The university announced that the Tide will take on Oklahoma during their annual homecoming game Nov. 15.
November’s matchup between the two will be the 8th in series history. The Tide currently hold a 21-game winning streak during homecoming weekend.
Kickoff for the game against the Sooners is to be determined still. The university says more information regarding homecoming activities and more will also be released at a later date.
The 2024 college football season has ended, and teams are looking for ways to improve for the 2025 season. This includes the Alabama Crimson Tide.
In head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first year, the team finished with a 9-4 record. DeBoer took over after the legendary Nick Saban retired following the 2023 season, having led Alabama football for 17 seasons. However, DeBoer’s debut season did not go as expected, marking the Crimson Tide’s worst season since 2007, Saban’s initial year.
Furthermore, Alabama did not make the College Football Playoff and lost to three teams that finished with five or more losses. Their final defeat was a 19-13 loss to the 8-5 Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer watches before taking the field for a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Raymond James Stadium. Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer watches before taking the field for a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Raymond James Stadium. Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images On “The Paul Finebaum Show,” SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum discussed the loss and attributed it to poor coaching.
“Players, No. 1, don’t care about much,” Finebaum said. “When Alabama didn’t make it to the College Football Playoff, I don’t think they really cared (about the bowl game). I also blame the coaching staff for doing a terrible job preparing them for the game because Michigan was basically a high school team with all those players missing.”
Finebaum described Alabama’s loss in that game as “utterly disgraceful.” The Wolverines had 23 players who opted out of the game, including defensive lineman Mason Graham, cornerback Will Johnson, and tight end Colston Loveland, all expected to be first-round picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
In contrast, Alabama had no opt-outs, which is why Finebaum was so disappointed with their performance. Now that the 2024 season is over, DeBoer and his team are likely eager to move on as they prepare for a strong 2025 comeback.
George Pickens and the Pittsburgh Steelers have had a love-hate relationship since he got selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. On one hand, Pickens is their No. 1 receiver by a large margin and possibly the most talented player on their offense. However, on the flip side, his bothersome antics on and off the field seem to cause the Steelers quite the headache, causing the rumor mill of trade destinations to heat up ahead of the 2025 NFL offseason.
Coming into the draft, this was something all 32 teams were aware of. He’s a player with tantalizing talent, yet, he can go off the rails at any moment.
That’s especially true when Pittsburgh go up against an AFC North team, as their divisional rivals have seemingly picked up on Picknes’ tendencies.
Over his time as the Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin has led many players with a slew of different personalities. He even got Antonio Brown to act right enough of the time.
Since being drafted in 2022, the Steelers’ receiver has accumulated 174 receptions, 2,841 yards, and 12 touchdowns, showing that he’s capable of being a true No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
The most impressive part of Pickens’ game is his ability to make highlight-reel catches consistently.
However, with the Steelers heading into the 2025 NFL offseason, Pickens could be a potential trade target with these five teams being the best landing spots for the 23-year-old receiver.
Going into the 2025 NFL offseason, the New England Patriots are a team that desperately needs an alpha-type receiver.
In 2024, their leading receiver was Hunter Henry, who hauled in 66 passes for 674 yards and two touchdowns.
If — for some reason — that seems low, it’s because it is.
In 2024, the Patriots were the worst passing offense in the NFL, averaging just 176.1 yards per game, per ESPN.
Now, it’s partially fair given the dual-quarterback experiment with Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye, but it’s clear that the Patriots are far from their early-to-mid 2000s days.
Although he didn’t start until Week 6, Maye is a talented quarterback, which is why the Patriots drafted him with the No. 3 pick in 2024.
However, given Jerod Mayo’s lackluster coaching that resulted in him being fired after just one season, the lack of offensive linemen, and the lack of pass-catching weapons, Maye was set up to fail in his first year.
But, after hiring Mike Vrabel, New England appears to be ready to fight, and trading for Pickens could be a good move to give Maye a reliable weapon in 2025.
With an offense featuring Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin, the Washington Commanders could be an interesting team to take a chance on the Steelers’ receiver.
Although their offense ranked fifth in scoring across the league (28.5 points per game), their passing offense wasn’t nearly as effective.
Throughout the 2024 regular season, Daniels and the Commanders’ offense ranked 17th with 215.6 passing yards per game. These aren’t bad numbers under a rookie quarterback on a team with the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
However, with McLaurin being the team’s main target in the passing game, they could use another receiver, especially a walking highlight reel like Pickens.
The Commanders saw a lot of deep-ball connections between Daniels and McLaurin, and as a vertical threat receiver, he could pair well with Kliff Kingsbury’s offense in Washington.
Pickens likely wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to trade for given his unpredictable behavior, making a trade between Washington and Pittsburgh possible.
In seemingly every rumor regarding a receiver trade, the Kansas City Chiefs are one of the top landing spots each time.
It makes sense with Patrick Mahomes as quarterback.
Now, going into the 2025 NFL offseason, the Chiefs don’t necessarily need a receiver.
DeAndre Hopkins could become a free agent following Super Bowl LIX, leaving the Chiefs with a top three of Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, and Rashee Rice.
However, with Rice potentially facing legal issues in the upcoming season, the Chiefs could try getting Mahomes another weapon.
Now, while the Chiefs would be a good landing spot for Pickens, there’s nothing really proving that the Chiefs would want to put up with Pickens’ nonsense.
As a team that seems to find success offensively with or without talented pass-catchers, Pickens could cause more of a headache than he’s worth trading for.
But, in the same vein, the idea of watching Mahomes chuck deep shots to Pickens and watching him make an acrobatic catch seems like something that Andy Reid could get excited about.
And the Chiefs have already traded for controversial receivers in the past, e.g., Kadarius Toney.
He didn’t necessarily work out for the team, and Kansas City could’ve learned from that lesson.
One of the less obvious trade destinations for Pickens would be the Las Vegas Raiders.
It’s not a team that many would peg as the clear-cut choice for Pickens, but they’re a team that could be in the Pickens sweepstakes, per Chris Adamski.
“I think there’s a chance that a team like the Raiders – the Raiders actually make a lot of sense – comes in and just makes an offer they can’t refuse,” Adamski said. “Or it gets leaked out there in the spring, [and people start calling], ‘Is George available?’ Just put that flier out there and see if those teams make them a high-draft pick offer that you almost have to take.”
With Tom Brady in the building for the Raiders now, there’s a possibility that his presence will make a major difference in how this team operates moving forward.
Now, the Raiders don’t have an ideal quarterback situation, which could cause issues down the road for Pickens. But, if they can address that position with a strong, veteran presence — like a Jameis Winston, Kirk Cousins, or even Sam Darnold — there’s a possibility it could work.
Given their draft pick and the class of quarterbacks in 2025, it’s not super likely that Las Vegas will end up with a franchise quarterback in this upcoming offseason, but options are available.
After seeing Brock Bowers’ rookie season, it shows that this team can have success through the air offensively.
So, adding a receiver like Pickens in the offseason could be a great move for the Raiders if they can pull it off and keep him happy.
The final trade destination for Pickens is the Buffalo Bills.
Having dealt with Stefon Diggs in the past, Sean McDermott and the Bills showed they could handle receivers with attitude.
And with Pickens, they’d be getting another Diggs-esque receiver: a highly talented receiver who comes with baggage.
Now, Pickens’ baggage could be more detrimental to the team because his problems usually get met with 15-yard penalties.
With Diggs, most of the problems seemed internal, as it appeared that he would throw tantrums for not getting the ball enough.
Pickens isn’t clear of presenting that type of behavior, but most of his antics involve being a bit too rough with opponents or just making silly mistakes.
So, with either receiver, there’s baggage.
But, with Josh Allen and the Bills relying on Khalil Shakir as their No. 1 option, they need a true alpha in the receiver room.
Aside from Amari Cooper — who could hit free agency after the Bills traded for him midseason in 2024 — Allen doesn’t really have that reliable target.
Keon Coleman showed promise as a rookie, but he didn’t necessarily showcase elite traits in his first season.
And even without a true No. 1 target, Allen was near the top of MVP voting.
So, heading into the 2025 NFL offseason, the Bills would be the best landing spot for the Steelers’ receiver if they end up trading him.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer leads the Crimson Tide out the tunnel onto the field for season opener versus Western Kentucky.
The 2024 football season was a period of transition for Alabama but under second year head coach Kalen DeBoer and his staff the level of commitment is reportedly different early on in the offseason.
The demeanor of the Tide has grown “more serious”, from workouts to regulations and all the players know it. The outlook is different. Alabama junior offensive lineman, Rod Montgomery made this apparent in a recent podcast interview on “The Bama Standard.”
The Bama Standard: Exclusive Interview w/Alabama OL Roq Montgomery | 1999 Tide Comeback Story
“The message right now from me and my teammates, just our entire staff, is we got a different outlook on everything,” Montgomery said. “It’s not like we ain’t never been serious about anything, because there’s things that we do, but we just got to get back to the old days, to when Bama does nothing but win, and win championships. That’s the main focus right now.”
The 6-foot-3, 337 pound lineman then went into detail on the subtle changes the Alabama staff has brought this offseason and discussed how the Tide are more “dialed in”.
“You can’t be late to workouts no more,” Montgomery said. “No more jewelry. No more necklaces. None of that. It’s not a fashion show. It’s football.”
With a year under DeBoer’s belt in Tuscaloosa, things appear to be more momentous for the Tide in 2025.
Mark Ingram is confident that Alabama fans shouldn’t worry after Kalen DeBoer’s first year as head coach.
On Jan. 7, 2010, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, Alabama Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of the 2010 BCS National Championship game against the Texas Longhorns. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
On Jan. 7, 2010, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, Alabama Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of the 2010 BCS National Championship game against the Texas Longhorns. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
In this story:
The Alabama Crimson Tide football season ended disappointingly with a loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. It marked the first time since 2007 that Alabama finished with fewer than 10 wins.
Alabama ended the season ranked No. 17 in the final AP Poll, their lowest ranking since 2007.
On Jan. 10, 2024, legendary head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement, sending shockwaves across the internet. Just two days later, the Crimson Tide named Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer as Saban’s successor, though the stats above highlight that this season didn’t meet Alabama’s high standards, leading to panic among fans throughout the fall.
“We’re fine, we are just fine, just give DeBoer time,” college football analyst Mark Ingram told Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz at Super Bowl LIX radio row in New Orleans on Wednesday. “We’ve got the talent, we’ve got everything we need, we just need to make it work. We’ll be fine.”
Ingram played running back for Alabama from 2008-10, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2009 and helping lead the Crimson Tide to a National Championship victory. Saban’s first season at Alabama was in 2007, and Ingram played for him in years 2-4. Ingram helped lay the foundation of the dynasty, and like DeBoer, Saban’s first season also didn’t meet expectations (7-6 record).
“It’s tough, but we had a good first year,” Ingram said. “The finish wasn’t ideal, but we’ve got another year, a second year. [DeBoer] has been a winner, having been in the National Championship just two years ago. Give him time to build. Let him get his players and system in place and establish his belief with the players. We’ll be fine. We’ll be fine.”
There’s a saying that “When Alabama loses, America wins.” While college football fans may have had more to cheer for this past season than usual, it only fuels Alabama’s drive to win. Ingram fully embraces this mindset.
“People are excited we didn’t win 10 games,” Ingram said. “Most teams would celebrate nine wins. For us, it feels like a failure. We know that. That’s The Standard. We are the standard. 18 National Championships. When your team gets close, let me know. So it’s Roll Tide, all day, every day, until I die. I don’t care what happens. It’s always Roll Tide. We are always the standard. That’s why they hate us. We have 18, and their school isn’t even close.”
Ingram has immense faith in DeBoer to fill Saban’s enormous shoes, though he acknowledges that it will take some time. The three-time NFL Pro Bowler concluded the conversation by telling Fitz to ask him again about Alabama football’s status next year.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) is tackled by Oklahoma defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings (3) for a loss during the first quarter of a NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Norman, Okla.
There’s a hint of spring in the air this week. Have I been too hard on Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer? The time for regrowth is upon us and the mailbag is heating up.
Son, you weren’t around when Bear Bryant retired. Several coaches came after he retired. All were failures until Gene Stallings was hired. DeBoer will do alright if left alone and negative posts from folks like you don’t help.
As a Bama fan for over 70 years, I have seen some more coaches at Bama. I went to Bama vs Memphis State in 1958, Bear’s first year coaching at Bama. Back then, freshmen couldn’t play in games. He used the same players from the 1957 team that didn’t win a game and had a 5-5 season. Saban is probably the greatest coach in college football history! How do you follow an act like that? You don’t!!
I would appreciate it if you would support coach DeBoer a little more as he has only been at Bama one year.
Had Alabama lost to Missouri, Georgia, and LSU, instead of Vanderbilt, Michigan and Oklahoma, there would not have been such an uproar about the first season. As soon as Saban announced his retirement, the transfer portal opened up and several starting Alabama players left the team for better paydays/cars.
With NIL benefiting teams that have big financial coffers such as Ohio State and Texas, there will probably not be a dynasty like Alabama under Saban again. Winning nine games in the first season and beating Auburn, it could’ve been worse. Don’t back up the moving van yet.
Last season, Alabama’s offensive line was merely a shadow of its former groups. It was inconsistent, short on talent and thin because of injuries. Even if [Ryan] Grubb turns out to be a mastermind as the OC, he won’t be able to load the wagon unless he has the mules … running or passing.
Decades ago as a lad, there was a popular cigarette that employed an ad slogan that espoused a line stating, “It’s what’s up front that counts!” That could be a projection of what Alabama’s offense requires in 2025 to be successful. If that need somehow materializes, Ty Simpson has the skill-set to make things work offensively.
DeBoer and Grubb have to commit to a quarterback who can produce, or be willing to switch when he cannot. When [Jalen] Milroe couldn’t make things happen last season, nobody else was given a fair trial at quarterback. And from what many saw of Milroe at the Senior Bowl, it adds to the mystery of why the Tide could never adjust during a four-loss season.
For those wondering, let me just begin by pointing out that Jerry is not my actual father. I sincerely appreciate being considered part of the family, though. As his adopted son, let me go ahead and thank Jerry in advance for writing me into his will and leaving me his collection of Coach Bryant Coca-Cola bottles.
Critical analysis of an Alabama coach who loses to Vanderbilt isn’t unfair for a sports columnist in the Heart of Dixie, but rather a requirement of the job description. As they say at Alabama, the standard is the standard.
Is it time to lower the standard at Alabama now that college football is in a new era? No chance, so let’s take a closer look at something that’s been stuck in my craw since the first half of the loss to Oklahoma.
If Alabama had enough talent to blow out LSU in Death Valley, then there was more than enough juice on the roster to win at Vanderbilt and Oklahoma. The reason for those losses was a combination of poor preparation by the coaching staff and inconsistent quarterback play by Jalen Milroe.
Maybe those two things are related, but either way I’m not about to start blaming Alabama’s offensive line for all of Milroe’s blunders. With a trip to the playoffs in the balance, why didn’t DeBoer and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan bench Milroe after the first half against Oklahoma?
Was it out of loyalty? Was it fear of being exposed? The most consistent thing about Milroe last season was that when things started to go badly for him they usually got worse. It didn’t take a coaching mastermind to spot the trend. If backups Tyler Simpson and Austin Mack weren’t good enough to come off the bench in 2024, then I’m not convinced they’re the answer for Alabama in 2025.
Auburn went into the portal for a quarterback despite bringing in a highly rated freshman. Alabama could have done the same, but is instead going with Simpson and Mack this spring. If incoming freshman quarterback Keelon Russell wins the job over Simpson and Mack, then expect one or both of those quarterbacks to transfer.
DeBoer should have benched Milroe against Oklahoma in an attempt to save the season. Maybe things would have been different if DeBoer had lieutenant Ryan Grubb by his side. DeBoer and Grubb won a lot of games at Washington with Michael Penix, Jr., playing quarterback, but let’s not forget that it was Sheridan who coached Penix at Indiana before joining DeBoer’s staff in Washington for the 2022 season.
DeBoer goes into spring with Sheridan focusing on quarterbacks once again. That should give Grubb plenty of time to fix the offensive line. Alabama will have a new offense in 2025, and DeBoer deserves the benefit of the doubt based on his teams at Washington. But the pressure cooker is already on high. Alabama needs to find a quarterback combination that can guarantee 10 wins and a trip to the College Football Playoff.
How would you rate the job Coach Hugh Freeze has done in his two years at Auburn?
Freeze got a pass his first two seasons at Auburn based on what he inherited from former coach Bryan Harsin. Harsin was the worst coach in the history of the SEC. The guy ran off Bo Nix and then ran a proud football program into the dirt.
Auburn fans like to call DeBoer the new Harsin, but there’s no comparison.
Give Freeze an ‘A’ for his last two recruiting classes and a C- for the games. Freeze is a better recruiter than anyone on Alabama’s staff, but now it’s time to win and make the College Football Playoff. There’s more pressure on Freeze this spring than DeBoer.
Can Alabama and Auburn football thrive at the same time? The basketball teams are proving that it’s possible in this new era of professional collegiate sports.
In his first season as head coach, Kalen DeBoer was unable to guide Alabama to the College Football Playoffs.
The Crimson Tide fell to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl after being 9-3 in the regular season.
But since coming to Tuscaloosa, DeBoer has had great success in the recruiting process. According to 247Sports Composite, the Tide’s 2025 class is ranked fourth in the country, after only Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas. With Wednesday being National Signing Day, Alabama’s recruiting class for 2025 is all but guaranteed.
During the early signing period in December, the Crimson Tide received national letters of intent from 21 athletes, 18 of whom were enrolled on campus. It should be a quiet day for the Tide.
The most notable Class of 2025 recruit who didn’t sign in December also hasn’t committed to school. He has some ties to Alabama as well, although it no longer seems likely he’ll be joining the Crimson Tide.
Ty Haywood, a 5-star offensive tackle from Texas, committed last July 14. On January 13, he made the decision to decommit, and four days later, he visited Michigan.
Nothing is certain for Haywood right now because his commitment is still open. There aren’t many other 5-star or 4-star recruits who haven’t already signed with a program.
And the others who remain available are not likely to end up choosing Alabama.
Alabama should have a quiet day, and that’s not a bold prediction; in fact, it’s unlikely that any of the nation’s top programs will make much big news.
If Michigan adds a late addition to its 2025 class—which has been trending in that direction since the 5-star offensive lineman decommitted from Alabama—it would be surprising for him to choose a program other than the Wolverines at this point.
Alabama might not add any new players, or if it does, it won’t be too highly regarded, but that will be okay given how successful DeBoer has already assembled this class.
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe had an inconsistent week at the Senior Bowl, culminating in a disappointing performance during Saturday’s game.
Milroe, who played for the American team, was seen warming up before the 2025 Senior Bowl against the National Team at Hancock Whitney Stadium on February 1, 2025, in Mobile, AL. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images | Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images.
Social media reactions to Milroe’s performance at the Senior Bowl were harsh, with many questioning his decision to enter the 2025 NFL Draft early.
During the week in Mobile, Milroe had a mixed performance, struggling in practices on Tuesday and Wednesday but bouncing back with a solid outing on Thursday. He displayed impressive deep-ball accuracy, a trait that has made him an intriguing prospect, but struggled with short and intermediate throws, missing several attempts.
In Saturday’s game, Milroe completed 3-of-5 passes for 18 yards, rushed three times for 11 yards, and took three sacks. His pocket presence remained a challenge, a pattern that persisted during his two years as Alabama’s starting quarterback. Milroe also missed a throw over the middle and failed to take any significant shots downfield to showcase his deep-ball skills. As a result, his draft stock after the Senior Bowl appears uncertain, with early feedback being mostly negative.
Social media critics were unforgiving towards the former Crimson Tide quarterback, especially regarding the missed pass over the middle intended for Georgia’s Arian Smith.
While many were critical of Milroe, former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert’s comments offered a more nuanced perspective. Benkert, like others, believes Milroe could have a future in the NFL—under the right circumstances.
However, Benkert emphasizes that Milroe should not be thrust into a starting role in 2025. Instead, he needs time to develop, sitting and learning before getting meaningful playing time. Milroe could be used in a limited role, utilizing his athleticism, but forcing him to start next season could hurt his growth or even derail his career.
Despite this, it’s likely Milroe will still be selected in the first round as teams will be intrigued by his potential and talent. The draft will likely see a team take a chance on him early.
For the sake of fairness, I hope Alabama fans can start supporting him rather than wishing for his failure. Milroe gave his all to Alabama and could have transferred for a bigger payday, possibly improving his draft stock for the 2026 draft. Instead, he entered the 2025 draft because being an Alabama quarterback meant everything to him. This should be appreciated in today’s football landscape.
Any quarterback’s dream growing up, beginning when they’re in Pop Warner trying to keep their helmet on their head and throw the football at the same time, is to win a national championship.
Alabama has been fortunate to have had a few of those QBs over the past 20 years – 6 in fact, capturing 6 titles in arguably the best run of college football history.
Greg McElroy. AJ McCarron, twice. Jake Coker. Jalen Hurts/Tua Tagovailoa. Mac Jones. All names writ in Crimson flame and whatnot. And no matter who is given the keys to run the Alabama offense, in any era, they are expected to be able to run said offense at a level of bringing the program a 19th national title.
Heading into the 2025 season, coach Kalen DeBoer’s second in Tuscaloosa, the “who will it be?” debate is undoubtedly the central talking point for a program that isn’t used to just a whole lot of indecision at any position.
The short answer is this: It will be 2022 5-star Ty Simpson, 2024 4-star Austin Mack or 5-star freshman Keelon Russell under center when Alabama straps on the pads against Florida State on Aug. 30 in Tallahassee.
But the long answer is way more complex – and theoretically could end up being “none of the above.”
Simpson seems to have the inside track to the starting spot vacated when Jalen Milroe declared for the NFL Draft. An incoming redshirt junior, Simpson arrived as the No. 4-rated QB in the 2022 class. He stuck with Alabama through the Nick Saban-to-DeBoer transition.
Simpson was Milroe’s primary backup for the past 2 seasons and has completed 29-of-50 passes for 381 yards over the past 3 years while adding 130 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. From the incumbent perspective, Simpson seems to be the guy – but he will certainly have stiff competition that is both known and unknown inside the QB room.
Hot on Simpson’s heels will be Mack, who along with Simpson is the lone returner in said QB room (Dylan Lonergan previously transferred to Boston College). A rising redshirt sophomore, Mack transferred to Alabama from Washington to follow DeBoer – he was a true freshman for the Huskies in DeBoer’s final season.
Although Mack only saw the field during blowout situations after Simpson and Lonergan got in last season, he didn’t spend all his time just holding a clipboard – instead playing an integral role on the scout team mimicking opposing QBs for the Tide defense.
An incoming freshman from Duncanville (Texas) High School. Russell was the nation’s 2nd-ranked overall prospect who was the Gatorade National Player of the Year and a MaxPreps All-American. All Russell did as a high school senior was complete 238-of-343 pass attempts for 4,177 yards with 55 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, and rush for 321 yards and 3 more TDs.
Russell graduated early from Duncanville and enrolled at Alabama in January, so he is eligible to begin spring practice with the rest of the Crimson Tide on March 3 – the first of a 15-workout stretch that will be a non-stop litmus test for all 3 signal-callers that culminates with A-Day on April 12.
The smart odds are on Simpson. Spending all of 2024 just a single Milroe misstep away from being “the man” was valuable experience, and having said full year absorbing the DeBoer offense is invaluable. The leap forward that Michael Penix Jr., made in his second season at Washington with DeBoer was gigantic, and if Simpson can turn in a similar evolution starting in March he will be the guy trusted with the football.
But Russell’s pure athleticism – which was on display as he rocketed up the recruiting charts from being an SMU commitment to Alabama signee during his senior season – simply cannot be ignored. At 6-3 and 175 pounds, Russell comes straight from the Tagovailoa mold of players who can break defenses both with his scrambling ability and arm talent.
Still, are 15 practices enough for a true freshman to grab the starting quarterback spot at Alabama? Raw talent is one thing, of course, but experience and familiarity matters. Adding weight would help, too. Russell is still 17 years old and likely still needing a map to get around the Capstone for classes. Yes, Ryan Williams was that age during his 2024 Hollywood star turn, but receivers only need to know their routes – not all the routes.
Simply put, this is Simpson’s job to lose. But all of Crimson Tide Nation doesn’t want him to just not lose it – but instead grab it with both hands and take the first steps toward adding his name alongside McElroy, McCarron, Coker, Hurts/Tagovailoa and Jones.
Micah Parsons, linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, has quickly become one of the NFL’s top all-around defensive players since being drafted in 2021 from Penn State. However, his football career could have been quite different.
In a recent episode of his podcast, The Edge, Parsons hosted Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James, who shared that if he hadn’t played safety, he would have opted for running back or wide receiver. In response, Parsons revealed that Alabama had actually offered him a scholarship to play running back.
“Bama offered me… to play running back,” Parsons said.
Parsons then asked, “What is Derrick Henry?” to which James responded, “Fast and big.”
Parsons confidently replied, “What is Micah Parsons? Fast and big!” Henry, a standout running back at Alabama and in the NFL, stands at 6’3″ and weighs 247 pounds, nearly identical to Parsons’ measurements of 6’3″ and 245 pounds. Additionally, Parsons posted a 4.36-second 40-yard dash time, much faster than Henry’s 4.54-second time coming out of college. It’s possible former Alabama coach Nick Saban saw Parsons as a potential offensive weapon rather than a defender.
In the end, Parsons chose to stay on defense, where he has since earned four Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pro selections, becoming the cornerstone of the Dallas Cowboys’ defense.