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By Alex Byington Sports
Hereās a breakdown of five key position battles still unsettled entering camp:
Quarterback
Contenders: Cooper Bateman (Jr.), David Cornwell (Soph.), Blake Barnett (R-Fr.), Jalen Hurts (Fr.)
Outlook: For the third consecutive season, Alabama goes into August without a clearly defined starting quarterback. That didnāt hamper the Tide much the last two years, as seniors Blake Sims and Jake Coker eventually orchestrated back-to-back SEC championship runs.
This year, though, there is no clear-cut senior option, and none of the four quarterbacks separated himself in spring practice.
Bateman has the most experience with one start last season ā the loss to Ole Miss ā but hasnāt shown consistency. Barnett and Hurts each showed flashes of their talent during spring and had the most success on A-Day. Each has a propensity for costly mistakes. Cornwell has all the physical tools to become the starter but has yet to put it all together in the eyes of the coaches.
Star defensive back
Contenders: Minkah Fitzpatrick (Soph.), Tony Brown (Jr.), Kendall Sheffield (R-Fr.), Maurice Smith (Sr.), Anthony Averett (Jr.)
Outlook: Despite being a package position, the āstarā cornerback has emerged as a key spot defensively. That's why Fitzpatrickās development in the role last season was so vital. This spring, Fitzpatrick worked more as a traditional corner while Brown and Smith appeared settled in at star. With Smithās attempted transfer still pending and Brownās expected NCAA suspension looming, the position is in flux.
With several talented but inexperienced cornerbacks on the roster, coaches could move Fitzpatrick back to star or turn over duties to another of younger corners like Sheffield. Averett is an experienced option, but his smallish 180-pound frame might prove an issue in physical matchups against slot receivers.
Running back
Contenders: Bo Scarbrough (Soph.), Damien Harris (Soph.), B.J. Emmons (Fr.), Josh Jacobs (Fr.)
Outlook: This is mostly about deciding a pecking order, with the slimmed-down, 230-pound Scarbrough and Harris well out in front in terms of becoming the starter. As has been the case in recent years (not counting 2015 when Derrick Henry dominated), the workload is expected to be split evenly.
Still, someone has to emerge as the starter, and that is a battle that will be decided in the preseason. While Scarbrough is the most comparable to Henry, Harris left the greatest impression when he rushed for 114 yards on 20 carries in the A-Day game. Emmons and Jacobs could become factors to be the backup/change-of-pace tailback, but must show theyāre ready for the big time.
Right guard
Contenders: Alphonse Taylor (Sr.), Brandon Kennedy (R-Fr.), Lester Cotton (Soph.), Bradley Bozeman (Jr.)
Outlook: After starting all 15 games at right guard last season, the 345-pound Taylor was the presumptive leader to remain there. But a tumultuous offseason that included issues with his weight, led coach Nick Saban to drop him to second-team and issue an A-Day ultimatum. With a DUI arrest earlier this month, Taylor has fallen out of favor.
Kennedy was the biggest beneficiary of Taylorās struggles, including starting the A-Day game, but donāt be surprised if coaches work others at the spot this preseason. Among those options are potential starting left guard Lester Cotton, who turned heads while working at several spots along the line, and junior Bradley Bozeman, who lost out to Taylor on the starting right guard spot a year ago but could provide much-needed experience if Taylor can't get back into Saban's good graces.
Will linebacker
Contenders: Shaun Dion Hamilton (Jr.), Rashaan Evans (Jr.), Keith Holcombe (R-Soph.), Ben Davis (Fr.)
Outlook: Evans flashed his potential when he racked up a team-high 17 tackles for the Crimson defense in the A-Day game, and has the athleticism and speed to bring an added element to the middle of the defense.
Hamilton was a key backup last season and has shown he can handle the role, an advantage that might be difficult for Evans to overcome as the starter. But given how many linebackers Alabama likes to rotate, Evans will be utilized heavily, especially in nickel and dime packages.
Holcombe is another backup option, as is the five-star Davis, the nationās No. 1 inside linebacker in 2016. If Davis can pick up the college game quickly, look for him to create a spot for himself in the rotation.
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Quarterback
Contenders: Cooper Bateman (Jr.), David Cornwell (Soph.), Blake Barnett (R-Fr.), Jalen Hurts (Fr.)
Outlook: For the third consecutive season, Alabama goes into August without a clearly defined starting quarterback. That didnāt hamper the Tide much the last two years, as seniors Blake Sims and Jake Coker eventually orchestrated back-to-back SEC championship runs.
This year, though, there is no clear-cut senior option, and none of the four quarterbacks separated himself in spring practice.
Bateman has the most experience with one start last season ā the loss to Ole Miss ā but hasnāt shown consistency. Barnett and Hurts each showed flashes of their talent during spring and had the most success on A-Day. Each has a propensity for costly mistakes. Cornwell has all the physical tools to become the starter but has yet to put it all together in the eyes of the coaches.
Star defensive back
Contenders: Minkah Fitzpatrick (Soph.), Tony Brown (Jr.), Kendall Sheffield (R-Fr.), Maurice Smith (Sr.), Anthony Averett (Jr.)
Outlook: Despite being a package position, the āstarā cornerback has emerged as a key spot defensively. That's why Fitzpatrickās development in the role last season was so vital. This spring, Fitzpatrick worked more as a traditional corner while Brown and Smith appeared settled in at star. With Smithās attempted transfer still pending and Brownās expected NCAA suspension looming, the position is in flux.
With several talented but inexperienced cornerbacks on the roster, coaches could move Fitzpatrick back to star or turn over duties to another of younger corners like Sheffield. Averett is an experienced option, but his smallish 180-pound frame might prove an issue in physical matchups against slot receivers.
Running back
Contenders: Bo Scarbrough (Soph.), Damien Harris (Soph.), B.J. Emmons (Fr.), Josh Jacobs (Fr.)
Outlook: This is mostly about deciding a pecking order, with the slimmed-down, 230-pound Scarbrough and Harris well out in front in terms of becoming the starter. As has been the case in recent years (not counting 2015 when Derrick Henry dominated), the workload is expected to be split evenly.
Still, someone has to emerge as the starter, and that is a battle that will be decided in the preseason. While Scarbrough is the most comparable to Henry, Harris left the greatest impression when he rushed for 114 yards on 20 carries in the A-Day game. Emmons and Jacobs could become factors to be the backup/change-of-pace tailback, but must show theyāre ready for the big time.
Right guard
Contenders: Alphonse Taylor (Sr.), Brandon Kennedy (R-Fr.), Lester Cotton (Soph.), Bradley Bozeman (Jr.)
Outlook: After starting all 15 games at right guard last season, the 345-pound Taylor was the presumptive leader to remain there. But a tumultuous offseason that included issues with his weight, led coach Nick Saban to drop him to second-team and issue an A-Day ultimatum. With a DUI arrest earlier this month, Taylor has fallen out of favor.
Kennedy was the biggest beneficiary of Taylorās struggles, including starting the A-Day game, but donāt be surprised if coaches work others at the spot this preseason. Among those options are potential starting left guard Lester Cotton, who turned heads while working at several spots along the line, and junior Bradley Bozeman, who lost out to Taylor on the starting right guard spot a year ago but could provide much-needed experience if Taylor can't get back into Saban's good graces.
Will linebacker
Contenders: Shaun Dion Hamilton (Jr.), Rashaan Evans (Jr.), Keith Holcombe (R-Soph.), Ben Davis (Fr.)
Outlook: Evans flashed his potential when he racked up a team-high 17 tackles for the Crimson defense in the A-Day game, and has the athleticism and speed to bring an added element to the middle of the defense.
Hamilton was a key backup last season and has shown he can handle the role, an advantage that might be difficult for Evans to overcome as the starter. But given how many linebackers Alabama likes to rotate, Evans will be utilized heavily, especially in nickel and dime packages.
Holcombe is another backup option, as is the five-star Davis, the nationās No. 1 inside linebacker in 2016. If Davis can pick up the college game quickly, look for him to create a spot for himself in the rotation.
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