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The Tuscaloosa News
Which members of Alabama football 2025 recruiting class will play most?
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Which members of Alabama football 2025 recruiting class will play most?
With spring practice coming quickly for Alabama football , members of the Crimson Tide will soon get their first tastes of what football in Tuscaloosa is like.
In the 2025 recruiting cycle, the first under coach Kalen DeBoer , Alabama continued its recruiting prowess with the No. 3 class nationally behind Texas and Georgia, landing three five-star players and seven top-100 players.
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Which members of Alabama's 2025 class could see the field first after spring and into the fall starting with the Crimson Tide 's season opener at Florida State Aug. 30?
Here's a list of the Alabama freshman class based on potential playing time in 2025.
OL Michael Carroll
Offensive lineman Michael Carroll (#64) during practice on Friday, Aug. 2, 2024 on IMG Academy Football Media Day in Bradenton, Florida.
Alabama sees Michael Carroll as its next Tyler Booker , a player who found his way into the Crimson Tide 's offensive line rotation in his first season and earned freshman All-American honors. Expect Carroll to have a similar opportunity at both guard spots in the spring and heading into his first fall camp.
SAF Ivan Taylor
Alabama comes into spring with a logjam at safety. Both starting spots are seemingly set with Keon Sabb and Bray Hubbard . But after Zavier Mincey , the Crimson Tide doesn't have much depth. In comes Ivan Taylor , the son of an NFL player who has been with the program since bowl practice after flipping his commitment from Michigan . Expect Taylor to be one of, if not the first freshman on defense to make a splash whether it's at safety or Husky.
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QB Keelon Russell
The crown jewel of Alabama's 2025 recruiting class, Keelon Russell is the quarterback of the future for the Crimson Tide. He, very well, could get reps in 2025. But with Ty Simpson as the apparent starter and Austin Mack , with more experience, behind him, Russell's likely path is waiting a year before the offense is entirely his.
P Alex Asparuhov
Alabama did add a punter through the transfer portal in Colorado School of Mines ' Blake Doud, who could be a security blanket for the 2025 season. But Alext Asparuhov may very well have the chance this spring to win the Crimson Tide's starting punter job outright.
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DB DIjon Lee
Dijon Lee's path to the top of the Alabama depth chart may seem tumultuous, with two set starting corners and another depth piece added via the transfer portal in Cameron Calhoun . But Lee falls in the category of "too good to leave off the field." Expect Lee to jump up the depth chart as a true freshman.
DL Steve Mboumoua
After projected starters Tim Keenan III and James Smith , the interior of Alabama's defensive line is a massive question mark. Here's where Steve Mboumoua could step in. Originally a member of the Crimson Tide's 2024 class, Mboumoua spent a season in junior college, which could play a massive role in terms of his path to playing time. With more experience than most in his position, Mboumoua could be tasked with reps immediately.
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RB Akylin Dear
Quitman running back Akylin Dear, photographed in Ridgeland, Miss., Aug. 10, 2024, is a member of the 2024 Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen.
Running back is in an interesting position for Alabama heading into 2025. Jam Miller didn't look like a dominant force late in 2024. The Crimson Tide seemingly plans to patch the loss of Justice Haynes with Richard Young and Louisiana transfer Dre'lyn Washington . But the path for Akylin Dear to significant reps doesn't seem that long as the second-ranked running back in the 2025 class.
WR Derek Meadows
What Derek Meadows brings to Alabama is something he doesn't share with many other members of the Crimson Tide wide receiver room. Meadows, at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, could instantly become a deep threat in the passing game, bigger than even Miami transfer Isaiah Horton, who is expected to be the long-ball threat in 2025. If Alabama needs a different look in the passing game, Meadows may be the guy.
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DL Kevonte Henry
Kevonte Henry has experience on his side as a former defensive lineman at Oklahoma who has recently been dominating the junior college ranks. But his path to playing time seems slim, especially at Bandit with both LT Overton and Florida transfer Kelby Collins in front of him, along with players like Jordan Renaud and Keon Keeley . Wolf linebacker could also be in play for Henry.
OT Jackson Lloyd
Jackson Lloyd is built like a high-performing offensive tackle. Arriving in January, Alabama is looking to transform the former three-sport athlete into the tackle of the Crimson Tide's future. The process may have to be a bit rushed. Behind Kadyn Proctor and Wilkin Formby , the Crimson Tide does not have much depth at tackle.
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LB Justin Hill
Winton Woods' Justin Hill (8) tackles Kings wide receiver Nate Lyman (3) during the Warriors' 19-5 win Friday, Aug. 30, 2024.
Alabama has its share of younger talent at Wolf linebacker, from Qua Russaw and Yhonzae Pierre to Noah Carter . Justin Hill has been with the program since ReliaQuest Bowl practices. He's seen the ins and outs of the Wolf position, what made him choose the Crimson Tide in the first place. Expect Hill to be the first of the four-man 2025 linebacker class to make noise.
LB Duke Johnson
Versatility is on Duke Johnson's side, taking high school reps at multiple linebacker, defensive back and defensive line spots. Joining the room as a middle linebacker, Johnson is the kind of player that Kane Wommack and the Crimson Tide will use spring to find a place for and could make an impact at a plethora of spots.
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OT Micah DeBose
Like Lloyd before him, Micah DeBose doesn't have much between him and Alabama playing time. Alabama added Ball State transfer tackle Arkel Anugwom and still has Olaus Alinen as a potential tackle option. But any injury could easily force DeBose into the two-deep.
WR Lotzeir Brooks
Lotzeir Brooks was a record-breaker in New Jersey high school football. To DeBoer and the Alabama staff, it doesn't matter where a player comes from. Numbers are numbers. Brooks is a player the Crimson Tide is incredibly excited about. But in a crowded receiver room, Brooks will have to work to gain reps.
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DB Chuck McDonald
Alabama continued its top-notch defensive backs recruiting with the combination of Lee and Chuck McDonald . With a crowded cornerbacks room, and with Lee early enrolled, expect McDonald to have a slower path to the front of the depth chart come fall camp.
LB Luke Metz
To Alabama, Luke Metz is a prototypical Will linebacker like Deontae Lawson . With Lawson back and Nikhai Hill-Green in the fold blocking younger linebackers like Cayden Jones and QB Reese , Metz's time for reps may not come in 2025.
LB Abduall Sanders Jr.
Another Wolf candidate for Alabama football , Abduall Sanders Jr. should be expected to be behind Hill at the start of spring based on the Ohio four-star's arrival during ReliaQuest Bowl prep.
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TE Kaleb Edwards
Kaleb Edwards has the size when it comes to an Alabama tight end, coming in at 6-foot-6, 255 points. He was both a pass catcher and an in-line blocker, both of which could be valuable for a Crimson Tide offense without a secure No. 2 tight end. What's not on Edwards' side? Alabama's view of freshmen tight ends, and the fact that he will arrive in the summer.
OL Mal Waldrep
A four-star in-state offensive tackle prospect, Mal Waldrep will have a better idea of where his path at Alabama lands through spring and into fall, whether it's at tackle or a move to the inside. Playing major Alabama high school football helps, but Waldrep should not see much of the field in 2025, if at all.
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DL London Simmons
London Simmons dominated Mississippi high school football. But with Mboumoua in the class with a year of junior college under his belt, expect Simmons to develop for most of his freshman season away from the field.
TE Marshall Pritchett
Alabama doesn't play freshmen at tight end much. It's a developmental spot tasked with a number of assignments. And Marshall Pritchett should be viewed in that same mold, especially as a catch-first option behind Josh Cuevas and Danny Lewis Jr. who is coming off offseason surgery after an injury in the Under Armour All-American game.
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: Ranking Alabama football 2025 class based on potential playing time
