Kalen DeBoer knows what A-Day means to the Alabama football fanbase. It’s why the Crimson Tide isn’t following in the footsteps of Texas, Nebraska and USC and outright canceling its spring game.
So Alabama football will host fans for a spring football event Saturday afternoon. A game? More like a practice, one that lets DeBoer “show off (his) guys and let (his) guys do their thing.”
But should that be cause for panic for the 2025 season?
To DeBoer, it’s not about the overarching storyline of college football teams using spring games as a transfer portal showcase – even with the Crimson Tide’s A-Day festivities not being televised Saturday.
To DeBoer, he said it’s about control. It’s about having the ability to stop things when he wants to, tinker when he wants to tinker and ensure quality reps over everything else.
But when talking about A-Day in late March and what “the game” itself would look like, control was not first on DeBoer’s mind.
“It’s just that we’re very careful,” DeBoer said.
And as Alabama’s spring practice schedule rolled along, it was clear why “careful” was the first thing on DeBoer’s mind.
Alabama football injury list proves too much for ‘spring game’
Alabama has been ravaged by injuries this spring.
On offense, it starts with tight end. Josh Cuevas, Danny Lewis and Marshall Pritchett have each had their spring shortened with injuries. And with reinforcements not arriving until the summer in freshman Kaleb Edwards, the Crimson Tide is down to five tight ends, only one of whom is a scholarship option: Jay Lindsey.
On the offensive line, Alabama has been without starting left tackle Kadyn Proctor, leading to a mishmash of players: from freshman guard Michael Carroll and freshman tackle Jackson Lloyd, to guard-turned-tackle Olaus Alinen and Ball State transfer Arkel Anugwom, filling in the gaps.
Add a “couple of nicks” to wide receiver Ryan Williams that will likely keep him out Saturday, and you have an offense that is projected to look much different on A-Day than it is expected to look this fall.
On defense, it’s the same story.
Projected starters Deontae Lawson, Domani Jackson, Keon Sabb, Justin Jefferson and James Smith are all either out or limited this spring, as are punter Alex Asparuhov and long snapper David Bird.
At some positions, the Crimson Tide has answers. Alabama has depth in the defensive backfield in players like Zavier Mincey, Dijon Lee, Ivan Taylor and Cameron Calhoun. But that is not the same across the board.
While Alabama is overflowing with options at wolf linebacker, the middle linebacker spots are sparse without Lawson and Jefferson. Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green and returners Cayden Jones and QB Reese are the only scholarship players that separate the Crimson Tide from true freshmen Luke Metz, Duke Johnson and Abduall Sanders Jr.
The same can be said on the interior of the defensive line. But as spring has continued, praise for players like Edric Hill and Kelby Collins, who is cross-training at both bandit and inside, has lessened the blow of Smith being limited.
Does Alabama have a depth problem?
Alabama can breath a sigh of relief.
Most of its spring injuries come at spots with proven starters or enough experience to project players as significant contributors come fall: left tackle, tight end, defensive tackle, Mike and Will linebacker, safety and cornerback. And because of spring, the Crimson Tide seems to be building much more depth than it would have had if it had a healthy roster.
But the question remains.
While Alabama is focused on position battles at left guard, at quarterback and husky, could the main question out of spring be if the Crimson Tide has enough depth to contend?
In the world of the transfer portal, it’s a question many programs across the country face. And at Alabama, it’s rearing its head especially on the offensive line and at both Will and Mike linebacker.
As the roster stands, Alabama doesn’t seem to have much room for error, something that seems clear to DeBoer as he prepares for a “very careful” A-Day.
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.
