In 2024, Ryan Williams and Zabien Brown were Alabama football's breakout freshmen stars, quickly becoming staples in the Crimson Tide's starting lineup.
As 2025 nears, as Alabama secures its 2025 recruiting class that includes three five-star signees and eight players ranked in the top-60 nationally, the Crimson Tide could have a few options as to who Williams and Brown could pass the baton to Aug. 30 at Florida State .
Here are five Alabama freshman that could see playing time early for the Crimson Tide as true freshmen.
The five-star freshman out of IMG Academy would be hard to keep off the field anyway, joining the class as a 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive lineman who was the No. 1 interior lineman in the 2025 class, but has the body to play tackle.
But in 2025, Michael Carroll's path to playing time is much clearer. Alabama enters the spring without much depth at either guard spot, adding Texas A&M transfer Kam Dewberry to potentially fill Tyler Booker's shoes on the left side. The Crimson Tide doesn't have much depth behind Wilkin Formby at right tackle, a position battle Formby lost heading into the 2024 season.
It seems like it won't take long for Carroll to find his way into Alabama's starting five.
Alabama is not afraid to play freshmen cornerbacks. Brown started alongside Domani Jackson in 2024. Dijon Lee may be that next freshman in line.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound freshman was a tackle machine at Mission Viejo High School in California , one who found ways to make plays even if quarterbacks were not throwing in his direction.
There is a bit of a logjam at corner for the Crimson Tide in 2025, with two solidified starters, and a veteran addition in Utah transfer Cameron Calhoun . But Lee is an athlete that could find his way into Alabama's defensive backs rotation based on ability alone.
Alabama has two solidified starters at safety heading into 2025 with Bray Hubbard and Keon Sabb . But behind Sabb and Hubbard, playing time is seemingly up for grabs, with returning players like Zavier Mincey , Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. and Kameron Howard .
That's where Ivan Taylor comes in, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound, top-60 safety out of Winter Garden, Florida, a player who's been working out with the Crimson Tide since its ReliaQuest Bowl practices.
Taylor has the chance to be next in line on the Alabama safety depth chart when the 2025 season opener kicks off.
Alabama's running back room seems set in 2025.
Heading into spring, Jam Miller is at the top of the depth chart, with Richard Young and Louisiana transfer Dre'lyn Washington falling closely behind. But AK Dea r, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound Mississippi four-star, could easily make his way to that rotation as the second-ranked running back in the 2025 class.
Dear could be Alabama's future at the running back position, a future that could start sooner rather than later for the true freshman.
Duke Johnson is coming into Alabama as a middle linebacker. But the Crimson Tide staff views him as a positionless weapon for the defense, one who played five different positions in high school from defensive line and true linebacker to defensive back.
Johnson, who has been with the Crimson Tide since its ReliaQuest Bowl practice, could be a plug-and-play contributor based on production needs on Alabama's defense, a versatility piece that could be hard to keep low on the depth chart no matter how much experience is ahead of him.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Which Alabama football 2025 signees could make an instant impact?
