The dust hasn't even settled from that Rose Bowl loss to Indiana, and honestly, if you walk around Tuscaloosa right now, it feels like someone hit the giant reset button on the Mal Moore Athletic Facility. It's January 2026. The transfer portal is wide open, the NFL Draft deadline just passed, and the Alabama fb depth chart looks less like a settled roster and more like a high-stakes puzzle with half the pieces missing.
Kalen DeBoer is facing his biggest challenge yet. Forget the transition from Saban; this is a pure "youth movement" whether the coaching staff wanted it or not. We're talking about losing a three-year starter at quarterback, basically the entire offensive line, and a chunk of the defensive front all in the span of about ten days.
The Post-Ty Simpson Era: A Two-Horse Race
When Ty Simpson declared for the NFL Draft on January 7, it wasn't exactly a shocker, but it definitely stung. He left with a second-team All-SEC nod and nearly 4,000 career passing yards. Now, the keys to the offense are sitting on a table between two guys who couldn't be more different.
Austin Mack is the "vet" by default. He’s 6-foot-6, a redshirt sophomore who’s been in the system and knows the playbook like the back of his hand. Then you’ve got Keelon Russell. Russell is the lightning bolt—true sophomore, crazy athletic, and the kind of guy who makes defensive coordinators lose sleep because he can turn a broken play into a 40-yard touchdown in a blink.
The program just locked both of them into new revenue-sharing deals, so they aren't going anywhere. But who actually starts? Honestly, spring ball is going to be a bloodbath. You’ve also got Jett Thomalla, the four-star freshman from Nebraska, lurking in the shadows. He’s probably a year away, but in this new era of Alabama football, nobody's job is safe.
Rebuilding the Wall: The Offensive Line Nightmare
If you’re worried about the quarterback, you should probably be terrified about who’s protecting him. This is where the Alabama fb depth chart gets really messy.
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Last year’s starters? Mostly gone. Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford are heading to the pros. Jaeden Roberts and Geno VanDeMark ran out of eligibility. It’s a ghost town in the trenches.
- Left Tackle: It looks like Ty Haywood, the massive transfer from Michigan, is the favorite here. He’s got the pedigree, but playing LT in the SEC is a different beast than the Big Ten.
- The "Lone Survivor": Michael Carroll is the only returning starter. He’s likely sliding into the Right Tackle spot. He’s 320 pounds of "please don't hit our new QB," and he’s going to have to be the vocal leader for a bunch of sophomores.
- Center: Losing Brailsford is huge. The Tide scrambled and grabbed Kaden Strayhorn (another Michigan guy). The chemistry between a new center and a new QB is everything, and they’ve got about six months to figure it out.
It’s basically an entire line of sophomores. You’ve got Will Sanders and Jackson Lloyd likely filling in the gaps. It’s young. It’s talented. It’s also probably going to result in a few more sacks than Bama fans are used to seeing early in the season.
The Secondary is Actually... Good?
Here’s the plot twist: while the offense is basically a construction site, the defense might actually be elite.
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We just got word this week that Keon Sabb and Yhonzae Pierre are both coming back for 2026. That is massive. Pierre is a projected Day 2 NFL pick who decided he had unfinished business. With Qua Russaw transferring to Ohio State (yeah, that one hurt), Pierre becomes the undisputed alpha on the edge.
Pair Sabb with Bray Hubbard at safety, and you’ve got arguably the best backend in the country. Throw in Zabien Brown and Dijon Lee at the corner spots, and suddenly the Alabama fb depth chart on defense looks like a brick wall.
The defensive line is a bit more of a question mark. Tim Keenan III is gone to the Senior Bowl. To fill the void, DeBoer went shopping in the portal and picked up Devan Thompkins from USC and Kedrick Bingley-Jones from Mississippi State. It’s a "patchwork" approach, but Kane Wommack has proven he can make it work.
Who is Gone? (The Portal Pain)
It’s not all sunshine. The list of departures is long and, frankly, kind of depressing if you’re a Tide fan.
- James Smith & Qua Russaw: Both headed to Ohio State.
- Richard Young: The RB is looking for a new home.
- The WR Room: Isaiah Horton (Texas A&M), Jalen Hale (SMU), and Cole Adams (Vanderbilt) all bailed.
Basically, if you aren't Ryan Williams (who is still the GOAT-in-waiting), you might be new to the wide receiver room. Noah Rogers coming in from NC State should help, but the depth is thin.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Roster
People see the "transfer out" list and think the sky is falling. It isn't. It’s just different. Alabama is shifting toward a model where they rely on a few elite veterans (like Sabb and Pierre) and a massive wave of super-talented sophomores.
The 2026 Alabama fb depth chart is going to rely heavily on the 2025 recruiting class. Guys like Caleb Woodson (LB transfer from Virginia Tech) and Hollywood Smothers (RB transfer) are going to have to play meaningful snaps immediately. There is no "waiting your turn" anymore.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're following the roster moves this spring, keep your eyes on these three things:
- The Center-QB Exchange: Watch Kaden Strayhorn and Austin Mack during the A-Day game. If the snaps are low or the timing is off, the offense will stall regardless of how fast Ryan Williams is.
- The "Wolf" Position: With Pierre returning, see who backs him up. Justin Hill is the name to watch there. Alabama needs a pass rush to protect a young secondary.
- Special Teams Overhaul: Don't overlook the addition of Adam Watford, the punter from North Alabama. He averaged 46.5 yards per kick last year. In a season where the offense might struggle to find its rhythm, field position is going to be a literal lifesaver.
The 2026 season isn't going to be about "reloading" in the traditional sense. It's a total reimagining of what the Alabama fb depth chart can be under Kalen DeBoer's system. It’s going to be bumpy, it’s going to be fast, and for the first time in a long time, it’s going to be unpredictable.
Next Steps for Bama Fans:
- Monitor the second transfer portal window in April; Alabama still has roughly 10 open scholarships they need to fill, specifically at interior defensive line and wide receiver.
- Track the recovery of injured players from the Rose Bowl, as several "accepted" Senior Bowl invites were turned down due to late-season knocks.
- Keep an eye on the Spring Practice schedule to see if Austin Mack or Keelon Russell takes the first-team reps early on.