The surprise of Alabama's
season-ending loss now fades.
This was supposed to be a week of heavy preparations for the first College Football Playoff Championship, instead it's time for the Crimson Tide to move forward with the next step.
Let's take a look at the basics as the focus shifts to the 2015 Alabama football program.
Who goes pro?
There were a few surprises a year ago.
Vinnie Sunseri wasn't expected to go pro, but he was a late-round pick.
Adrian Hubbard was not a surprising departure, but the linebacker wasn't drafted. It'll be interesting to see how those decisions will impact this class.
Receiver Amari Cooper and safety
Landon Collins are top-10 players in
Mel Kiper's Big Board. It would be surprising to see either return. Running back
T.J. Yeldon is No. 4 in Kiper's positional ranking if he chose to come out. Outside of those three, it would seem unlikely any underclassmen would get a grade high enough to get the full support of Alabama's coaching staff.
The deadline to declare is Jan. 15.
Staff changes?
Few seasons pass without a change or two in the coaching staff. Three departed last season alone. So far, none of the nine assistants have made a move. There were reports that linebacker's coach
Kevin Steele was a candidate for the defensive coordinator job at Nebraska, but the Cornhuskers have since
filled the position.
Offensive coordinator
Lane Kiffin said last week
he plans to return to Alabamafor a second season.
New QB
Alabama had three quarterbacks in
Nick Saban's first seven seasons. Now it will need a new starter for a second straight season with
Blake Sims' graduation. All eyes will shift back to
Jacob Coker, who enters his second season with the Tide after a Florida State transfer. A year in the program will benefit the 6-foot-5 passer with a huge right arm.
Alec Morris moved into the No. 3 role during the season with
Cooper Batemancoming next
. David Cornwell should be healthy after his redshirt season and there's intrigue surrounding incoming five-star
Blake Barnett.
At 6-4, he's just an inch shorter than Coker and his speed suits him for the quicker brand of football the Tide played last year. Barnett is already in Tuscaloosa as an early enrollee who'll be available for spring practice. With that said, it would be quite an upset for a true freshman to win the starting quarterback job in Year 1.
Offense rebuilding
A second straight quarterback competition will be just part of the offensive rebuilding job. Of the 12 player listed as starters on Alabama's offensive depth chart, 10 will be gone if Yeldon and Cooper go pro. That includes three of the five offensive linemen, fullback
Jalston Fowler and top blocking tight end
Brian Vogler.
All three receivers would need replacing if Cooper leaves. The loss of Yeldon would be cushioned by the return of
Kenyan Drake from his broken leg.
But the spring will be an interesting time for an offense that recorded huge numbers, but will need to fill a majority of key stars.
And the defense?
The season didn't end well for the Alabama defensive 11. It allowed an average of 493 yards in the last three games after surrendering 283 in the previous 11 Saturdays.
Pass defense was especially suspect, but all five cornerbacks on the depth chart return. There's also former five-star
Marlon Humphrey who redshirted last season. The Tide also has commitments from five-star corners
Kendall Sheffield and
Minkah Fitzpatrick.
There will be a need at safety with
Nick Perry graduating and Collins a potential top-10 draft pick.
Jarrick Williams, who played the Star position is also graduating, though
Geno Smith moved into a more prominent role there.
The quarterback of the defense will also depart with senior
Trey DePriest, but there should be talent developing in the middle of the defense. The line will still be deep with nearly everyone expected to return.
Recruiting still solid
Well, that's still going well. Alabama is No. 1 in the
247Sports composite of recruiting services with five 5-stars among the 24 commitments. The Tide also tops the
Rivalsand
Scout team rankings.
The spring will also create opportunities for some of the rising sophomores who made the 2014 signing class the best on paper in years.
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