Once midnight eastern strikes top end Friday, the doors will lock on the mechanism college football players use to go school to school. By that point, Alabama football won’t have to worry about losing anyone else to the transfer portal. That’s the only window ahead of 2026. Then the Crimson Tide can pivot completely to rounding out the roster for Kalen DeBoer’s third season.
Alabama has made some progress in filling holes, but there’s more work to be done.
Here are three priorities for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama’s made some moves here to improve and get more bodies in the room, but more guys need to be added.
The Crimson Tide has lost ten scholarship offensive linemen, whether to the NFL draft or to the transfer portal. Six of those players started in some capacity this past season.
Michael Carroll is the only returner from that main group of starters. The others set to return: Jackson Lloyd, William Sanders, Casey Poe and Mal Waldrep Jr. That’s five returning scholarship offensive linemen for a team that had 15 on scholarship in 2025.
Alabama has added some reinforcements already. Bryson Cooley, Chris Booker, Bear Fretwell and Tyrell Miller all joined in the signing class.
Plus, the Crimson Tide already secured Ty Haywood and Kaden Strayhorn via the transfer portal.
If there are no more departures, that puts Alabama at 11 scholarship offensive linemen. It needs more.
Especially more guys with experience. Haywood and Strayhorn have intriguing potential, but they haven’t played much yet. The same goes for Lloyd.
Sanders has some experience and will be a top contender for an open interior spot. But Alabama could use some reinforcements who can threaten for a starting job and also have experience.
Either way, this is a position that still needs some more bodies. Ideally, ones capable of starting.
Alabama’s got the numbers here, but it could use a talented, experienced running back.
NC State’s Hollywood Smothers looked to be that guy until Texas snatched him away. But Alabama must find another back like that.
Incoming freshman Ezavier Crowell figures to have a chance to be a special player, but counting on a true freshman to revive a stagnant running game is a risky move.
The room has several guys who can contribute and develop still, but it could really use a veteran running back to lead the way.
This is more about depth than signature additions. Alabama probably has its starters and main four or five guys. But the Crimson Tide is lacking numbers.
Alabama had eight scholarship receivers in 2025. Right now, the Crimson Tide has six in Ryan Williams, Lotzeir Brooks, Derek Meadows, Rico Scott, Cederian Morgan and NC State transfer addition Noah Rogers.
In DeBoer’s first season, Alabama had 12 scholarship receivers. It probably doesn’t need that many, and it’s unlikely it gets to that many again. But the Crimson Tide needs to add at least a few more players at the position for depth purposes.
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