Opinion Piece: Potential Team Captains for the 2026-27 Season

Alabama football will begin spring practice on Sunday, March, 8. Players will begin campaigns for starting roles, playing time, and to become potential team captains. Alabama won’t name team captains until later in the year, around August, but voting starts early.  

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The previous four team captains, linebacker Deontae Lawson, center Parker Brailsford, defensive tackle Tim Keenan III, and quarterback Ty Simpson, have departed to purse careers in the NFL, meaning the Crimson Tide will have new captains for the 2026-27 season.

Leadership is important on a football team, and after losing all four captains, the Crimson Tide will need to decide who will be the next leaders. With the new college football era centered around the transfer portal and NIL, teams are fortunate to have veterans who have never left the program and have remained loyal. Of course, media members are not a part of the captain selection, but they do have the opportunity to analyze the players from previous seasons and throughout their careers at the Capstone, as well as speak with them. With that being said, here are six potential team captain candidates based on observations.

1. Defensive Back Bray Hubbard: Hubbard has been a member of the Crimson Tide since 2023, initially as a two-way player before settling into the defense back position. In 2023, Hubbard contributed on special teams in nine games. By the 2024 season, his role expanded; he played in all 13 games, starting six at safety, stepping in for the injured Keon Sabb. During that 2024 season, Hubbard tied for the team lead with three interceptions and accumulated 57 tackles, including one for a loss of two yards, along with two pass breakups and one forced fumble. Returning for the 2025 season, Hubbard truly began to excel, becoming a starter and playing in all 15 games at safety. For the 2025-26 season, he earned second-team All-American honors from the AFCA and was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press. He also was selected for the All-SEC First Team by both the AP and league coaches. Hubbard tied for the SEC lead (and ranked 23rd nationally) with four interceptions, totaling 42 return yards. He ranked third on the Crimson Tide defense with 79 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss, and two sacks for a loss. He recorded a team-high-tying six pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and one quarterback hurry. Hubbard was named the Panini Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week and the Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week for his performance against Wisconsin. He was also selected as the Lott Impact Trophy Player of the Week following the Iron Bowl.

Why would Hubbard make a great captain? Simply put, he has remained committed, never exploring the transfer portal, patiently waited for his opportunity, and maximized his representation of the University of Alabama, showing improvement each year. While Hubbard saw action in 2023, Sabb's injury allowed him to enhance the "next man up" mentality and excel. Hubbard would be viewed as a leader because of his commitment to Alabama, his loyalty, his selflessness, and his on-field presence. With this likely being Hubbard's final year of college, he will be a vital piece of this Crimson Tide defense as they look to build and improve.

2. Wide Receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams: Williams started his college career at just 17 years old. He was a unanimous five-star prospect and one of the top receiving prospects in the country. During his freshman season with the Crimson Tide in 2024, Williams quickly showed his skills, standing out in practice and making significant plays on the field in some of Alabama's toughest games. He concluded his rookie season with 48 receptions, 865 yards, and eight touchdowns. Following his impressive freshman year, many schools tried to persuade Williams to transfer. However, he retuned to Alabama for the 2025 season, where he faced challenges and didn't have as prominent a role as anticipated. Williams led the nation in drops and recorded 49 receptions, 689 yards, and four touchdowns, a surprising downturn given his earlier performance. Despite this, Williams remained committed, supported his teammates, and took responsibility for his downturn.

Why would Williams make a great captain? He embraces accountability, is keenly aware of his mistakes, and appeared to regain his earlier form toward the end of the 2025-26 season. Furthermore, Williams didn't leave for the first lucrative NIL deal. Despite his performance dip from Year 1 to Year 2, his loyalty to Alabama, coachability, and accountability are crucial leadership qualities. Additionally, he will be the most experienced player in the wide receiver room for the 2026-27 season.

3. Quarterback Austin Mack:  Mack's college career began in 2023 at Washington, where he did not see any game action. When DeBoer accepted the Alabama job in 2024, Mack transferred from Washington to Alabama. He appeared in one game, completing 2 of 3 passes for 39 yards and a touchdown against Mercer. Notably, the Alabama coaches recognized him as an offensive scout player of the week for his contributions leading up to the Tennessee game in the 2024-25 season. After spending his first season behind Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson, many speculated about a potential transfer, but Mack remained at Alabama, serving as Simpson's backup the following season. In 2025, he played in four games as a reserve, passing for 228 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-32 attempts. The Alabama coaches named him an offensive (skill) player of the week for his performance against Eastern Illinois. During the ULM game, he came off the bench to complete 8-of-10 passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns, including scoring passes of six and three yards. He also rushed twice for four yards. In Alabama's first playoff appearance under DeBoer, Mack took over the offense for most of the second half after Simpson was injured against Indiana. Mack completed 11-of-16 passes for 103 yards and rushed five times for no gain. Even after Simpson's departure after one year, Mack, despite having been in college since 2023, has yet to be a starter. He could have transferred again.

Why would Mack make a great captain? He and Keelon Russell will compete for the starting quarterback position for the 2026 season. Quarterbacks are often named captains, especially if Mack wins the job. Beyond his potential to become the starting quarterback, Mack embodies selflessness and loyalty. Despite opportunities to leave Alabama after backing up two quarterbacks, he has remained supportive and never complained about his role.

4. Quarterback Keelon Russell: Russell is widely regarded as an elite playmaker at quarterback. He was an unanimous five-star recruit by all major scouting services, he earned accolades such as Texas and National Gatorade Player of the Year for football and the Maxwell High School Player of the Year award. 247Sports ranked him as the second-best quarterback and overall recruit in the 2024 class. ESPN also recognized his talent, naming him the top prep quarterback and No. 14 player on the ESPN300. Russell enrolled early at the University of Alabama in January 2025. During his freshman season, Russell appeared in two games as a backup. He completed 11 of 15 passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns, adding three rushes for 17 yards. The Alabama coaches recognized his performance against Eastern Illinois, naming him an offensive player of the week. He made the most of his first collegiate snaps against ULM, finishing 4-of-6 for 65 yards and two touchdowns, with scoring passes of 18 and 20 yards, and added a one-yard rush. Against Eastern Illinois, he completed 7-of-9 passes for 78 yards and rushed twice for 16 yards. As mentioned, Russell and Mack are expected to compete for the starting quarterback position, with the decision likely to be announced in late August, mirroring the previous year's timeline.

Why would Russell make a great captain? Despite his talent, athleticism, and high school accolades, many schools likely wanted Russell to be their starter for the upcoming season. However, Russell embraced the competition and chose to remain with Coach DeBoer and the Crimson Tide, demonstrating loyalty and selflessness. He has consistently supported his teammates while continuing to develop as a quarterback. If Russell wins the starting job, his leadership qualities would make him an excellent choice for team captain.

5. Linebacker Yhonzae Pierre: Pierre joined the Crimson Tide in 2023 but did not play that season. In 2024, he took on a larger role as an outside linebacker, participating in 11 games on defense and contributing on special teams. Pierre's best season was in 2025 when he became the Crimson Tide's leading pass-rusher. He played in all 15 games, starting 12, and recorded 52 tackles, including a team-high 14.5 for loss (-102 yards) and eight sacks (-81 yards). He also led the team with nine quarterback hurries and forced three fumbles, adding one pass breakup. Pierre was named the Bednarik Award Player of the Week for his performance against Tennessee and was also selected as the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week for the same game. The Alabama coaching staff recognized his play against Tennessee, LSU, and Oklahoma, naming him defensive player of the week.

Why would Pierre make a great captain? After an outstanding 2025 season, Pierre could have entered the 2026 NFL Draft or transferred. However, he remained patient and selfless throughout his Alabama career. As he heads into the 2026-27 season, Pierre is expected to assume an even greater leadership role. His leadership qualities, both on and off the field, combined with his selflessness, make him a vital asset to Alabama's defense.

6. Defensive Back Zabien Brown: Brown earned a starting spot at cornerback as a true freshman in 2024 after a standout fall camp. He started all 13 games that season, totaling 18 tackles, including two for loss. He tied for the team lead with three interceptions for a combined four return yards and contributed two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries for 68 total yards, including one touchdown. Brown was named a preseason Freshman All-American by 247Sports and was also included on the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List. The Alabama coaching staff selected him as a defensive (skill) player of the week for his performances against Georgia and LSU. Notably, Brown sealed the victory against Georgia with an end-zone interception on the Bulldogs' final offensive play. Following his outstanding freshman season, Brown returned as a starting cornerback and continued to excel. He recorded two pick-sixes, becoming the first Alabama player to do so since 2021 and the first true cornerback to achieve a pair of interception returns for touchdowns since Antonio Langham in 1992. Brown posted 39 tackles, including 2.5 for loss (-4 yards), along with a team-high-tying six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and his pick-sixes of 99 and 50 yards. He was named the Bronko Nagurski Player of the Week, Lott IMPACT Trophy Defensive Player of the Week, and Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week following the Tennessee game. He was also selected as the SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his play against the Vols and earned defensive (skill) player of the week recognition from the Crimson Tide coaches for his efforts against Tennessee, Auburn, and Oklahoma in the CFP First Round.

Why would Brown make a great captain? Brown has been a key player for Alabama since his freshman year. He has shown consistent growth throughout his career, always giving credit to his teammates and coaches. Despite likely interest from other schools, Brown has remained loyal to Alabama. Heading into the 2026-27 season, Brown will be a veteran in his third year. Given Alabama's young but talented cornerbacks, Brown is well-positioned to be a leader not only for that group but for the entire team.

College football teams usually name from three to six captains each season, often dividing them among offense, defense, and special teams. However, Alabama typically selects four permanent team captains per season. This list provides some ideal candidates ahead of the 2026 season.