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Here's eight listed over on 247.
Reviewing Alabama players who will have something to prove during Saturday's scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
49 DE Isaiah Buggs
Why he's on the list: With Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson off to the NFL, Buggs was harvested from the junior college ranks to give UA another starter-caliber end to go along with Da'Shawn Hand. He had the benefit of getting acclimated with his new team during College Football Playoff practices before taking part in the grueling Fourth Quarter program this offseason. At 6-foot-5, 292 pounds, Buggs certainly looks the part. Scrimmage work will go a long way in determining if he can perform to the level Alabama has grown to expect from its defensive linemen. Of late, that's meant production against the run and in pass rush situations.
1 WR Robert Foster
Why he's on the list: For a third straight spring, opportunity is knocking for the fifth-year senior. Following the departure of Amari Cooper two years ago, Foster vaulted to a starting role alongside ArDarius Stewart. After an injury cut his 2015 season short, Foster struggled to make much of an impact a season ago, finding himself outside the rotation by the second half of his junior campaign. With changes at the offensive coordinator and wide receiver coach spots comes a clean slate for Foster. Talent has never been a question for the former five-star prospect. Can he stay healthy and prove dependable in every aspect of receiver play? That's the question before Foster as he heads into the make-or-break stretch of his UA career.
2 QB Jalen Hurts
Why he's on the list: For Hurts, this isn't as much about competition for the starting job as it is self-improvement, especially where the passing game is concerned. Hearing Hurts talk earlier in the week about the game "slowing down" for him was a positive sign. Assuming that continues to be the case, Alabama's intermediate/deep passing game should pick up. While helping Hurts become a more complete passer is the focal point for new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll, expect the running aspect of Hurts' game to be utilized for a second straight season. For now, though, the "Jalen Rules" for scrimmage work will likely involve working through entire progressions before making use of his legs.
8 RB Josh Jacobs
Why he's on the list: Jacobs must feel like the ingredients that bind a perfectly-constructed sandwich. On one side of Jacobs stands Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris, a pair of backs who combined to rush for 1,849 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2016. On the other is a pair of talented newcomers in Najee Harris and Brian Robinson, both of whom possess the physical attributes needed to excel in a running back-friendly offense. And then there's Jacobs, a 5-foot-10, 209-pound dynamo who averaged 6.7 yards per carry and led his position in receiving yards (156) a season ago. Even in a crowded backfield, with his ability to create extra yards both after contact and after the catch, don't look for the sophomore to take a backseat to anyone.
6 S Hootie Jones
Why he's on the list: Two of the most important areas of discovery for Alabama this spring involve depth at both cornerback and safety. Where the latter is concerned, that means locking in on a second and third option to go along with starter Ronnie Harrison. Jones was the third safety a year ago, coming on in dime situations when Harrison moved up to the money position. With Eddie Jackson moving on, Jones is getting every opportunity to prove he's an every down safety. Ultimately, his ability to do that could go a long way in deciding exactly where Minkah Fitzpatrick -- who has worked at both corner and safety this spring -- lines up in the fall, with the development of Trevon Diggs at cornerback serving as the other half of the equation.
47 OLB Christian Miller
Why he's on the list: As far as pure edge pass rush ability goes, there's little doubt Miller is capable of stepping in for guys like Ryan Anderson and Tim Williams. What remains to be seen is whether he can provide an every down presence at the position. In other words, can Miller hold up in the run game as an edge setter and will he be able to complement his speed rush with some power? Entering his fourth year in the program, the now 240-pound Miller has reached a point in his physical development that should give him a fighting chance at the point of attack.
92 K Andy Pappanastos
Why he's on the list: As the backup to Adam Griffith last season, the Ole Miss transfer was perfect, going 6 for 6 on extra points and converting his lone field goal attempt, a 33-yarder against Chattanooga. While Pappanastos isn't going to present the same kind of field goal range or kickoff depth that Griffth offered, a level of consistency from inside 45 yards that Jeremy Shelley provided in 2011 and 2012 would likely be enough to satisfy Nick Saban. Other than quarterback, no other position at Alabama is scrutinized as much as kicker. With that, the fifth-year senior's ability to block out the noise could prove critical to his candidacy.
77 OT Matt Womack
Why he's on the list: What Womack doesn't have over his competition in recruiting rankings, he has in time in the program. The redshirt sophomore has made good use of that advantage to date, combining a knowledge of concepts and technique with physical maturity to put himself in position to stake a claim to the right tackle job. A season ago, Alabama had the luxury of being able to deal with elite pass rushers without having to provide much in the way of additional assistance to either offensive tackle. With Womack, Alex Leatherwood and Scott Lashley competing for the right to backfill for Jonah Williams on the right side, pass protection will likely prove to be the determining factor in the race.
Reviewing Alabama players who will have something to prove during Saturday's scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
49 DE Isaiah Buggs
Why he's on the list: With Jonathan Allen and Dalvin Tomlinson off to the NFL, Buggs was harvested from the junior college ranks to give UA another starter-caliber end to go along with Da'Shawn Hand. He had the benefit of getting acclimated with his new team during College Football Playoff practices before taking part in the grueling Fourth Quarter program this offseason. At 6-foot-5, 292 pounds, Buggs certainly looks the part. Scrimmage work will go a long way in determining if he can perform to the level Alabama has grown to expect from its defensive linemen. Of late, that's meant production against the run and in pass rush situations.
1 WR Robert Foster
Why he's on the list: For a third straight spring, opportunity is knocking for the fifth-year senior. Following the departure of Amari Cooper two years ago, Foster vaulted to a starting role alongside ArDarius Stewart. After an injury cut his 2015 season short, Foster struggled to make much of an impact a season ago, finding himself outside the rotation by the second half of his junior campaign. With changes at the offensive coordinator and wide receiver coach spots comes a clean slate for Foster. Talent has never been a question for the former five-star prospect. Can he stay healthy and prove dependable in every aspect of receiver play? That's the question before Foster as he heads into the make-or-break stretch of his UA career.
2 QB Jalen Hurts
Why he's on the list: For Hurts, this isn't as much about competition for the starting job as it is self-improvement, especially where the passing game is concerned. Hearing Hurts talk earlier in the week about the game "slowing down" for him was a positive sign. Assuming that continues to be the case, Alabama's intermediate/deep passing game should pick up. While helping Hurts become a more complete passer is the focal point for new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll, expect the running aspect of Hurts' game to be utilized for a second straight season. For now, though, the "Jalen Rules" for scrimmage work will likely involve working through entire progressions before making use of his legs.
8 RB Josh Jacobs
Why he's on the list: Jacobs must feel like the ingredients that bind a perfectly-constructed sandwich. On one side of Jacobs stands Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris, a pair of backs who combined to rush for 1,849 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2016. On the other is a pair of talented newcomers in Najee Harris and Brian Robinson, both of whom possess the physical attributes needed to excel in a running back-friendly offense. And then there's Jacobs, a 5-foot-10, 209-pound dynamo who averaged 6.7 yards per carry and led his position in receiving yards (156) a season ago. Even in a crowded backfield, with his ability to create extra yards both after contact and after the catch, don't look for the sophomore to take a backseat to anyone.
6 S Hootie Jones
Why he's on the list: Two of the most important areas of discovery for Alabama this spring involve depth at both cornerback and safety. Where the latter is concerned, that means locking in on a second and third option to go along with starter Ronnie Harrison. Jones was the third safety a year ago, coming on in dime situations when Harrison moved up to the money position. With Eddie Jackson moving on, Jones is getting every opportunity to prove he's an every down safety. Ultimately, his ability to do that could go a long way in deciding exactly where Minkah Fitzpatrick -- who has worked at both corner and safety this spring -- lines up in the fall, with the development of Trevon Diggs at cornerback serving as the other half of the equation.
47 OLB Christian Miller
Why he's on the list: As far as pure edge pass rush ability goes, there's little doubt Miller is capable of stepping in for guys like Ryan Anderson and Tim Williams. What remains to be seen is whether he can provide an every down presence at the position. In other words, can Miller hold up in the run game as an edge setter and will he be able to complement his speed rush with some power? Entering his fourth year in the program, the now 240-pound Miller has reached a point in his physical development that should give him a fighting chance at the point of attack.
92 K Andy Pappanastos
Why he's on the list: As the backup to Adam Griffith last season, the Ole Miss transfer was perfect, going 6 for 6 on extra points and converting his lone field goal attempt, a 33-yarder against Chattanooga. While Pappanastos isn't going to present the same kind of field goal range or kickoff depth that Griffth offered, a level of consistency from inside 45 yards that Jeremy Shelley provided in 2011 and 2012 would likely be enough to satisfy Nick Saban. Other than quarterback, no other position at Alabama is scrutinized as much as kicker. With that, the fifth-year senior's ability to block out the noise could prove critical to his candidacy.
77 OT Matt Womack
Why he's on the list: What Womack doesn't have over his competition in recruiting rankings, he has in time in the program. The redshirt sophomore has made good use of that advantage to date, combining a knowledge of concepts and technique with physical maturity to put himself in position to stake a claim to the right tackle job. A season ago, Alabama had the luxury of being able to deal with elite pass rushers without having to provide much in the way of additional assistance to either offensive tackle. With Womack, Alex Leatherwood and Scott Lashley competing for the right to backfill for Jonah Williams on the right side, pass protection will likely prove to be the determining factor in the race.
