With Jalen Milroe off to the NFL, Alabama football needs to find a new quarterback for the 2025 season. That won’t be the only change to the Crimson Tide offense in his absence, as Milroe led the team in rushing as well as passing yards.

 

None of the three competitors, Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, are as mobile as Milroe. According to UA head coach Kalen DeBoer, the offense will look different this coming season.

 

“You kind of think, ‘Well, the runs Jalen had just translate over to running backs,’” DeBoer told reporters Tuesday in Tuscaloosa. “But I think a lot of it was a style of offense too. To me, those runs should go to the running backs, but they also might be a few more pass attempts that you have, that the play-action game gets opened up by, with more handoffs to the tailbacks.

 

“I see a lot of that developing right now with the play-action game, because there are more carries that the running backs have. The system is the same, the concepts are the same, it’s just what direction, you call more plays when it comes to the style of runs, which are definitely more tailback-oriented right now, for sure, than what we saw a year ago.”

 

Jam Miller returns to his role as the top running back for the Crimson Tide. Behind him, Justice Haynes transferred to Michigan, so Richard Young is expected to take more carries.

 

Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley are also back after playing reserve roles last year, and will be joined by freshman AK Dear. Dre Washington joins the room as well, after he transferred into Alabama from Louisiana.

 

DeBoer said the running back group dealt with injuries last season, so he was seeing things for the first time from some of the players at the position. He broke down the group, beginning with praise for Miller’s presence.

 

“We know what Jam can do, you guys know as well and have seen a lot of him,” DeBoer said. “He continues to just work, whether it’s in the weight room here in the offseason. And then just a new quarterback, do his thing there. Most of the stuff is the same, but even a few little things that we’re doing differently just to fit him in the offense.”

 

Washington’s addition provides another veteran presence at running back for Alabama. He rushed for 478 yards and five touchdowns last season for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

 

DeBoer described the 5-foot-9, 218-pound redshirt senior’s game.

 

“I think he’s a little combination of, kind of, all the guys,” DeBoer said. “Kevin’s probably our shiftiest, kind of the explosive guy on the roster. Dre is compact, much like you would maybe we with Daniel and Rich, but has got some shiftiness to him. I like his mindset, he just comes here ready to work, knows he’s got a lot to learn and focused on what he can control.”

 

Alabama returned to the practice field Tuesday after pausing spring practice due to spring break. The Crimson Tide will continue spring ball through April 12, when it will play the annual A-Day game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

 

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman James Smith (23) celebrates after a missed Auburn Tigers field goal attempt during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

 

James Smith has many Alabama football fans excited about his potential ahead of his third season with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

 

Smith is a junior for the Alabama Crimson Tide and a former five-star prospect.

 

The Montgomery, Alabama native played in all 13 games for Alabama last season, finishing the year with 20 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack and five quarterback hurries. His best game was against Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl when he had four tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.

 

Alabama defensive lineman, LT Overton feels the energy Smith brings to the table is contagious.

 

“James is a hell of a player,” Overton said. “Just talking about somebody with motor, that’s going to be James. When James getting hyped, the whole defense getting hyped. So like him just being out there on that field really is a big impact. I don’t think he realizes how much of an impact he is.”

 

The Tide’s defensive coordinator Kane Wommack commented on Smith taking a bigger role last week.

 

“I think you saw guys that started taking steps in the bowl game against Michigan,” Wommack said, “I thought certainly James Smith had a great game and is going to take more of a central role for us moving forward.”

 

Smith is expected to be a major part of a good Alabama defensive front in 2025.

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Allen of Alabama Released by Commanders: Roll Call, March 8, 2025

Your daily update on Alabama Athletics, including full TV coverage
Sept 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (93) plays against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Sept 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen (93) plays against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Former Alabama defensive lineman Jonathan Allen was released by the Washington Commanders on Friday. After requesting a trade last week, the Commanders chose a different path to save salary cap space.

Allen, 30, was selected by Washington as the 17th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and has been a key figure for the team ever since. A two-time Pro Bowler, Allen ranks 10th on the Commanders’ all-time sack list with 42 and second in franchise history in tackles for loss (60) and quarterback hits (118).

Allen made the news official through a thank you post on Instagram:

“It’s never easy to say goodbye,” Allen shared. “This franchise is all I’ve known. It’s been a part of me long before I was drafted here. This place has always felt like home, and I’ve embraced everything about representing the Washington Commanders on and off the field. Through all the highs and lows, I’ll forever be grateful for the chance this team gave me in 2017 as a 22-year-old. Trust me, I’ll never forget that.

“It’s been the greatest honor of my life to wear ‘Washington’ on my chest for eight years. It’s something special, if you know, you know.

“Hannah and I have been surrounded by so much love since we moved here. The friends we’ve made have become family, and we’ll cherish these memories forever. Our relationships are everything.

“To every coach and teammate I’ve had, I’ve given this game everything I have. I’m thankful for everything I’ve learned along the way. I’ll never forget this journey we’ve all shared.

“All I’ve ever wanted was to WIN here. This fanbase deserves it, this organization deserves it, and last season was just the beginning!

“With love, Jon Allen”

Today’s Crimson Tide Schedule:
Men’s Golf at The Hayt, All Day, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Swimming and Diving at NCAA Zone Championships, All Day, Auburn, Ala.
Men’s Tennis at Arkansas, 12 p.m. CT, Fayetteville, Ark., Watch

Did You Know?
Alabama football is adding Tevin Madison as a defensive backs assistant. Madison, a former Kansas State graduate assistant, previously worked as a defensive backs coach at Illinois State.
The Detroit Lions currently have four starters from Alabama: running back Jahmyr Gibbs, wide receiver Jameson Williams, cornerback Terrion Arnold, and safety Brian Branch. Alabama 2025 NFL Draft prospects Jalen Milroe, Malachi Moore, Tim Smith, CJ Dippre, Robbie Ouzts, and Que Robinson spoke about the quartet.
Alabama football will host three high school camps, a kicking camp, and a youth camp this summer. Register for the dates between June 2-21 via this link.
Alabama football took part in Read Across America at a local elementary school.

Countdown to the Crimson Tide’s 2025 Football Season Opener:
175 days

On This Day in Crimson Tide History:
March 8, 1982: Over 1,000 people, including many of Paul W. “Bear” Bryant’s former players, attended a $125-a-plate black-tie dinner at the Sheraton Hotel in Washington, D.C., honoring the legendary coach. In a phone call, President Ronald Reagan told Bryant: “The real contribution you have made are the differences you have made in the lives of so many young people.”

Crimson Tide Quote of the Day:
“If wanting to win is a fault, as some of my critics seem to insist, then I plead guilty. I like to win. I know no other way. It’s in my blood.”

Kalen DeBoer faces a big decision after Jalen Milroe’s departure from the Alabama Crimson Tide program, as he needs to find the quarterback who will lead the team back to the College Football Playoff. According to Josh Pate, the answer to this dilemma may already be clear.

The top contenders for the starting quarterback role are Ty Simpson, Keelon Russell, and Austin Mack. While four candidates are in the running, Coach DeBoer is expected to focus on developing Ryan Grubb to get him ready as a potential signal-caller in Tuscaloosa.

Pate believes that Simpson is the clear frontrunner, even going as far as to suggest that Alabama fans might want to place a bet on him, as reported by CBS Sports.

“I’ve done some digging… I think Ty Simpson’s the overwhelming favorite to win that starting job,” Pate stated.

He further emphasized this, comparing the situation to the battle between Jalen Hurts and Blake Barnett. Pate also acknowledged the significance of DeBoer’s previous connection with Austin Mack, whom he recruited while at Washington, but still expressed confidence that Simpson is likely to win the job.

Currently, Simpson is the strong favorite, with odds of -650 to secure the starting quarterback role, though things could change once spring football begins.

 

 

 

 

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats directs his team against the Florida Gators during the first half at Coleman Coliseum.

Ala. — Alabama is suffering a late-season slide once again, losing for the fourth time in six games on Wednesday night as No. 5 Florida came into Coleman Coliseum and won 99-94.

 

After the game, head coach Nate Oats was asked how much he’s panicking about the Tide’s recent string of losses.

 

“We knew it was gonna be a tough stretch to close. I thought we’d do a little better, but I thought we’d at least play with more effort,” Oats said. “I’m not panicked we’re losing, it’s more concerning how we lost.”

 

Alabama has been one of the best rebounding teams in the country this season, and Florida dominated on the glass all night long. The Gators finished the game with a 50-35 edge on the glass for the game, including a 16-10 advantage on the offensive glass which led to 19 second-chance points for Florida.

 

That minus-15 rebounding margin is easily the worst of the season for the Crimson Tide, only the fourth time all season they’ve been outrebounded at all and the first time they’ve been outrebounded by double figures.

 

In addition to the tangible evidence of the rebounding margin, Oats was disappointed in the other effort plays that don’t have box score statistics.

 

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“You know, getting outrebounded by 15 and not getting the 50/50 balls. I think Florida had more pop and more energy than us, and that’s concerning to me. We’re gonna have to challenge some of these guys, see if there were breakdowns. Some of these rebounds were breakdowns, some of them were guys leaking, not getting in the mix.

 

“They’re gonna have to determine whether they want to make some tough plays or not. I didn’t think we made too many tough plays tonight.”

 

The Crimson Tide still has a chance to right the ship before postseason play begins, but it’s going to possibly be its most challenging game of the year, hitting the road to take on No. 1 Auburn at Neville Arena.

 

“It doesn’t matter what your game plan is, if you don’t get back on defense and you can’t get a rebound. We’re gonna have to figure it out before we go to Auburn,” Oats said. “We’ve gotta go to the No. 1 team in the country, we’ve gotta go to their place.

It’s gonna be a tough game for us there. And we’re playing for a lot more than just – we obviously can’t win the regular-season championship. We knew that coming into this game. But we’re playing for SEC Tournament seeding, we’re playing for NCAA Tournament seeding. I thought we’d get a little bit better effort that what we got out of some of these guys tonight.”

 

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According to Lewis Hamilton, the day after he informed the Brackley-based Mercedes engineers that he was leaving for Ferrari, they all turned on him during a team paintballing session.

Prior to preseason testing in February 2024, the British player traded the Silver Arrows for Fred Vasseur’s team.

As Mercedes got ready for life without their top driver, this led to a protracted divorce.

Speaking about the split with TIME Magazine, Hamilton clarified that when the group went paintballing together, he was targeted in good faith. “They really lit me up,” he remarked.

“It hurt so much.” At one point, the seven-time world champion was even struck by a member of his own squad.

Hamilton still has a lot of affection for his former employers, even though 2024 has been a frustrating year for him. “There is no bad blood,” he added. Not at all. We took home numerous titles.

He also thinks they’ll soon be back in the running for the crown.

He went on to say, “They have everything they need to win world championships, and they will win more.”

“I am certain.” Hamilton has exclusively used Mercedes power units during his tenure with McLaren and the Silver Arrows.

The 40-year-old is currently going through a challenging learning curve after switching to Ferrari for 2025.

Hamilton also has little time to lose, as 2025 is predicted to be the most competitive season in Formula One in ten years.

The British driver has been working from early in the morning till late at night at the Bahrain International Circuit for preseason testing after completing a rigorous private testing program during the off-season.

Even though he recorded the quickest time of the Thursday morning session, the British athlete isn’t entirely happy with his adaptation as of yet.

He admitted on Friday, “I still feel that there’s quite a bit to come.”