Will Josh Cuevas, Jam Miller, LT Overton play against Oklahoma? What Kalen DeBoer said

Alabama football will be healthier and likely have several starters back for the College Football Playoff.

A handful of starters missed the SEC Championship Game: running back Jam Miller, tight end Josh Cuevas, left guard Kam Dewberry and defensive lineman LT Overton

“I’m optimistic on a lot of these guys,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Sunday.

No. 9 seed Alabama will face No. 8 seed Oklahoma on Friday, Dec. 19 in Norman, Oklahoma in the first round.

“Jam I feel is probably the farthest along, if I really kind of put that in order,” DeBoer said. “I feel really that he’s got a really strong chance of being not just available but ready to go at a level he can compete and do some good things for us.”

Miller leads Alabama with 123 carries for 493 yards and three touchdowns. His pass blocking is also helpful. Miller was seen in a medical boot at the game in Atlanta.

“And Josh would be, he’s on his way,” DeBoer said Sunday. “Kind of just got to keep evaluating with him. I’m holding on to some pretty good hope, but we’ll see. He hasn’t seen our training staff yet today, but every day here now, the next four or five days, they all matter.”

Cuevas became one of quarterback Ty Simpson’s most reliable targets this season before he was injured following the Oklahoma game. He’s missed the past three games with a lower-body injury. Prior to his junior, he caught 30 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns. Cuevas was also wearing a medical boot during the SEC Championship Game.

“Then we’ll continue to evaluate just where LT’s at,” DeBoer said. “And add Kelby Collins to the mix there too with some of their illnesses and stuff like that, that they’re going through.”

Overton was spotted in normal clothes on the sideline at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. Overton is second on the team with four sacks this season. He also has tallied 33 tackles.

As for Dewberry, the primary starter at left guard this season, DeBoer said postgame he expects Dewberry bak

“So many guys in the last two to three weeks have, even go back to the Oklahoma game, a number of our guys got dinged up,” DeBoer said. “Just grinding through it. Some of the guys, I don’t think, if it was someone else, they probably wouldn’t have played. But our guys wanted to get out there last night and compete and help the team out.”