Alabama football depth chart: Predicting the starters

Welcome to depth chart season. Specifically, Alabama football depth chart season in these parts.

Grab your crystal balls, put on your best prognosticator hats and let’s take a crack at trying to figure out who will start for the Crimson Tide and Kalen DeBoer in 2024.

It’s very much so subject to change as a result of fall camp. Sure, some spots are all but figured out with about a month until the season starts, but there are still some battles. Competition is alive and well in some spots.

Heading into fall camp set to start this week, here’s our prediction for the Alabama football depth chart for the 2024 season.

Quarterback

Starter: Jalen Milroe

Reserves: Ty Simpson, Dylan Lonergan, Austin Mack

Analysis: Outside of specialists, this is about as easy to predict as any position on the roster. Milroe is the guy and has a chance to thrive under DeBoer, new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan and offensive analyst Mitch Dahlen, a former collegiate quarterback who also worked with Michael Penix Jr. for two seasons.

Running back

Starters: Jam Miller, Justice Haynes

Reserves: Richard Young, Daniel Hill, Kevin Riley

Analysis: Get ready for the Jam and Justice show this season. Young is going to have a role in the offense too, though. Consider it a three-headed monster with Miller and Haynes leading the way.

Receiver

Starters: Germie Bernard, Kendrick Law, Ryan Williams

Reserves: Kobe Prentice, Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Caleb Odom, Cole Adams, Jaren Hamilton, Amari Jefferson, Bubba Hampton

Analysis: Williams might not start against Western Kentucky, but it seems inevitable he’s going to be a top weapon in the not-so-distant future. Not to put too high of expectations on Williams, but he’s got a chance to be a generational talent. Overall, expect a variety of players to have opportunities at receiver. It’s quite possible five or six receivers have a sizeable role in the offense.

Tight end

Starter: CJ Dippre

Reserves: Robbie Ouzts, Josh Cuevas, Danny Lewis, Ty Lockwood, Jay Lindsey

Analysis: Dippre could be a valuable target for Milroe, especially in intermediate throws. Washington had plenty of talented receivers in 2023, but tight end Jack Westover still caught 46 receptions for 433 yards and four scores.

Offensive line

Starters: Kadyn Proctor (left tackle), Tyler Booker (left guard), Parker Brailsford (center), Jaeden Roberts (right guard), Wilkin Formby (right tackle)

Reserves: Elijah Pritchett, Geno VanDeMark, Miles McVay, Naquil Betrand, Casey Poe, Roq Montgomery, Olaus Alinen, Joseph Ionata, William Sanders

Analysis: Proctor should regain the starting left tackle spot by the time the season starts. The main battle figures to be at right tackle between Formby and Pritchett, and the competition could continue into the season.

Defensive line

Starters: LT Overton or Jah-Marien Latham (Bandit), Tim Keenan III or Jehiem Oatis (nose guard), Tim Smith or James Smith (defensive tackle), Quandarrius Robinson or Keanu Koht (Wolf)

Reserves: Damon Payne Jr., Qua Russaw, Keon Keeley, Hunter Osborne, Jordan Renaud, Yhonzae Pierre, Isaia Faga, Jeremiah Beaman, Eric Hill, Noah Carter, Jayshawn Ross

Analysis: The “or” starter designation is necessary for the defensive line considering a rotation is expected. The group mentioned above as starters all have a chance to contribute and could very well end up in the starting lineup. The defense will have some different names under new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack. The nose guard and defensive tackle will be two down lineman, and these will be the types of players who would have worked as defensive lineman in Saban’s system. The Wolf will be a player similar to one who would have been an edge defender in the previous defense. Robinson and Koht figure to be the front runners there. Then the Bandit is a linebacker/defensive lineman hybrid. LT Overton and Jah-Marien Latham figure to get plenty of time in that spot.

Linebackers

Starters: Deontae Lawson (Mike), Jihaad Campbell (Stinger)

Reserves: Justin Jefferson, Justin Okoronkwo, Jeremiah Alexander, QB Reese, Cayden Jones, Sterling Dixon

Analysis: Lawson and Campbell are all but set to be the starters here. Campbell has a chance to continue his rise and dominate in Wommack’s defense. The key will be developing depth behind them in case Lawson and Campbell have to miss time with injuries.

Defensive backs

Starters: Malachi Moore (safety), Keon Sabb (safety), Domani Jackson (cornerback), DaShawn Jones (cornerback), DeVonta Smith (Husky)

Reserves: Red Morgan, Zabien Brown, Zavier Mincey, King Mack, Kameron Howard, Jaylen Mbakwe, Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., Bray Hubbard, Jahlil Hurley

Analysis: Moore will be the only returning starter from a secondary that has experienced almost a complete reset. Jackson and Jones have a good shot to get the starting nod at cornerback with their experience, but expect Brown and Mincey to get a chance to contribute in some way this season. Smith and Morgan each have a shot to man the Husky position, which is essentially the nickelback in Wommack’s defense.

Specialists

Starters: Graham Nicholson (kicker), James Burnip (punter), Kneeland Hibbett (long snapper)

Reserves: Conor Talty, Reid Schuback, Nick Serpa, Anderson Green, Tucker Cornelius

Analysis: Consider the starting lineup for specialists all but set. Burnip and Hibbett return, and Alabama added the kicker who received the top honor at his position a season ago in Nicholson. He beat out former Alabama kicker Will Reichard for the Lou Groza award.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.