The dust has finally settled on the 2025 season, and honestly, the vibes around Tuscaloosa are a weird mix of "we're back" and "who is that playing left tackle?"
Kalen DeBoer is officially heading into Year 3. The 2026 alabama crimson tide football starting lineup is looking like a total youth movement, especially up front. If you haven't been keeping up with the NFL Draft deadline that just passed on January 14, you've missed a lot of drama. We lost some massive pillars to the pros, but the secondary? Man, it might be the best in the country.
The Ty Simpson Era Officially Continues
Let’s talk about the quarterback because that's what everyone argues about at Gallettes anyway. Ty Simpson decided to bypass the NFL Draft and return for his redshirt senior year. It's his team now.
Last year, he finally took the reins after Jalen Milroe left, and while there were some growing pains, his pocket presence is just different. He’s got that "point guard" mentality DeBoer loves. Behind him, it’s a battle of the young guns. Austin Mack is still there, and Keelon Russell—the kid everyone is hyped about—is breathing down their necks. But make no mistake: Ty is the guy.
The backfield is where things get interesting. We lost Richard Young to the portal, which felt like a gut punch. Now, Jam Miller is the undisputed lead dog. He’s a senior. He’s consistent. But watch out for Daniel Hill. He’s a 240-pound bowling ball that sorta reminds people of the Derrick Henry days, just in terms of pure physically.
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The Weapons Out Wide
Basically, if you’re a defensive back playing Alabama, you’re going to have a long day.
- Ryan Williams: The "Hollywood" of Tuscaloosa. He’s a junior now. He’s the X-factor.
- Germie Bernard: The veteran presence who just does everything right.
- Rico Scott: With Isaiah Horton hitting the portal, Scott is the projected breakout star for 2026.
Why the Alabama Crimson Tide football starting lineup is a "Youth Movement" on the Line
Okay, let's get into the scary stuff. The offensive line.
This is where the roster took the biggest hit. Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford both declared for the NFL Draft. On top of that, Geno VanDeMark and Jaeden Roberts ran out of eligibility. That leaves Michael Carroll—who started five games as a true freshman—as the "old man" of the group. He’s only a sophomore.
DeBoer had to hit the portal hard. He brought in Kaden Strayhorn and Ty Haywood (the former Michigan signees) to try and patch the holes. The projected starting five right now looks something like:
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- LT: Jackson Lloyd (So.)
- LG: Kaden Strayhorn (So.)
- C: Will Sanders (So.)
- RG: Ty Haywood (So.)
- RT: Michael Carroll (So.)
It’s an incredibly young group. You’ve basically got four sophomores and a freshman backup rotation. In the SEC, that’s usually a recipe for a lot of holding calls and Ty Simpson running for his life, but DeBoer seems to think their ceiling is higher than the veterans they replaced.
The "Alpha Wolf" Returns to the Defense
The biggest win of the entire offseason happened just yesterday. Yhonzae Pierre is coming back.
Most experts had him as a Day 2 NFL pick after he exploded for 8 sacks last year. He’s switching his jersey number to 0—taking over the legacy left by Deontae Lawson. Pierre is the heart of this front seven now. Especially since the "Bandit" room is basically empty after LT Overton left for the NFL and Jordan Renaud entered the portal.
A Secondary That's Just Unfair
While the defensive line is rebuilding, the secondary is veteran-heavy and terrifying.
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- Keon Sabb: Returning for his senior year. He was the best coverage safety in the SEC last year according to PFF.
- Bray Hubbard: The "hard hitter" of the duo. These two together are easily the top safety tandem in the nation.
- Zabien Brown & Dijon Lee: These guys were thrown into the fire as freshmen and now they’re established stars.
It’s rare to return all four starters in the defensive backfield in the portal era. Kane Wommack (the Defensive Coordinator) is probably sleeping a lot better knowing he has those ball hawks to rely on while the new defensive tackles find their footing.
Moving Parts in Special Teams
We can't ignore the kickers. We always ignore the kickers until they miss a 35-yarder against Auburn.
Peter Notaro is gone (transferring to West Virginia). Conor Talty is still here, but he'll be fighting off Marshall transfer Lorcan Quinn for the starting job. At punter, we lost Blake Doud, which is a massive loss. Adam Watford from North Alabama is the guy expected to step into those very large shoes.
Actionable Takeaways for the 2026 Season
If you’re looking at this roster and trying to figure out if Bama is a playoff contender, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the Portal Closely: The window closes January 16. If DeBoer doesn't grab one more veteran defensive tackle, the run defense might be a liability early in September.
- Trust the Secondary: This is the best unit on the team. Expect them to play more aggressive "man" coverage because Wommack knows his safeties can cover any mistakes.
- The O-Line Learning Curve: The first three games will be rough. Don't panic if the run game looks stagnant early; those sophomores need live reps to gel as a unit.
The talent is there, but the experience is thin in the trenches. It's going to be a wild ride in T-Town this fall.