After Alabama ended its football season on a high note in the Sugar Bowl, I’ve been asked more than a handful of times what my expectations for the 2023 season are. It’s not an out-of-bounds questions, as that’s where the mind races after the conclusion of one thing. It’s the beginning of another that gets the blood racing a little bit.
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So as far as what to expect, there are several ways one could go. In one sense, it’s way too early to formulate a full answer because the information is not complete just yet. Alabama signed a tremendously exalted recruiting class during the early signing period and could add to it in the February signing period with five-star cornerback Cormani McClain still weighing Miami (where he is currently verbally committed), Alabama (which has recruited him for a while) and Colorado (the nouveau riche destination with Deion Sanders).
There’s also the transfer portal to consider. The Crimson Tide already added one player in former Maryland tight end CJ Dippre, and they’ll be hosting more, as roster management never really stops.
The offensive line needs some depth, so that’s one place the program will likely look, but there are other areas too. In that spirit, here’s what the roster currently looks like, starting with the offense. Read the breakdown of the 2023 Alabama defense here.
Quarterback
Returning players: Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson
New additions: Eli Holstein, Dylan Lonergan
By far the question I’ve been asked the most is if Alabama will bring in a transfer quarterback. My stock answer: If the right quarterback were available, then yes. I don’t expect the Tide to take a quarterback just to take a quarterback for depth. If they were to take a transfer at the position, it would be one capable of competing for and winning the starting job. Honestly, that’s the position for every team unless they have an established starter returning. That’s just the nature of sustaining a program. Put it this way: How many programs would say no to Drake Maye if he were in the portal? Not many, if any.
Without knowing who will still enter the transfer portal this month or after spring practice, it’s tough to give a definitive yes or no. I’ll just say it all depends on who is available.
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If Nick Saban takes a transfer quarterback, it’s entirely plausible Alabama could lose both Milroe and Simpson, who might subsequently transfer. It’s a delicate line to walk, which is why if a team takes a quarterback through the portal, it better make darn sure he’s capable of playing at this level. If not, a team might lose what it already has.
As for handicapping the current roster, Milroe has the in-game experience edge, but some recent reports about Simpson have been promising. A lot of this depends on what happens with the offensive coordinator position. Milroe could have an offense tailored around his skill set. Simpson is the more pro-style quarterback, a style with which Alabama’s had success.
There’s been no news on Bill O’Brien. He’s been linked to the New England Patriots. The end of the regular season is this weekend, but the Patriots play the Bills and a win cliches them a playoff spot. In other words, there’s no way of knowing when we’ll know about O’Brien’s future in Tuscaloosa.
With Milroe, who will be a redshirt sophomore, Alabama has at least an idea of what he brings. He showed some excellent athleticism this season, including the run that likely saved the game against Arkansas.
👀👀👀 @JalenMilroe
pic.twitter.com/bf52zkoagr
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) October 1, 2022
For the season, he completed 58 percent of his passes (31-of-53) for 297 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. In his only game as a starter, against Texas A&M, he was 12-of-19 for 111 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He added 83 yards rushing on 17 attempts.
We simply haven’t seen enough of Simpson in game action yet, as he played 30 snaps in four games as a true freshman, preserving a redshirt.
Running back
Returning players: Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, Jamarion Miller
New additions: Justice Haynes, Richard Young
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McClellan is one of the most underrated backs in the SEC, and that’s because he’s never been the guy. He was the next back up after Jahmyr Gibbs, but he should be the first up in 2023 after rushing for 655 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. Williams is the tough-yardage getter, and though Miller didn’t get many opportunities as a freshman, he is a jolt of lightning when he gets the ball in his hands. He averaged 6.76 yards per attempt on 33 carries. He showed that explosiveness with a 38-yard run in the fourth quarter against Kansas State.
“It was great to be able to go out there and play in the Sugar Bowl, you know, make a great play, a great run,” Miller said in the locker room afterward.
He’s excited about his role in 2023, as well as how deep the group will be.
“Yeah, this (running back) room will always be great 24/7,” Miller said.
Where it gets difficult is projecting where the incoming running backs fit in. Both Haynes and Young — the No. 3 and No. 4 backs in the 247Sports Composite — are capable of pushing for contributing roles as first-year players. That is largely dependent on what the offense looks like. The more total carries, the more ways those carries can be divided. We’ll know more when they’ve scrimmaged a bit.
Jamarion Miller impressed on limited touches as a freshman. (Gary Cosby Jr. / USA Today)Offensive line
Returning starters: JC Latham, Seth McLaughlin, Tyler Booker
Returning players: Elijah Pritchett, Terrence Ferguson II, James Brockermeyer, Jaeden Roberts
New additions: Kadyn Proctor, Wilkin Formby, Olaus Alinen, Miles McVay, RyQueze McElderry
An initial projection of the offensive line shows that Alabama seems to be in a very good place. That with a caveat that depth is still an issue. The way things stand, the team is scheduled to have 12 offensive lineman for the 2023 season. That number has to go up, with the only remedies being the second signing period — it doesn’t appear as of right now that the team will add any players — and the transfer portal.
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Going through the portal seems the most likely, though it does come with challenges. Most players go in the portal because they aren’t pleased with their current role in their current program. Alabama would welcome any starter-level offensive linemen, but it has options for starters. What it needs is depth. So are there any linemen available who would want to come in to help with depth? It’s still Alabama, and there are advantages to being in the program, even if a starting-caliber player would be more realistic.
Let’s take a stab at projecting the contributors. Latham did a really nice job in 2022, so he’ll be a starter at one of the tackle spots. McLaughlin will likely be the guy at center. Booker is a really impressive player and will move into a starting role at guard — he was effectively already a starter in terms of playing time. That leaves two spots open, one of which is likely Pritchett, probably at one of the tackle spots.
The last spot would be a big one. Literally: The late flip of the five-star Proctor from Iowa was a big addition. I imagine Alabama will work him at multiple spots, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him start out at guard his freshman season. That’s the positive thing about the 12 players currently in the loop. The Tide have options, but they need some more depth.
Wide receiver/tight end
Returning wide receivers: Jermaine Burton, Ja’Corey Brooks, Kobe Prentice, Isaiah Bond, Kendrick Law, Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Shazz Preston, Tyler Harrell, Thaiu Jones-Bell
New WR additions: Jalen Hale, Malik Benson, Jaren Hamilton, Cole Adams
Returning tight ends: Robbie Ouzts, Amari Niblack, Elijah Brown, Danny Lewis Jr., Miles Kitselman
New TE additions: Ty Lockwood, CJ Dippre
The lack of consistency of the wide receivers was the talk of the 2022 season. But the people I talk to inside the program are very optimistic about the future of the young players, even after the departure of Aaron Anderson to LSU. You can see why, including the speed Prentice showed in the Sugar Bowl:
5 PASSING TOUCHDOWN 👀👀@_bryce_young ▶️ @showtime1kp
📺 @espn pic.twitter.com/Xh5WrCNDpm
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) December 31, 2022
Alabama likes the potential of Henderson. Bond also scored in the Sugar Bowl. We haven’t seen much yet from Preston, though he showed a good work ethic in working out with former Tide star DeVonta Smith last offseason. Law battled injuries his freshman season, but the coaches are excited about him too. Six of his eight receptions came after he returned from injury.
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Brooks has showed the ability to make plays, but it’s time for him to assert himself as the leader of the group next year. Burton made some great plays in the Sugar Bowl and showed the talent that brought him to Alabama from Georgia.
As for the newcomers, one of the top junior college players in the country is already on campus and turning heads. Benson was faring well against the defense during bowl practices, I was told. That’s an exciting development. The A-Day spring game, which was recently announced for April 22, can’t come soon enough.
For the tight ends, losing Cameron Latu is a blow. Niblack has receiver type skills, and I expect to see more of him going forward. The Maryland transfer Dippre comes in after he had 30 receptions for 314 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore. Alabama doesn’t usually bring in transfer players unless it has a carved-out role ready for them to compete.
(Top photo of Jalen Milroe and Nick Saban: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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