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First off, let’s make one thing clear: this is not Alabama’s official depth chart. This is based off the Crimson Tide’s depth chart from last year, observations from past media viewing periods of practice and pure predictions on my part.
Although the 2016-17 season only just ended, it’s never too early to take a look at the upcoming football season, especially in a place like Tuscaloosa. And Alabama’s depth chart for its 2017-18 campaign is an interesting one to discuss.
For starters, Nick Saban and company will have to replace three unanimous All-Americans and national award winners. In total, seven starters on the defensive side of the football and a trio of multi-year starters on offense are moving on to NFL pastures, leaving big holes to fill in the lineup.
So what will the Tide’s 2017 team look like when it takes the field in Atlanta’s brand new stadium versus Florida State on Sept. 2? Well, without further ado, BamaOnLine takes an early look at Alabama’s projected, two-deep depth chart.
OFFENSE
QB -- Jalen Hurts
Tua Tagovailoa
RB -- Bo Scarbrough OR Damien Harris
Josh Jacobs OR Najee Harris
WR-X -- Calvin Ridley
Robert Foster
WR-Z -- Cam Sims
Derek Kief
WR-H -- Trevon Diggs
Jerry Jeudy
TE -- Hale Hentges
Major Tennison
TE-H -- Miller Forristall
Irv Smith
LT -- Jonah Williams
Scott Lashley
LG -- Ross Pierschbacher
Dallas Warmack
C -- Bradley Bozeman
JC Hassenauer
RG -- Alex Leatherwood
Brandon Kennedy
RT -- Lester Cotton
Elliott Baker OR Matt Womack
DEFENSE
DE -- Da'Shawn Hand
Quinnen Williams
NG -- Da'Ron Payne
Raekwon Davis
DE -- Joshua Frazier
Isaiah Buggs
SAM -- Anfernee Jennings
Jamey Mosley
MIKE -- Rashaan Evans
Keith Holcombe
WILL -- Shaun Dion Hamilton
Mack Wilson OR Ben Davis
JACK -- Christian Miller
Terrell Hall
CB -- Anthony Averett
Aaron Robinson
CB -- Tony Brown
Levi Wallace
SS -- Minkah Fitzpatrick
Hootie Jones
FS -- Ronnie Harrison
Deionte Thompson
STAR -- Shyheim Carter
Jared Mayden
*** Note: This does not include summer signees from the Crimson Tide’s 2017 recruiting class.
-- For the first time in four seasons, Alabama’s starting quarterback from the previous year will return to Tuscaloosa with eligibility. Hurts started 14 games as a true freshman and led the Crimson Tide to a 14-1 (8-0 SEC) record and a berth in the national title game in 2016. With a full offseason to work with new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, it would be a surprise to see anyone other than Hurts under center for Alabama’s season opener, which could potentially be a No. 1-versus-No. 2 matchup, with FSU -- despite the budding talent that is Tagovailoa.
-- One of the deepest position groups on the Tide’s roster next season will be at running back. Every scholarship player is set to return, including rising junior Scarbrough, who was catching fire down the final stretch before a broken fibula ended his season in the national title game. Along with a pair of rising juniors and rising sophomores -- including former four-star tailback B.J. Emmons (foot) -- returning to the fold, Alabama also welcomed Harris, who is a five-star midyear enrollee and will be difficult to keep off the field, to the backfield in January.
-- Much of the same can be said for wide receiver, even with the departures of ArDarius Stewart and Gehrig Dieter. As two of the first players off the bench this past season, Sims and Diggs are the top candidates to replace them. If he sticks around, Foster could also be in the mix. The tight end group will also have to replace a starter in tight end O.J. Howard. Just like Sims and Diggs, the duo of Hentges and Forristall have experience as reserves, and the talented young players at that position will help absorb the blow of the loss of the future first-round draft pick.
-- With Cam Robinson and Korren Kirven leaving vacancies along the offensive line, there will be some opportunities for young players this spring, summer and fall. Williams, a starter at right tackle last year, seems like the heir apparent at left tackle making his spot on the right available. Saban said Cotton is better suited to play tackle, so placing him at right tackle makes the most sense now. Leatherwood, a five-star early enrollee, will push the older players for a spot, which is why he’s listed at right guard. Needless to say, competition will be fierce.
-- Seniors Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson will be on NFL rosters next season, and their departures could leave the defensive line a bit depleted in terms of experience. But like the 2016 offseason, departing players create opportunities for younger guys that maybe didn’t see as much of the field as they hoped. A former prized recruit, Hand could be the biggest beneficiary of that at the defensive end position. Other younger players like Williams, Davis and Buggs -- a recently-enrolled junior college transfer -- could help in the rotation, as well.
-- The linebacking corps will experience the most attrition this offseason with three base starters among the four positions running out of eligibility. It will be difficult to replace the leadership and production Reuben Foster, Ryan Anderson and Tim Williams provided for the program the past several years, but players like Hamilton, Evans, Miller and Jennings all saw plenty of playing time this past season. There will also be help in the form of younger players. Dylan Moses, a five-star enrollee, could play inside or outside, which is why he isn’t listed above.
-- Despite Marlon Humphrey announcing he will enter the 2017 NFL Draft and Eddie Jackson exhausting his four years of eligibility, Alabama will return five of its six starters in its dime secondary. There was some movement in the way-too-early depth chart with Brown sliding in at cornerback, but for the most part, these moves seem like the most likely 12 days following the title game loss. The four defensive backs the Tide signed a year ago are set to make some noise in the competition, and Carter, a rising sophomore could obtain a starting spot.
