🏈 Short tidbits on Alabama football

[Justneedme81]

Coaches are especially excited about the direction of the defense. The Tide have gotten bigger on that side of the ball, and we’re told it now looks more like what Alabama had been accustomed to under Saban, especially on the interior of the line. Last year, the starting lineup just wasn’t bulky, ranking in the SEC’s bottom four in height and weight. This season, coaches expect to rank in the upper half of the conference.

Thompkins and Green got lot of praises from the coaches this spring.

Quarterback, of course, is Alabama’s biggest question going into 2026. Ty Simpson, drafted with the No. 13 pick by the Rams last week, threw 28 TDs and just five INTs as a first-year starter in 2025, but his efficiency fizzled down the stretch as defenses tuned out the Tide’s suspect running game.

The Tide have two strong options at quarterback in former five-star recruit Keelon Russell and Austin Mack, who followed DeBoer from Washington to Tuscaloosa. Both QBs are adept at making off-schedule plays and operating with run-pass options. Opposing coaches have said RPOs weren’t Simpson’s strong suit, and his predecessor Jalen Milroe also didn’t excel in that part of the offens

DeBoer anticipates that he’ll name a starter two weeks before the season opener against East Carolina.

The player to keep an eye on is EJ Crowell, who is said to have elite vision and cutting ability. The 5-11, 220-pound five-star freshman impressed teammates early but was sidelined for most of spring while dealing with a soft-tissue injury in his lower leg. DeBoer said he expects Crowell to be ready to roll by June.

All of this came from The Athletic

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7245199/2026/05/01/college-football-spring-intel-alabama-miami-lsu/?unlocked_article_code=1.fFA.lXWa.08y1Efwo8ZI4&smid=ta-android-share