Alabama Post A-Day Defensive Projection

Alabama's spring football practice has come and gone, and Saturday's A-Day scrimmage provided a little bit of insight into what the Crimson Tide's opening day roster might look like. While the roster is not yet complete, the spring transfer portal window opens on Monday, April 15, Alabama will likely only take players who have legitimate starting experience and are able to provide an almost immediate impact on the gameday roster.

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Alabama has plenty of talented young players on the roster, but inexperience was one of the key talking points of Alabama's scrimmage. The defensive back room flashed with talent, but the lack of in-game experience appeared evident. Crimson Tide fans should not worry, however. The Tide are in good hands with defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, who brings head coaching experience from South Alabama. With the coaching staff having as much experience as they do, they should have the ability to coach the Crimson Tide to where they need to be in August. What could Alabama's defense look like on August 31 when Western Kentucky comes to Tuscaloosa?

DL

DL: Jehiem Oatis - #10
DL: Tim Keenan III- #96
DL: Tim Smith - #50

Oatis has not participated in spring practice due to a lingering lower-body injury from last season. Coach DeBoer talked about his status after A-Day, stating that had spring practice been pushed back a week, there was a decent chance he would have been ready to play. The lower-body injury hindered his performance last season, but his size alone demands some sort of a chip block or double team, which made life a little easier for Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell a season ago. This season, Quandarrius Robinson and Alabama's Bandit position player will look to take advantage of some one-on-one opportunities that Oatis could create. The Tims, Keenan and Smith, are both players who could take big leaps this season after being sturdy anchors along Alabama's front last season.

LB

Bandit: LT Overton - #22
Mike: Deontae Lawson - #0
Sting: Jihaad Campbell - #11
Wolf: Quandarrius Robinson - #34

This group is loaded with experience. Alabama is returning two players, Lawson and Campbell, who played significant snaps a season ago, which can help a young defense anchor themselves early. Robinson has been in the program for a few years now and got some experience as a third pass rusher a season ago. With the departures of Turner and Braswell to the NFL, Robinson is the next pass rusher expected to step up in a long list of talented edge defenders from Alabama. For the new Bandit position - think of a Justin Eboigbe type of defensive lineman. Not as big as some of the interior linemen, but not slim enough to quite play edge. LT Overton, Jah-Marien Latham, and Keon Keeley have been the primary competitors for that position. Overton brings the second most experience into that competition, with Latham being a redshirt senior. Both players could see significant snaps there, as Alabama has plenty of depth along the linebacking core and defensive line, pending who might leave in the transfer portal.

DB

CB: Domani Jackson - #1
CB: Zabien Brown - #15
Free Safety: Keon Sabb - #3
Husky: DeVonta Smith - #8
Rover: Malachi Moore - #13

Alabama returns just one player who played in the secondary last season following the departures of Kool-Aid McKinstry, Terrion Arnold, and Jaylen Key to the NFL. The transfer portal decimated Alabama's depth in the defensive backfield, with Caleb Downs, Trey Amos, Dezz Ricks, Antonio Kite, Jake Pope, Earl Little II, and Kristian Story all finding new homes. Still, Alabama's got depth at defensive back, but it is incredibly inexperienced. Malachi Moroe is the only returning player from a season ago who played, with DeVonta Smith rehabbing a lower-body injury for most of the season. Transfer additions Domani Jackson and Keon Sabb both bring starting experience with them, but Alabama is still hurting for experience at Husky and cornerback opposite Jackson. Additionally, if Alabama suffers any form of injury in the secondary, it will be tough to find experience anywhere on the roster. I expect Alabama to pursue some secondary depth in the transfer portal as well. The secondary is talented no doubt, but talent alone won't win you much on the SEC.

Special Teams

LS: Kneeland Hibbett - #48
Punter: James Burnip - #86
PK: Upton Bellenfant - #98

A-Day did not feature any punting from Burnip, but if he's anything like he was a season ago, there's little concern on that front. The big concern is who replaces Will Reichard, who held down the kicking for Alabama for five seasons. A-Day did not feature a ton of kicking either, but Talty did miss his one opportunity on Saturday. Bellenfant made his one attempt, as well as a couple of extra points. Coach DeBoer mentioned during spring practice that there was an open competition at kicker, and to the eyes of fans, Bellenfant took advantage of his opportunity on Saturday. I expect this competition to last well into Fall camp, which could give Talty a chance to settle the nerves and take control of the competition.