Alabama preseason notebook: Key position battles could linger into start of season (2024)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama football’s preseason camp hit its inflection point Saturday, coinciding with its most important practice to date. The Tide held their second and final scrimmage of this month, and it featured more pad popping than any other since Kalen DeBoer took over.

“I thought it was a very physical scrimmage,” DeBoer said. “Not even probably, it was definitely the most physical scrimmage we’ve had since we’ve been here, out of the four or five, counting the spring game.”

The toughness is an encouraging progression point considering the spring game left some to be desired in that area. The defense had a strong Saturday with a few takeaways, one by King Mack (his second in two scrimmages), and brought physicality. The run defense, a sore spot during A-Day, was strong in Saturday’s scrimmage, a consistent theme through August.

It was also an encouraging day on the injury front. Several players who were limited last week returned for the scrimmage, including linebacker Jihaad Campbell, running back Richard Young and offensive lineman Olaus Alinen. After the scrimmage, DeBoer noted that running back Jam Miller could’ve played Saturday if needed, but he kept him out as a precaution.

On another note, offensive lineman Jaeden Roberts suffered an injury that required surgery Sunday. The procedure was minor and the expectation is he’ll be ready for the opening game.

“Jaeden will be able to play Week 1,” DeBoer said. “It won’t be anything where he’ll be out for a game or anything.”

Good morning Bama Fan Family!! Mr Jaeden Roberts aka.. My wittle guy 🥹 is out of surgery and on his way home. Thank you all for the kind words, prayers and positive vibes. Their bodies endure so much and they need all the prayers and support they can get! Thanks again! #RollTide pic.twitter.com/i8OAlsX4NH

— Twanisha_❤️Mom (@riley_twanisha) August 18, 2024

Scrimmage No. 2 unofficially closes the book on preseason camp. This final week, which has five consecutive practices from Tuesday through Saturday, is more focused on finishing touches such as determinations about which players will be in the rotation, redshirt decisions, adjusting to a new schedule (classes start Wednesday, meaning players are back to the maximum of 20 hours per week) and more.

With 12 days until the opening kick, this edition of the Alabama preseason notebook covers the latest on position battles of note and players in position for rotation snaps in Week 1 — and who impressed in last week’s practices.

Offense

Through three weeks, a reasonable conclusion is that there hasn’t been enough time to settle the position battles of note. Offensively, that’s represented at right tackle where it’s nearly a foregone conclusion that Wilkin Formby and Elijah Pritchett’s competition will play out early in the season.

“Until we really get to some game-time reps, I don’t know if we will have it completely ironed out, just based on how it’s gone so far,” DeBoer said. “Now I don’t feel like either of them are a liability. I think it’s just a matter of figuring out which one is going to be our guys.”

Formby continued work with the first-team offensive line Saturday, with Pritchett continuing to push. With Roberts’ injury, Geno VanDeMark slid in at first-team right guard. The second-team offensive line with Alinen’s return (left to right) saw Pritchett, Casey Poe, Roq Montgomery, Alinen and Miles McVay.

“(Formby and Pritchett) have done a lot to earn a lot of reps,” DeBoer said. “Maybe we’ll take that back a week from now if something else continues to evolve or if one guy steps up, but (both getting playing time) seems to be the direction we’re headed right now. “

Elsewhere on offense, a brief health scare seems to be behind the running backs. Barring setbacks, the top three of Justice Haynes, Miller and Young will be ready for Week 1. Young’s continued development is a good sign for an offense that should improve on its 47th national rank from last year. He could’ve sought opportunities elsewhere but stayed at Alabama, where a process-oriented philosophy by position coach Robert Gillespie is resonating with the players.

“The pictures (of past Alabama greats at running back), I point them out in the room all the time,” Gillespie said. “All those guys were once in that room at the same time, and now they’re all playing in the NFL.”

The shortage of backs last week allowed Haynes to fully assume RB1 duties without splitting time. The second-year back flashed his physical ability last season. Now, with more reps and responsibilities in the scheme, it feels like he’s mentally prepared to make an impact.

“I took pride this summer in learning the offense completely,” Haynes said. “Knowing what the offensive line and the receivers are doing, but also with my progressions. I learned different keys I could look at before pre-snap — not just going out there and reacting as a football player, but learning the mental aspect of the game.”

DeBeor noted that the wide receivers made some very impressive catches Saturday. One of those was by Emmanuel Henderson, who made a diving grab downfield on a throw from Ty Simpson.

It looks like Henderson, a third-year receiver, is in line for rotation snaps to start the season. His speed made him a fit in DeBoer’s new offense, and he has been a consistent performer in August. If it continues, he could be an X-factor to complement a known trio of Germie Bernard, Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice, and freshmen Caleb Odom and Ryan Williams.

“I think Emmanuel has had a great camp,” offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said. “We are challenging him to be a consistent finisher on the ball. I think he’s capable of great things. He’s been very explosive in camp. He can run, and we’re just challenging him to be a complete wide receiver. He has embraced that. He’s a joy to be around. He always shows up with the right mindset, the right attitude. We’ve been really happy.”

Rico Scott, another freshman who earned first-team snaps Saturday, withstood a hard hit from DeVonta Smith to hold onto a touchdown pass from Jalen Milroe.

Defense

Up front, the position battle that remains unsettled and will likely go to game reps is the Wolf (outside linebacker), where senior Que Robinson and junior Keanu Koht lead the way. Both saw first-team reps Saturday and, like on A-Day when they nearly played the same amount of first-team reps, are in a tightly contested battle.

The silver lining to an unsettled position battle — and an important one — is that the defensive line’s growth as pass rushers has elevated the overall potential.

“(Saturday) was probably the best give and take as far as pressure,” DeBoer said. “When we needed some time, (the offensive line) did it, but there were also some times when the defense got the quarterback and finished drives off. A lot of times those are in your third-down situations: third down, back to the wall, (defenders) got home.”

LT Overton and Jah-Marien Latham have been standouts at Bandit (defensive end) and Tim Keenan III has emerged as an interior threat. He took a big step last season and appears primed for another in 2024. It’s clear he’s the leader of the unit.

“When I first got here that was one of the things that Tim and I talked about — creating production in the defensive line room and on the interior,” defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said. “I think Tim has taken to that really well. You can tell that he is maximizing value for himself from a pass-rush standpoint.

“Tim’s a leader. He does everything right and he’s starting to get rewarded in terms of his production. Exciting to see how that translates to the field.”

On the interior, a healthy Jehiem Oatis has been impressive this month. He took the necessary time off in spring and summer and is playing at 100 percent. At full tilt, Alabama has seven legitimate options that could handle double-digit snaps: Keenan, Oatis, Overton, Latham, Tim Smith, James Smith and Damon Payne Jr.

In the secondary, the cornerback position is under the most scrutiny. But internally, position coach Maurice Linguist is pleased with the progress.

“I think our confidence is growing and we’re in a healthy place right now,” Linguist said. “That’s the best way I can describe it. … We have high-caliber players, they just don’t have that game experience yet.”

Freshman Zabien Brown continued to work with the first-team defense Saturday. Brown has been impressive each step of the way since enrolling but has earned a newfound respect for how he’s continued to compete through his injury.

“I think there might be some guys that would’ve taken themselves, maybe not from practice, but from certain drills or certain reps,” DeBoer said. “(Brown) has certainly shown a toughness about him by going out there and competing and really not missing anything as far as what we have approved him to do from a doctor’s standpoint.

“He’s got a great head on his shoulders. He played high-level high school ball and I think that’s helped him translate to being able to emerge and come through here.”

That said, it’s more likely that transfer DaShawn Jones will start the season — he’s healthier and more experienced. However, that’s a competition that will play out into the season. Both players have impressed enough to earn reps in real games.

“Steady is the best way to describe (DaShawn Jones),” Linguist said. “Sometimes the younger guys see a guy just kind of be able to take drills and take coaching and be steady with it. He’s kind of providing that veteran experience, and the guy is making plays.”

Special teams

DeBoer cast a fairly wide net when discussing return options — a position fans remember well as a glaring weak point last season. There’s an internal discussion about using a veteran who’s shown the ability to make sound decisions versus giving the spot to a younger player who might not be as big a fixture at their position but can use that role to gain experience and confidence.

The top considerations that fall into those categories: Germie Bernard and Kendrick Law (experience) and Jaylen Mbakwe and Ryan Williams (youth). There are other options in the mix. If there’s a favorite right now, it’s likely Bernard.

At specialist, kicking and punting remain consistently impressive. DeBoer expressed his excitement about punter James Burnip following Saturday’s scrimmage.

“Burnip, he’s had an amazing camp,” DeBoer said. “This spring, the first couple days — I’ll be flat-out honest, I thought, ‘Man, he’s got a lot of potential, can be a little more consistent.’ You saw it at the end of spring ball that consistency happened and he’s been nothing but just phenomenal all camp from day one.

“I was interested to see how he’d come through the summer and if he was ready to go. He was definitely ready to go, and he continues to not just kick it, you know, with great hang time and have distance, but those specialty areas where you’re trying to pin guys, pin people down inside the 10, he’s been really, really consistent that way too.”

(Photo: Gary Cosby Jr. / USA Today)

Kennington Lloyd Smith III is a Staff Writer for The Athletic covering Alabama football. Kennington most recently covered University of Iowa football and men's basketball for the Des Moines Register. He is a three-time state press association award winner in feature writing, enterprise writing and podcasting. Kennington attended The University of Georgia and originates from Atlanta, GA. Follow Kennington on Twitter @SkinnyKenny_