50 | 2023 SOUTHERN FOOTBALL GUIDE
ALABAMA
HEAD COACH: Nick Saban OC: Tommy Rees DC: Kevin Steele
Tuscaloosa, AL
2022 RECORD: 11-2 (6-2) FOUNDED: 1831 STADIUM: Bryant-Denny (101,821)
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
It will be interesting to see what Alabama’s offensive identity will be this season. With a stout offensive line, and without a proven, big-time quarterback, one would think this could turn into a run-heavy outfit. But SEC defenses that don’t respect the passing game can pretty much dominate. Jalen Milroe got a few snaps last season and didn’t embarrass himself. Tyler Buchner started three games at Notre Dame, losses to Ohio State and Marshall, and the bowl win over South Carolina. Buchner has a higher upside as a passer, but also a high turnover upside. Jermaine Burton and Ja’Corey Brooks are dynamite receivers. The offensive line should protect well and create a productive running game, everything a young, unproven QB needs. Jase McClellan and incoming freshman Justice Haynes should form a nice duo in the backfield.
Remember when the Alabama defense used to score every game? Well, last season the unit produced just 14 turnovers, seven picks and seven fumbles. Expect that to change this season. The four linebackers will continue to be the soul of the defense. Chris Braswell takes over the Jack position, hoping to kind of replace Will Anderson. He and Dallas Turner will get pressure on quarterbacks. Deontae Lawson is a sideline-to-sideline tackling machine. The Alabama coaches believe that Georgia transfer Trezmen Marshall will fit in immediately. There’s an athletic ton—literally—in the D-Line room that provides freedom for the linebackers. Kool-Aid McKinstry is the best corner in the country and Malachi Moore is one of the best safeties. Trey Amos has transferred in from Louisiana and Jaylen Cey from UAB to bolster an already talented unit.
DEPTH CHART
DEPTH CHART
NO 4 2 3 7 80 81 57 71 56 52 65
PLAYER Jalen Milroe Jase McClellan Jermaine Burton Ja’Corey Brooks Kobe Prentice CJ Dippre Elijah Pritchett Darrian Dalcourt Seth McLaughlin Tyler Booker JC Latham
POS QB RB WR WR WR TE LT LG C RG RT
HT 6-2 5-11 6-0 6-2 5-10 6-5 6-6 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-6
WT 220 212 194 195 182 257 315 310 300 335 335
CLASS SO SR SR JR SO JR FR SR SR SO JR
NO 92 91 50 41 17 32 15 1 23 13 22
PLAYER POS Justin Eboigbe DE Jaheim Oatis NT Tim Smith DE Chris Braswell LB Trezmen Marshall LB Deontae Lawson LB Dallas Turner LB Kool-Aid McKinstry CB Trey Amos CB Malachi Moore S Jaylen Key S
HT 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-2
WT 292 328 304 255 236 225 240 195 198 198 210
CLASS SR SO SR SR JR SO JR JR SR SR SR
8 5 17 19 24 45 74 69 58 77 54
Tyler Buchner QB Roydell Williams RB Isaiah Bond WR Kendrick Law WR Emmanuel Henderson Jr. WR Robbie Ouzts TE Kadyn Proctor LT Terrence Ferguson Jr. LG James Brockermeyer C Jaeden Roberts RG Miles McVay RT
6-1 5-10 5-11 5-11 6-1 6-4 6-7 6-4 6-3 6-5 6-6
212 212 182 201 185 258 354 318 285 316 350
SO SR SO SO SO JR FR SO SO SO FR
93 47 44 35 28 30 34 3 12 2 11
Jah-Marien Latham DE James Smith NT Damon Payne Jr. DE Jeremiah Alexander LB Justin Jefferson LB Jihaad Campbell LB Quandarrius Robinson LB Terrion Arnold CB Antonio Kite CB Caleb Downs S Kristian Story S
6-3 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-5 6-0 6-1 6-0 6-1
275 296 304 249 225 228 231 196 182 208 211
JR FR SO FR JR SO SR SO FR FR SR
16 86
Will Reichard James Burnip
190 220
SR JR
7 1
Ja’Corey Brooks KR Kool-Aid McKinstry PR
195 195
JR JR
SPECIAL TEAMS K P
6-1 6-6
2023 SCHEDULE
SPECIAL TEAMS 6-2 6-1
NEWCOMERS
S.2 ...........Middle Tennessee
O.14 ........................ Arkansas
S.9 ................................... Texas
O.21 ..................... Tennessee
S.16 ...............................at USF
N.4 ......................................LSU
CJ Dippre, TE — The transfer from Maryland is regarded as a top three tight end in the SEC.
S.23 ...........................Ole Miss
N.11 ...................at Kentucky
S.30 ......at Mississippi State
N.18 ................Chattanooga
Caleb Downs, S — The No. 1 high school safety in the country had an excellent spring and will press for a starting spot.
O.7 ...................at Texas A&M
N.25 ...................... at Auburn
Justice Haynes, RB — The No. 3 running back coming out of high school, Haynes impressed in the spring and topped it off with three touchdowns in the spring game.
Kayden Proctor, T — One of the largest humans on campus, Proctor, a true freshman, could be starting by October.
