturday’s opener against East Carolina, but it does offer a clear look at where things stand - especially with several injured players expected to sit out.
Among those not projected to play are wide receiver Noah Rogers, running back AK Dear, defensive lineman Jeremiah Beaman, cornerback Jorden Edmonds and safety Jireh Edwards. Running back EJ Crowell is still listed as uncertain.
At quarterback, Keelon Russell is projected to open as the starter with Austin Mack behind him.
The backfield projection has Daniel Hill at the top, followed by Kevin Riley. The next spot is still a little fluid, with Trae'shawn Brown or EJ Crowell in line there.
At receiver, Ryan Coleman-Williams and Tyler Henderson are projected on one side, with Rico Scott and Derek Meadows at the next spot. Lotzeir Brooks and Cederian Morgan round out the projected group.
Tight end is also unsettled, with Marshall Pritchett or Kaleb Edwards listed ahead of Josh Ford or Danny Lewis Jr.
Up front, Jackson Lloyd is projected at left tackle, with Tyrell Miller behind him.
In Other News...
Kalen DeBoer Suddenly Has A Risky Alabama Roster Decision
As the fallout from the NCAAs latest eligibility debate continues to ripple through the sport, Alabama finds itself watching a situation that could open an unusual late-summer roster door. The issue centers on athletes from the 2022 class who are seeking a fifth college season, including some who have already spent time on NFL preseason rosters, and LSU is expected to move forward with several such additions even with SEC objections hanging over the conversation.
For Kalen DeBoer, the complication is whether Alabama could or should get involved if former players Jam Miller and Domani Jackson become available after their releases from NFL teams. Neither has publicly signaled any interest in a college return, and there is still no clear indication that Alabama would try to bring them back. Still, the possibility underscores how quickly a roster plan can become unsettled when the rules, the league and the transfer market are all moving at once. [Read more 🡒]
Kalen DeBoer Faces The Alabama Standard Nobody Can Truly Match
As Alabama gets ready to open the season against East Carolina, the conversation around Kalen DeBoer is already drifting back to the one standard that still hangs over the program: Nick Sabans. Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy recently pointed to the current college football landscape as a major reason that level of dominance is so hard to duplicate, with the sports new reality changing how teams are built and sustained.
McElroy also suggested the Tide have not had the same kind of raw talent on recent rosters that Alabama fans came to expect in the Saban years, even if this group could prove to be steadier from week to week. That leaves DeBoer in the familiar Alabama position of being measured not just by wins, but by how closely his team can come to matching a legacy few programs have ever been able to approach. [Read more 🡒]
Keelon Russells Alabama Debut Already Brings One Big Week 1 Debate
The first look at Alabamas 2026 season comes with a little more intrigue than a typical opener. The Crimson Tide are set to welcome East Carolina to Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 5, with Kalen DeBoer entering his third season and Keelon Russell taking over at quarterback after Alabamas 11-4 finish and College Football Playoff quarterfinal run a year ago. East Carolina brings its own momentum to Tuscaloosa, arriving off a 9-4 season under Blake Harrell and with Mitch Griffis installed as the new starter.
For Alabama, the conversation around Russell has already started to spill beyond simple debut buzz and into how the matchup itself might look. East Carolina has enough recent success to make this more than a routine warmup, even if the Tide are expected to be the better team on paper. The bigger question hanging over Week 1 is how quickly Alabama can settle in behind its new quarterback and whether the opener will reveal anything meaningful about how far this group can go. [Read more 🡒]