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Which Alabama football players face make-or-break spring practices? Five to watch
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- Which Alabama football players face make-or-break spring practices? Five to watch
Depth chart spots may not be finalized in Alabama football spring ball. But the dominoes of certain position groups will likely start to fall.
As the Crimson Tide begins its spring workouts Monday, culminating in the A-Day spring game April 12 at Bryant-Denny Stadium, many players look to make that next leap with a season opener against Florida State looming Aug. 30.
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Which Alabama players are facing make-or-break springs ahead of Kalen DeBoer's second season? Here are five players to watch.
Why Ty Simpson has a massive spring ahead for Alabama football
Ty Simpson enters spring as the heir apparent to Jalen Milroe . But that doesn't mean that the Alabama starting quarterback job is decided.
Simpson has the most experience of anyone in the room heading into 2025, which isn't much: 50 career pass attempts, 511 combined passing and rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. The former five-star quarterback has waited his turn, sitting behind both Milroe and Bryce Young . But the job isn't guaranteed with Austin Mack , a former Washington quarterback hand-picked by both DeBoer and new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb , and five-star freshman Keelon Russell waiting in the wings.
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Spring ball starts a quarterback battle. It's the time for Simpson to start building his case to be the first Alabama quarterback behind center Aug. 30 at Florida State .
Does Jam Miller have a lot to prove as Alabama running back?
Apr 13, 2024; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama running back Jam Miller (26) breaks away from tacklers during the A-Day scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports
No matter who ends up as Alabama's starting quarterback, it will be difficult to fill the shoes of Milroe in the run game, who served as the Crimson Tide 's leading rusher and leading scorer in the run game last season.
Heading into spring, Jam Miller is expected to be at the top of Alabama's depth chart at running back as the program's lead running back from 2024. But late-season struggles may have closed the gap between Miller and Richard Young , incoming Louisiana transfer Dre'lyn Washington or even incoming four-star freshman Akylin Dear .
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Alabama needs a run game in 2025, one that could serve as a security blanket for an offense with a new quarterback. It could be one of the most important factors for success for the Crimson Tide as a whole. Miller now has the chance to solidify his place as the top RB.
What's next for Keon Keeley at Alabama?
Alabama fans have not seen much of Keon Keeley across his two seasons with the Crimson Tide.
After redshirting as a freshman in 2023 and playing 24 snaps across five games in 2024 per Pro Football Focus — never playing more than eight snaps in a game — Keeley has been relatively non-existent for the Crimson Tide.
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Part of that may be Keeley's fit, moving to the defensive line before 2024, and likely finding a home at Bandit with LT Overton, Jordan Renaud and Florida transfer Kelby Collins in 2025. Could Keeley have a chance to succeed at Alabama in 2025? Or will it be another season in which Crimson Tide fans discuss what could have been with the former five-star?
Why Alabama OT Wilkin Formby has a big spring ahead
Wilkin Formby's position on the Alabama offensive line seems more set in stone than at this time a year ago.
One season ago, Formby and Elijah Pritchett competed for right tackle reps, a battle Pritchett won. Now, Pritchett is at Nebraska and Formby is at the front of the line without much depth behind him.
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Alabama did add Arkel Anugwom from Ball State via the transfer portal, who appeared sparingly in 2024, along with multiple tackles in the 2025 recruiting class. But the Crimson Tide doesn't have a tackle that is seemingly pushing Formby for playing time. Formby's spring will be a significant indicator of where Alabama stands on its offensive line, whether it will be a point of strength or a weak spot that could lead to outside help in the upcoming transfer portal window.
Can Rico Scott break through in Alabama passing game?
Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Rico Scott (11) leaps over wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) and Michigan Wolverines defensive back Zeke Berry (10) during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Alabama has seen what Rico Scott could be, taking a 31-yard pass from Austin Mack for a touchdown in the Crimson Tide's drubbing of Mercer in 2024.
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But Alabama did not really need a third receiver in 2024, mainly using Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard as Jalen Milroe 's two main targets, amounting for more than 47% of the team's total targets, per PFF, more than 54% of the team's total yards receiving and more than 62% of the team's total touchdowns.
Even just this offseason, with the losses of Kendrick Law ( Kentucky ), Kobe Prentice (Baylor) and Caleb Odom ( Ole Miss ), Alabama's wide receiver depth grew, adding Miami transfer Isaiah Horton along with the return of Cole Adams and Jalen Hale from season-ending injuries in 2024 and the supposed addition of Jaylen Mbakwe from the cornerback room.
Where does that leave Scott? The hierarchy of the wide receiver room and Scott's place in it may start to be seen in the spring.
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 players face make-or-break spring practices?
