TAMPA, Fla. — Alabama football returned to the practice field Saturday morning ahead of the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl.
The Crimson Tide continued its preparation for Michigan with kickoff coming at 11 a.m. CT Tuesday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Here's what we learned from Saturday's practice.
Alabama 's starting offensive line was accounted for Saturday morning.
After not practicing Friday, left tackle Kadyn Proctor was seen running reps with the first-team offensive line Saturday.
Proctor missed the first two games of the season with a shoulder injury. He returned for the Crimson Tide 's win against Wisconsin and played 606 snaps across 10 games per Pro Football Focus. He allowed two sacks, seven hurries and 11 pressures.
If Proctor is unable to play, Wilkin Formby is expected to slot into one of the tackle spots along with Elijah Pritchett.
Nothing has changed for Alabama quarterbacks ahead of the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl.
Each of Alabama's scholarship quarterbacks - Jalen Milroe , Ty Simpson and Austin Mack - were throwing to receivers Saturday. Milroe, whose status for the 2025 season is unknown, ran first-team reps with Simpson and Mack behind.
Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said Friday there were no changes to how he was handling quarterbacks ahead of the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan.
Simpson is widely viewed as the expected starting quarterback in 2025 if Milroe declares for the 2025 NFL draft.
Crimson Tide WR Jalen Hale, who missed the regular season with a knee injury, has returned to the practice field ahead of the ReliaQuest Bowl, but is not fully participating. Hale, wearing a black non-contact jersey, made a one-handed catch during individual drills. With four Alabama receivers entering the transfer portal this month, Hale's return to full health in spring practice will be a welcome sight for the UA coaching staff.
Between the absence of 14 players who left UA via the NCAA's winter transfer portal, injuries, a position change for cornerback Jaylen Mbakwe, and the early addition of a few members of coach Kalen DeBoer's 2025 signing class, Alabama already looks like a much different team than the one that beat Auburn 28-14 just one month ago. Mbakwe has been working at wide receiver in bowl practices, helping to offset the aforementioned shortage of players at the position. Meanwhile, defensive backs Zay Mincey and DaShawn Jones are the likely replacements for Malachi Moore (injured) and DeVonta Smith (transferred), at the free safety and Husky positions, respectively.
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: Alabama football practice before ReliaQuest Bowl vs Michigan: What we saw
