Spring Review: Alabama Crimson Tide

Spring practices have concluded across the Southeastern Conference. You kept a close eye on what was happening with Kentucky football, but how did the Wildcats’ opponents fare? KSR has everything you need to know from spring about the guys that will line up on the other side of the line of scrimmage this fall. Next up is the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Spring Review: Vanderbilt Commodores

Spring Review: Florida Gators

Spring Review: Georgia Bulldogs

Spring Review: Mississippi State Bulldogs

Spring Review: Missouri Tigers

QB problems in Tuscaloosa

Bryce Young just ended a historic career at Alabama that led to the Carolina Panthers trading up to select the former five-star recruit at No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Mac Jones (New England Patriots), Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins), and Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles) were the last three starting quarterbacks in Tuscaloosa before Young. Each has led their current NFL franchises to a playoff appearance.

Nick Saban has had an embarrassment of riches at quarterback since Jacob Coker was the last non-pro to play quarterback at Alabama in 2015. That historic run at the sport’s most important position feels over.

New offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has replaced Bill O’Brien at Alabama and he was tasked with finding the next QB1 at college football’s top program. Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson had a battle throughout spring camp. However, no starter emerged, and Bama grabbed Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner in the spring transfer portal.

Buchner left South Bend after the Irish brought in Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman. Who was the Notre Dame offensive coordinator that ran point on the Hartman recruitment? Look no further than Rees.

The young play-caller is telling us all that Notre Dame has a better QB situation than Alabama. That’s not a great place for this program with national championship aspirations to be. Over the summer, Rees has to figure out this situation, and it must happen fast. Texas is coming to Bryant-Denny Stadium in Week 2 with what appears to be a top-five roster in college football.

I’m sure Saban will love all of the QB battle questions he’ll receive at SEC Media Days and throughout fall camp until a starter is found.

First-year phenoms

After losing the championship belt to Texas A&M in the 2022 cycle, Nick Saban and Alabama quickly rebounded to grab yet another No. 1 recruiting class in 2023. The Crimson Tide signed 14 top-100 recruits plus the top wide receiver out of junior college. The Tide again owns a loaded roster filled with some rookies that can help right away.

Two made a big splash during spring practice and could open the season as starters for Alabama.

Top-50 tailback Justice Haynes was a monstrous recruiting win for the Tide. The Georgia legacy recruit surprised many when he committed to Saban’s program and he is wasting no time carving out a role in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama 5-Star RB signee Justice Haynes @justicehaynes6 breaks free for big run. pic.twitter.com/9ISSyFxnSV

— Touchdown Alabama Recruiting (@TDARecruiting) January 7, 2023

“Justice has had a great spring. He’s a really good player. He’s a really mature guy. He’s really smart. Nothing’s really too big for him,” Saban told reporters during spring practice. He goes out there and competes, and if you are just a guy sitting on a log watching, you would never know he’s a freshman.

Haynes and Jase McClellan could give the Alabama offense a nice one-two punch at tailback this fall.

On defense, Caleb Downs was a top-five prospect that Alabama pulled out of Georgia. The safety immediately made a big impact once on campus and received reps with the ones during spring practice. Don’t be surprised to see the rookie start and potentially make an All-SEC push this season.

There is a ton of talent on this roster. That is not changing after another strong recruiting haul. Summer enrollee Keon Keeley could also make an early push for playing time along the defensive front.

Brand new play-callers

Tommy Rees has arrived to run the offense in Tuscaloosa. After working for Brian Kelly and Marcus Freeman in South Bend, the 30-year-old former quarterback at Notre Dame is hoping to become the next Nick Saban assistant coach to find a head coaching job. Rees spent three years calling plays at Notre Dame but never had an offense finish inside the top 30 in yards per play and only once finished inside the top 20 in points per drive.

On defense, Saban reunited with Miami defensive coordinator Kevin Steele who previously had two different stints working under the head coach from 2007-08 and 2013-14. The 65-year-old Tennessee alum served as defensive coordinator at LSU (2015), Auburn (2016-20), and Miami (2022) in recent seasons. Steele is familiar with Saban and speaks the same language. This felt like a very safe hire by the Hall of Fame head coach.

There might not be a Lane Kiffin or Kirby Smart on the Alabama staff this year, but Saban appeared to bring in two safe coordinators with high floors into the program. Saban knows what he’s getting on defense, and Rees produced results in South Bend despite not ever having a great quarterback or wide receiver situation. Part of that is on him for not landing the talent via recruiting, but he’s been able to produce winning results behind strong offensive lines and outstanding tight end production.

If Alabama is going to make some more legitimate runs at national titles over the next few seasons, both of these new coordinators will need to deliver. Saban may have not hit home runs in the coaching carousel, but he may have connected on a pair of doubles.

Chasing Georgia

Alabama has won two national championships in the last six years. Only one other team has accomplished that. Unfortunately, that team is also in the SEC.

Georgia enters the 2023 champion as the defending SEC champs and two-time defending national champions. The Dawgs got the Alabama monkey off their backs when they defeated the Tide in the 2021 national championship game and never faced Alabama last year after Saban’s team failed to win the SEC West.

All of the momentum is with Georgia at the moment. Alabama appears to be chasing the best program in college football. That simply hasn’t been a thing since the Tide overtook Florida in 2009. However, Bama probably isn’t far behind.

Alabama continues to recruit better than any program in college football and just placed five players in On3’s top-100 rankings led by cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. Unfortunately, Georgia placed seven players and an easier schedule in 2023.

Add in the QB situation, and Alabama is in no doubt chase mode in its conference. That will likely remain a huge storyline throughout the season. Can the Tide catch the Dawgs? Or has the baton officially been passed?