Projected spring ball depth on O:
Here is the breakdown of what Alabama's spring depth chart could look like on offense.
247sports.com
QUARTERBACK
Projected starter: Bryce Young
Reserves: Paul Tyson, Jalen Milroe
With Mac Jones turning pro, Alabama will have a new quarterback in 2021. There will be three scholarship signal-callers on campus this spring, but the only one that saw game action during the 2020 season was Young, which is why the former 5-star recruit is listed as the projected starter. Will he face competition? Of course. Tyson is entering his third year, while Milroe is an early enrollee. But Young should benefit from finally going through a spring season.
RUNNING BACK
Projected starter: Brian Robinson
Reserves: Trey Sanders, Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, Keilan Robinson, Kyle Edwards
The running back position also saw last year’s starter, Najee Harris, move onto the league. But the Crimson Tide’s second-most experienced back, Brian Robinson, chose to use an extra year of eligibility and should lead the backfield. There are questions surrounding Sanders (hip injury) and Keilan Robinson (2020 opt-out), but younger players like McClellan and Williams will take part in their first springs after combining for 42 carries as true freshman in 2020.
WIDE RECEIVER (X)
Projected starter: Javon Baker
Reserves: Traeshon Holden, Jacorey Brooks
Alabama has to replace its X receiver from last season, DeVonta Smith, which will be no easy task given the record-setting year for the Heisman Trophy winner. One player that made some noise in the preseason was Baker, but he didn’t contribute much as a freshman in 2020. Still, he has a prime opportunity to do that this season. The same can be said for Holden, who played in five games last year. Brooks will also be an early enrollee to watch in the spring.
WIDE RECEIVER (Z)
Projected starter: John Metchie
Reserves: Xavier Williams, Agiye Hall
Metchie stepped into the starting lineup at the Y position as a sophomore last season, and with Smith and Jaylen Waddle gone, the now-junior will be Alabama’s No. 1 receiver and lead a wide receiving corps looking for players to step up. Beyond Metchie, guys can move around in order to get on the field, including Williams who is entering his fourth year in the program. The oldest receiver on the roster, he could benefit greatly from a productive spring season.
WIDE RECEIVER (H)
Projected starter: Slade Bolden
Reserves: Thaiu Jones-Bell, Christian Leary
Waddle is also gone after starting three games during an injury-shortened season. A player that started as many games as the electric receiver/returner is Bolden, who figures to begin spring drills with the first-team offense. Jones-Bell didn’t primarily play in the slot as a freshman a year ago, but at 6-foot, he can line up there or split out wide. A newcomer that could contribute early out of the slot is Leary, who is one of three receivers that enrolled in January.
TIGHT END
Projected starter: Jahleel Billingsley
Reserves: Major Tennison, Cameron Latu, Caden Clark, Robbie Ouzts
Billingsley had a breakout season in 2020, and with both Miller Forristall and Carl Tucker not using an extra year of eligibility, the now-junior should be an even bigger piece to the offense in 2021. However, the Tide needs others to step up besides Billingsley. Tennison and Latu are in their fifth and fourth years, respectively, and could fill larger roles, starting this spring. UA also added two tight ends in Clark and Ouzts that could challenge their new teammates.
LEFT TACKLE
Projected starter: Evan Neal
Reserves: Javion Cohen, Dameion George
With Alex Leatherwood entering the draft, Alabama will need a new blindside protector, and it could be that Neal, who will be a junior, starts at his third position in three years. He could also stay at right tackle with another player filling in for Leatherwood, but history suggests Neal, a former 5-star recruit, will move to the opposite side of the line. Cohen and George both played as freshmen and could challenge for the tackle spot opposite Neal this spring.
LEFT GUARD
Projected starter: Tommy Brown
Reserves: Pierce Quick, Terrence Ferguson
Another starter that won’t be returning is Deonte Brown, who leaves behind big shoes to fill -- both literally and figuratively. But Alabama has several options at the interior positions. For now, we went with Tommy Brown, who is coming into his redshirt junior season and was listed as Brown’s backup in 2020. Others will be vying for the spot, including Quick who missed time due to injury last season. Ferguson is a talented newcomer that should compete, too.
CENTER
Projected starter: Chris Owens
Reserves: Darrian Dalcourt, James Brockermeyer
Landon ****erson will be difficult to replace both on and off the field, but the player that filled in for him in the Tide’s two College Football Playoff games was Owens. Owens elected to return for a sixth season and has plenty of first-team experience under his belt. He will likely be a part of the first-team offensive line, and center makes the most sense right now. But Dalcourt will push him at the position, as will James Brockermeyer, the top center in the 2021 class.
RIGHT GUARD
Projected starter: Emil Ekiyor
Reserves: Tanner Bowles, Seth McLaughlin
Ekiyor stepped into the starting lineup last year and started every game at right guard. If Neal does indeed move from right to left tackle, it makes sense for Ekiyor to stay put and help out the new starter at right tackle. Regardless of where he lines up, Ekiyor will be somewhere on the Crimson Tide’s 2020 offensive line. Both Bowles and McLaughlin will look to compete for more reps in spring drills after combining to play in six games as reserves last season.
RIGHT TACKLE
Projected starter: JC Latham / Tommy Brockermeyer
Reserves: Kendall Randolph, Amari Kight
4COMMENTS
While I wouldn’t be surprised to see Randolph at tackle, or even guard, with the first team to start spring drills, offensive tackle seems like the most likely position where a true freshman can make an immediate impact during the 2021 season. That’s because Alabama signed the top two tackles in the nation this past cycle in Latham and Tommy Brockermeyer, and Nick Saban has shown in the past that he isn’t afraid to plug a freshman into his starting five.