With spring practice kicking off, there is some actual news and quotes starting to seep out into the mediasphere. First up, we got an interview from coach DeBoer:
Speaking to reporters after he came off the practice field in Tuscaloosa Monday, DeBoer was asked what the winner of the competition will show him.
“It’s got to be a guy who can deliver the ball, command the huddle, command everything we do with the team,” DeBoer said. “That presence, that belief and confidence in your signal caller. It starts with a lot of that — just the belief. The belief comes because you’re making the throws and you’re getting the ball in a fashion where they can go make their plays and reap the rewards of all the work they’ve put in.”
This is pretty similar to what Nick Saban always said in QB battle years – essentially, confidence is king. The guy who can make the throws, be confident he’ll make those throws, and his teammates have that same confidence in him will be the guy.
And hey, AL.com even got us a couple of clips of the three QBs tossing the ball.
Alabama football fans are more concerned about depth at offensive tackle. When Kadyn Proctor returns, there will still be doubts about the right tackle slot. Even if Wilkin Formby is an improved player from last season and locks down the right tackle starting role, depth is a legitimate worry. On Monday Kalen DeBoer stated that redshirt sophomore Olaus Alinen and 5-star freshman, Michael Carroll would also work at multiple positions this spring, including tackle.
I think Michael Carroll could very well win the starting RT job just as well as he could win a guard job. He’s the kind of freshman that I don’t expect will be kept off the field. I’m also pretty interested in Alinen playing tackle, as he does have the body type, but we’ve seen so little of him so far.
DeBoer also gave us an injury run down, and this list may have been what contributed to his declaration of a “modified” A-Day this year.
The Tide also added one more offensive tackle as a transfer walk-on:
Offensive tackle Jayden Hobson was included on the Crimson Tide’s roster update shared by the school’s NIL collective, Yea Alabama, on Sunday. Hobson spent the 2024 season at South Alabama after beginning his collegiate career at Mississippi State. He did not see the field at either of his stops, redshirting in 2023. He will be a walk-on for the Crimson Tide.
After transferring to South Alabama in 2024, Hobson didn’t contribute to the Jaguars last year. He left the team in fall camp “with intentions to drop out of school and enter the workforce,” according to AL.com. But now, he will provide Alabama with needed depth.
A Tuscaloosa, Alabama native, Hobson committed to Mississippi State over South Miss, West Virginia and others after his senior season at Hillcrest High School. A 3-star recruit in the 2023 class, Hobson was rated as the 61st-best player in Alabama and the No. 103 offensive tackle, per the On3 Industry rankings. Before playing for coach Jamie Mitchell at Hillcrest in 2022, Hobson previously attended Paul W. Bryant High School, located in Tuscaloosa.
After playing for Mississippi State and then transferring to South Alabama, Hobson does at least have SEC-level practice field experience, and will be a good player to have rounding out the scout teams.
Out For Spring:
Alex Asparuhov, kicker/punter
David Bird, long-snapper
Bubba Hampton, receiver
Fatutoa Henry, defensive line
Domani Jackson, defensive back
Deontae Lawson, linebacker
Danny Lewis Jr., tight end
Keon Sabb, defensive back
Limited For Spring:
Justin Jefferson, linebacker
Kadyn Proctor, offensive line
James Smith, defensive line
This one is a pretty big list, but in a lot of cases, it gives some younger players a chance to shine. I’m very interested to see if freshman TE Marshall Pritchett can take advantage of Danny Lewis being out, and to see who steps up as the 3rd cornerback behind Domani Jackson.
Finally, DeBoer also talked a little about new OC, Ryan Grubb in a recent interview:
“It’s funny; I haven’t spent much time with him. We’ve been so busy. He’s trying to dive into getting the offense and the staff and getting to know the players. I’m busy doing things, too, with the team and a lot of engagements and meetings and so forth. I think this is Year 13 or 14. I’ve lost track now. But going back to 2007 when our first year was together. There’s been a break or two in between. But it’s someone I really trust. We see the game similarly.
“We’ve talked through — because we’ve been in the staff room together for so many years — the things that we value, what it takes to win, what it takes to be a great offense, how that all meshes and comes together. He’s going to put his stamp on it. I think the coaching staff this last year, led by Nick Sheridan as the OC, did a great job really in the transition. It’s hard being a first-year team, first-year coordinator, staff, coming together and putting it all in place and learning your personnel. They did a good job setting the stage, and I know Ryan is going to do an amazing job here taking it and continuing to move it forward. But yeah, he’s off and running.”
With a full year under him, a roster committed to him, and his original intended coaching staff, all signs point to DeBoer seeing legitimate improvement in year 2. Let’s hope that winds up being the case!
Roll Tide
