The departure of Alabama’s long-time head coach, Nick Saban, will undoubtedly be felt throughout Alabama and the Southeastern Conference. The acquisition of Kalen DeBoer should improve the Crimson Tide’s already formidable offensive onslaught. Last year, Alabama ranked 58th in the country in total offense, while DeBoer’s Washington Huskies were ranked 12th. The biggest thing to watch this spring will most likely be how DeBoer can boost Alabama’s offense. It will be intriguing to watch how successfully and soon coach DeBoer can apply his system with a completely different group of players than the one he put together at Washington.
Alabama Crimson Tide starter Jalen Milroe has a chance to develop even more under coach DeBoer.
With the return of Jalen Milroe, Alabama has a Heisman Trophy finalist for 2024. Milroe has 2,834 passing yards and 23 touchdowns last season. He rushed for 531 yards and twelve touchdowns. If anyone on this club has benefited directly from DeBoer’s method, it is Jalen Milroe. How effectively he learns a new approach will be critical, and the spring game provided an excellent opportunity to evaluate Milroe’s progress.
Jalen Milroe has been the starting quarterback all spring, but redshirt sophomore Ty Simpson is nipping at his heels. Milroe appeared in key running plays called by new coordinator Nick Sheridan during the spring game, as well as a pair of option handoffs. Simpson made several good throws but missed others, and his opening series included a dart to Cole Adams on one deep crosser and a near interception in double coverage the next snap. Some of the team’s most efficient plays were made using a jet-action move.
The attack suddenly slowed down when freshman Austin Mack arrived with walk-ons on both sides of the ball, and penalties ensued. Jalen Milroe went 3-for-9 for 100 yards in the spring game. Ty Simpson went 7-for-12 for 102 yards in the spring game. Dylan Lonergan and Austin Mack, the two quarterbacks, completed 14 of 21 passes for 100 yards. Now that we’ve taken a close look at the Alabama Crimson Tide’s quarterback situation, let’s move on to the running back and defense.
Alabama Crimson Tide Running Back Room and Defense for 2024.
While Milroe returns, the Alabama Crimson Tide is replacing almost all of its other talented players. This features all three starting wide outs and both of the team’s leading rushers from last season. Jase McClellan is off to the NFL, and Roydell Williams has moved to Florida State. That leaves a lot of uncertainty at the position, with junior Jam Miller, sophomore Justice Haynes, and redshirt freshman Richard Young all vying for touches under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. The trio combined for just 75 carries last season, but Alabama is still expected to prioritize running the football despite Nick Saban’s departure, thus any of these backs might emerge as RB1.
Let’s take a look at the defense under new coach Kane Wommack. Alabama supporters are underestimating the amount of great depth that remains on this Alabama defense, as the entire front seven returns. Alabama’s defensive line features seasoned players such as Tim Smith, Tim Keenan, James Smith, Jah-Merian, and Damon Dayne. Jihaad Campbell and Deaontae Lawson are both back at inside linebacker, while Quandarrius Robinson and Keanu Koht will provide excellent edge rush. Malachi Moore will roam safely, but after that, it’s mostly fresh faces.
Michigan transfer and true freshman Keon Sabb has likely locked down one of the safety positions, while true freshmen Red Morgan and Zabien Brown have had strong springs. Domani Jackson, a USC transfer, has locked down the first corner job, and while the talent exists, the young Alabama secondary lacks experience. The only issue with the Alabama Crimson Tide defense is that they no longer have coach Saban’s defense and defensive experience. He was the mastermind behind the Tide’s defensive dominance. We’ll see how well his former teammates handle the move to a new brain in 2024.
Who will catch passes for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2024?
Jermaine Burton, Alabama’s leading receiver last year, is entering the 2024 NFL Draft. Isaiah Bond, last year’s second-leading target, has transferred to Texas, as has top tight end Amari Niblack. This implies that someone must catch all of the passes that coach DeBoer will throw, but who will it be? So there’s Washington transfer Germie Bernard, who caught 34 passes for 419 yards and two scores last season. The highest returnee is Kobe Prentice, who has 18 receptions for 314 yards and two touchdowns.
Then there’s true freshman Ryan Williams, who is expected to be the long-term answer for the Tide but may also be the short-term answer. Jalen Hale, one of its expected players, suffered an injury during spring and may miss the season. DeBoer and wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard produced stars at the position during their time at Washington. The Alabama Crimson Tide will be responsible for producing a 1,000-yard receiver in Tuscaloosa for the first time since John Metchie in 2021.
