Alabama Roster Breakdown and Transfer Portal Tracker – Spring Window

Tuscaloosa, Ala. - A-Day has come and gone, and Alabama's offense looked the part during the 90-minute open practice on Saturday. Now, the Tide's attention will turn to the recruiting trail and the spring transfer portal window, which opens on Wednesday, April 16. Where could the Tide make additions in spring to bolster the roster for Kalen DeBoer's second season as the Alabama head coach?

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One quick reminder for the spring transfer portal window: The SEC has a rule that players can not transfer within the conference during the spring window. If a high-value SEC player enters the transfer portal over the 10-day window, Alabama can not pick that player up in the transfer portal.

Transfer Portal Additions

Jack Sammarco - Tight End (Previous School - West Virginia)

Transfer Portal Losses

Noland Asberry - LB (Non-Scholarship)
Jackson Howell - OL (Non-Scholarship)

Quarterback: Ty Simpson, Keelon Russell, Austin Mack

While Simpson did not have any significant shots that will have Crimson Tide fans buzzing until fall camp, Simpson looked like the safest bet at quarterback during A-Day. He took smart passes and was the only quarterback who moved the ball down the field consistently in 11-on-11 drills. The battle, from my untrained eyes, looks to be for QB2 between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell. It's a dangerous game to play; if Russell wins the backup job, how much patience does Austin Mack have going into his third season, 2,000 miles from home as a third-string quarterback behind a true freshman? Does Alabama consider getting another quarterback from the portal, but one who does not know the system?

Running Back: Jam Miller, Richard Young, Daniel Hill, Dre Washington, Kevin Riley, AK Dear

The Tide returns its leading rusher in the running back room from last season, backed up by highly talented Richard Young and Daniel Hill. Alabama looks likely to run a running back by committee this season with those three, making it difficult to see a path to playing time (barring injury) for Dre Washington, who is in his final season of eligibility. While fans and Alabama's staff were excited about the addition of Washington (The Tide looked to add depth to that room with the recruiting class and Washington's commitment), does Washington want to spend his final season that deep on the Alabama depth chart, especially when Alabama looks to have a plethora of mouths to feed at wide receiver? In addition, how long will Kevin Riley decide to wait? Alabama could only lose two running backs this season, with Jam Miller playing out his four years in Tuscaloosa and Washington exhausting his eligibility this year. Unless Riley can hold off AK Dear and surpass Young or Hill, he may be limited in his role on offense once again next season. Unless Alabama loses depth at running back in the portal, I would not expect them to target running backs this spring.

Wide Receivers: Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, Isaiah Horton, Jalen Hale, Rico Scott, Cole Adams, Jaylen Mbakwe, Lotzeir Brooks, Derek Meadows

I have no doubt this will be one of, if not the strongest, rooms for Alabama this season. Returning the top two pass catchers from last year in Williams and Bernard, Alabama added a top transfer portal option in Horton from Miami. Alabama also returns Jalen Hale from injury, who looked good in his first public action since his freshman season. Cole Adams and Jaylen Mbakwe looked productive during A-Day, but the biggest plays were made by Lotzier Brooks and Derek Meadows - two true freshmen who have generated buzz all spring. I highly doubt Alabama will make any additions in this room via the portal, even if they lose someone when it opens on Wednesday.

Tight Ends: Josh Cuevas, Danny Lewis Jr., Jay Lindsey, Marshall Pritchett, Kaleb Edwards

Alabama was decimated by injuries at tight end this spring, with Lewis missing all of spring practice, Pritchett on crutches for the second half of spring practice, and Josh Cuevas on a scooter by A-Day. The only scholarship tight end Alabama had by Saturday was Jay Lindsey. Even though offensive lineman William Sanders moonlit as a tight end in spring, Alabama still may want to add to the room in spring. I would expect more additions to the tight end room in spring beyond Kaleb Edwards, who will enroll over the summer.

Interior Offensive Line: Parker Brailsford, Jaeden Roberts, Geno VanDeMark, Kam Dewberry, Roq Montgomery, William Sanders, Joseph Ionata, Mal Waldrep, Micah DeBose

While Alabama's guard competition between Dewberry and VanDeMark hit a snag with VanDeMark being limited in the latter half of spring practice, Dewberry looked good at points during A-Day. With both players entering their final year of eligibility, it will be interesting to see which one wins the competition and if the other decides to shut it down or play on limited reps to get on NFL team's radars. William Sanders will also return to his normal position after cosplaying as a tight end in spring practice due to injuries in that room.

Offensive Tackles: Kadyn Proctor, Wilkin Formby, Olaus Alinen, Michale Carroll, Jackson Lloyd, Arkel Anugwom, Casey Poe

The Tide has decent depth at tackle once Proctor fully returns from injury. Alinen and Carroll both came in as guards but were kicked outside to tackle amid spring injuries. Could one of them serve as a swing tackle for Alabama behind Proctor and Formby? Upgrading the room or adjusting the depth in that room is within reason, but don't expect Alabama to swing heavy for tackle prospects in the transfer portal.

Defensive Tackles: Tim Keenan III, James Smith, Edric Hill, Jeremiah Beaman, Isaia Faga, Steve Bolo Mboumoua, London Simmons

While Alabama has a top-heavy group in Keenan and Smith, Edric Hill and Jeremiah Beaman have received praise this spring. Alabama will need them to develop into more than capable players to provide depth and rest for the two starters. Florida transfer Kelby Collins has also played inside this spring. These additions and changes may lessen the need for a defensive tackle in the transfer portal, but Alabama could still look to upgrade in this department.

Bandit (Defensive End): LT Overton, Jordan Renaud, Keon Keeley, Kelby Collins, Fatutoa Henry

Alabama returning Overton and Renaud will help keep the continuity of that room, while the addition of Kelby Collins allows Alabama to shuffle the front four with fresh bodies. Renaud looks to take Jah-Marien Latham's role last year of providing valuable reps behind Overton, while Keeley looks to be beginning to put the pieces together to be valuable at Bandit for Alabama after two seasons of limited reps. If Keeley can step up as the third Bandit, Alabama looks to be in a good spot with this position. I do not expect any major developments in this room.

Wolf (Outside Linebacker): Qua Russaw, Jah-Marien Latham, Yhonzae Pierre, Noah Carter, Justin Hill

Russaw started every game he was healthy for Alabama last season, and he is the most likely candidate to start again this season. Latham's shift from Bandit to Wolf provides valuable experience and reps in a room that originally looked thin with the departures of Que Robinson and Keanu Koht in the offseason. Looking to the future, Alabama could once again appear thin at that room next off-season with the potential departure by Russaw and the imminent departure of Latham. Alabama can entice depth players with the promise of more reps next season, but the patience bears watching. Similar to Bandit, there is not an imminent need to add to this room this spring.

Inside Lineackers: Deontae Lawson, Nikhai Hill-Green, Justin Jefferson, Cayden Jones, QB Reese, Duke Johnson, Abduall Sanders Jr., Luke Metz

Alabama is in a good spot depth-wise in the linebacker room, with it being one of the deeper rooms on the roster. While depth is hard to come by in the modern age of college football, the Tide could maintain the depth of the younger, rising players with the knowledge that Alabama will lose Lawson, Hill-Green, and Jefferson in the offseason. It would open the doors for Jones, Reese (who looked solid on A-Day and has earned praise this spring), Johnson, Sanders, and Metz to compete for playing time next season. I do not expect any additions to this room, but once again, the patience of depth pieces needs to be watched.

Huksy: DaShawn Jones, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr.

Jones has the leg up in the competition and started at Husky in the Tide's bowl game against Michigan. Kirkpatrick has the inside track to playing in 2026 and beyond while earning praise this spring for his development. We also saw Red Morgan play this spot last season as a freshman, so if an injury does hit, we could see Morgan kick back to his original position.

Cornerback: Domani Jackson, Zabien Brown, Dijon Lee, Cam Calhoun, Red Morgan, Chuck McDonald

The room competiting with the wide receivers for best on the team should be cornerbacks. With Alabama rolling through spring practice without Domani Jackson due to injury, it allowed Dijon Lee to take first-team reps opposite Zabien Brown. Cam Calhoun will make it difficult to keep him off the field as well. Alabama will add Chuck McDonald in the summer, further bolstering that room. The Tide continues to recruit well at cornerback, with five-star Jorden Edmonds set to join the fold next season following Jackson's departure to the NFL.

Safety: Keon Sabb, Bray Hubbard, Zavier Mincey, Ivan Taylor, Kameron Howard

This group will be deep and talented for Alabama once Sabb fully returns from injury. With three starting-caliber safeties in Sabb, Hubbard, and Mincey, the competition to watch will be between Howard and Taylor. If Taylor can beat out Howard for the fourth spot, the Tide could lose the Charlotte transfer and may need to make a depth addition in that room.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.