After NFL Draft departures, 23 players transferring out and six players transferring in, Alabama’s scholarship count unofficially sits at around 80 players, meaning there’s plenty of room for additions, whether that’s adding players currently in the transfer portal or in the post-spring practice portal window.

Several defensive players announced their intent to return over the past several days: Domani Jackson, Tim Keenan III, Deontae Lawson and LT Overton. Senior defensive lineman Jah-Marien Latham has another year of eligibility and could decide to return, too. That would mark 10 starters returning from the 2024 defense, with Jihaad Campbell and Malachi Moore being the only two departures.

Offensively, notable players who decided to forgo early NFL Draft entry include Parker Brailsford and Jam Miller. Six starters are expected to return.

The 9-4 record this fall was disappointing, but coach Kalen DeBoer, general manager Courtney Morgan and staff have had their share of wins in talent acquisition and retention entering year two. The amount of borderline NFL prospects who returned also speaks to Alabama’s growing NIL efforts, providing competitive offers to return while players try to raise their draft stock next season.

With that in mind, here’s a look at a projected offseason depth chart.

(Incoming players’ height, weight and recruiting rankings are via 247Sports.)

Quarterback (3)

Starter: Ty Simpson (6-2, 203, RS Jr.)
Backup: Austin Mack (6-6, 226, RS Soph.)
Incoming: Keelon Russell (6-3, 175, Fr.)

Who follows Jalen Milroe? It’s Alabama’s most pressing question, and college football is watching. The veteran Simpson is going to get the first opportunity to take control, but Mack technically has the most experience in DeBoer’s system, following him from Washington. The uber-talented Keelon Russell, who will need to add more weight to his frame, will get a look as well.

Beyond just who is the starter, how will Alabama’s passing game look different in 2025? Milroe’s 284 attempts in 2023 were the third-fewest in the Nick Saban era, but they only slightly increased this season (315 attempts). The QB roster is now made up of majority DeBoer-chosen prospects with Mack and Russell.

Running back (5)

Starters: Jam Miller (5-10, 218, Sr.)
Backup: Richard Young (5-11, 200, RS Soph.)
Depth: Daniel Hill (6-1, 241, Soph); Kevin Riley (5-11, 195, RS Fr.)
Incoming: Akylin Dear (6-1, 200, Fr.)

Miller’s 145 carries were the fewest number for a lead back at Alabama since 2017. Milroe’s rushing ability was the catalyst, and now that he’s departing, how will a more conventional running game factor into the offense in 2025? Miller returns as RB1, but the most exciting prospect is Young stepping into a bigger role. In limited touches this season (27 carries), he averaged 5.4 yards per carry with a few explosive runs.

There are already five backs, but Alabama isn’t opposed to adding more experience. The Tide have hosted a few players from the portal, most notably Utah State’s Rahsul Faison. Staying at five will allow for young players Hill, Riley and the incoming Dear to get a lot of spring reps, then the staff can re-evaluate the position entering the summer.

Wide receiver (10)

Starters: Germie Bernard (6-1, 209, Sr.); Ryan Williams (6-0, 175, Soph); Isaiah Horton (6-4, 205, RS Jr.)
Depth: Cole Adams (5-10, 181, RS Soph.); Jaylen Mbakwe (5-11, 192, Soph.); Rico Scott (6-0, 200, RS Fr.); Jalen Hale (6-1, 188, RS Soph.); Bubba Hampton (5-10, 194, RS Fr.)
Incoming: Derek Meadows (6-5, 200, Fr.); Lotzeir Brooks (5-9, 170, Fr.)

The top-line starters are encouraging. Bernard has proven extremely reliable, the projected year-two leap for Williams could spell another breakout and Horton coming in from Miami provides an experienced, big-bodied target that’s needed in this offense. The depth is the big question and will be one of the biggest storylines of spring practice.

How will Adams and Hale return from injury? How much of a jump can Mbakwe make with a full offseason and spring on offense? There’s also Scott, who the program is high on, will he have a breakout spring?

If most of these questions get positive responses, the receiving corps is in good shape. But don’t be surprised if Alabama’s looking for additional help in the post-spring window.

Tight end (5)

Starter: Josh Cuevas (6-3, 251, Sr.)
Depth: Danny Lewis Jr. (6-5, 255, RS Jr.); Jay Lindsey (6-5, 255, RS Fr.)
Incoming: Kaleb Edwards (6-6, 240, Fr.); Marshall Pritchett (6-5, 211, Fr.)

There’s a ton of experience exiting with CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts graduating, but Cuevas is more than capable as a starter. He averaged 13.6 yards per catch in limited chances (16 catches) and has deep knowledge of the system from Washington. Multiple tight ends are key in this offense, and Danny Lewis withdrawing from the portal was an underrated development. The redshirt junior is the only other tight end with game experience and was highly thought of by the coaching staff. Now there’s an opportunity to see a significant role after spending time behind several veterans.

“I do feel like that if there’s 10 or 15 kids that have really developed and come a long, long way since the first day we stepped on the field this spring, he’d certainly be one of them,” DeBoer said of Lewis during bowl prep.

Offensive line (13)

Starters: LT Kadyn Proctor (6-7, 360, Soph.); LG Geno VanDeMark (6-5, 333, Sr.); C Parker Brailsford (6-2, 290, RS Jr.); RG Jaeden Roberts (6-5, 310, Sr.); RT Wilkin Formby (6-7, 324, RS Soph.)
Depth: Olaus Alinen (6-6, 335, RS Soph.); Roq Montgomery (6-3, 337, RS Soph.); Joseph Ionata (6-5, 307, RS Fr.); Casey Poe (6-4, 322, RS Fr.); William Sanders (6-3, 309, RS Fr.)
Incoming: Kam Dewberry (6-4, 330, Sr.); Arkel Anugwom (6-6, 330, RS Soph.); Michael Carroll (6-6, 315, Fr.); Jackson Lloyd (6-7, 290, Fr.); Micah DeBose (6-5, 315, Fr.); Mal Waldrep (6-5, 320, Fr.)

There’s both optimism and concern.

The interior is in pretty good shape. Brailsford returns as an All-America candidate, VanDeMark and Roberts return as seniors, and Alabama signed Texas A&M guard Kam Dewberry, who’s a senior with 30 appearances and seven starts. There are several young players who’ve been in the program for multiple years. Also, Alabama signed one of the strongest high school offensive line groups in the country.

But there are questions about the play at tackle. Elijah Pritchett’s recent departure means Formby assumes starting right tackle opposite of Proctor. And there’s no experienced players to push either at the moment, the oldest tackle behind them is incoming Ball State transfer Anugwom, who has just four games of collegiate experience. The tackles were a weak spot this year and are a question entering spring practice. Both Proctor and Formby should take a step forward, but it’s a position that could use additional experience if available.

Defensive line (13)

Starters: Tim Keenan III (6-2, 326, Sr.); LT Overton (6-5, 283, Sr.)/Jah-Marien Latham (6-3, 275, Sr.); James Smith (6-3, 296, Jr.)
Depth: Edric Hill (6-3, 275, RS Soph.); Jordan Renaud (6-4, 268, RS Soph.); Keon Keeley (6-5, 277, RS Soph.); Jeremiah Beaman (6-4, 296, RS Fr.); Isaia Faga (6-2, 299, RS Fr.)
Incoming: Kelby Collins (6-4, 278, Jr.); Kevonte Henry (6-4, 220, Jr.); Steve Mboumoua (6-4, 290, Fr.); London Simmons (6-3, 295, Fr.)

This is an early candidate for deepest, strongest position group on the team. Alabama retained almost the entirety of its starters from last season, and Smith appears to be a budding star after a strong end to the 2024 season. Florida transfer Collins is an immediate impact player, then there’s Henry and Mboumoua coming in as experienced juco options. The ReliaQuest Bowl also provided reps for some young players who are ones to watch this spring such as Renaud and Keeley.

Outside linebacker (Wolf) – (4)

Starter: Qua Russaw (6-2, 251, RS Soph.)
Depth: Yhonzae Pierre (6-3, 239, RS Soph); Noah Carter (6-4, 242, RS Fr.)
Incoming: Justin Hill (6-3, 220, Fr.)

The attrition is noticeable. Russaw played pretty well in 2024, but it’s a group that needs more depth, and its growth is important for the defense, which lacked a consistent pass rush this season. The two sack leaders in Jihaad Campbell (5) and Que Robinson (4) have departed.

Russaw has proven to be a solid early-down run stopper. Can he take the leap as a pass rusher? Or perhaps someone else emerges. Whether it happens is the defense’s biggest storyline and will impact Alabama’s approach in the post-spring window.

Inside linebacker (8)

Starters: Deontae Lawson (6-2, 230, Sr.); Justin Jefferson (6-1, 228, Sr.)
Swing LB: Nikhai Hill-Green (6-2, 230, Sr.)
Depth: Cayden Jones (6-4, 232, Soph.); Quinton Reese (6-0, 221, RS Fr.)
Incoming: Darrell Johnson (6-1, 200, Fr.); Luke Metz (6-3, 220, Fr.); Abduall Sanders Jr. (6-2, 225, Fr.)

If it’s not the defensive line, no position benefited more from retention than inside linebacker. Lawson returns as an All-SEC caliber player, though he needs to recover from a leg injury, and Jefferson steps into a full-time starting role after a solid year as a rotation player. Alabama also added All-Big 12 performer Hill-Green from Colorado. The depth is very young, but the top-line starters are as good as any unit on the team.

Secondary (13)

Starters: CB — Domani Jackson (6-1, 200, Sr.); CB — Zabien Brown (6-0, 196, Soph.); Husky — DaShawn Jones (6-0, 185, Sr.); SS — Keon Sabb (6-1, 206, RS Jr.); FS — Bray Hubbard (6-2, 204, Jr.)
Depth: Zay Mincey (6-3, 204, Soph.); Red Morgan (6-0, 186, Soph.); Kameron Howard (5-11, 197, Jr.); Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. (6-0, 192, Fr.)
Incoming: Cameron Calhoun (6-0, 177, RS Soph.); Dijon Lee (6-4, 190, Fr.); Chuck McDonald (6-1, 190, Fr.); Ivan Taylor (6-0, 174, Fr.)

This was probably the most inexperienced position on the team a year ago, but now the confidence in this group should be pretty strong. Alabama returns four players who started extensively last season, and Jones proved to be a quality Husky (slot) down the stretch. Players such as Mincey, Morgan and Howard have starting experience, and the incoming haul is impressive as well — the biggest gets being cornerbacks Calhoun, who led Utah in pass deflections last season, and Lee, a five-star prospect.

With strong starters, quality depth and highly rated freshmen incoming, this group is in a strong spot.

Special teams (3)

Kicker – Conor Talty, RS Soph.
Punter – Blake Doud, RS Sr.; Alex Asparuhov, Fr.

It won’t get as much attention as other positions, but special teams is a huge question entering spring. Alabama will have to replace all three major starters at kicker, punter and long snapper. The Tide signed Cal long snapper David Bird, a rising junior, to replace Kneeland Hibbett.

Talty was a candidate to start last year, but after an inconsistent spring, Alabama signed Graham Nicholson. He returns a year later to try and seize the position. At punter, Alabama signed Doud out of Colorado School of Mines. He’s a two-time Division II All-American who was named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year this season with 13 punts of 50-plus yards and 19 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Behind him, Alabama signed Asparuhov, the No. 2 high school punter according to 247Sports.

(Photo of Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson: John Fisher / Getty Images)