Alabama injured about 20 players last weekend or was otherwise unavailable for its spring soccer game, prompting coach Nick Saban to offer an indemnity indemnity so as not to read too much into the depth map of the game.
“What you see in this game does not really mean much to try to figure out the depth map and all that stuff,” he said last week. ‘Because there will be a lot of guys missing, and how we guys play in this game does not necessarily mean something relative to the [upcoming season]. ”
However, Saban told ESPN’s broadcast crew that there were 12 players missing from the game who would appear on Alabama’s second depth, and the game offered some general clues about the opportunities that would be available to players after 15 spring practices.
Here’s an estimate of Alabama’s depth map of scholarship players before the team meets again for the fall camp:
Back player: Bryce Young, Paul Tyson, Jalen Milroe
The biggest question is whether Milroe, the first-year student from Texas, will eventually take over the No. 2 duties. ESPN’s broadcast crew on Saturday conveyed extensive positive reviews about Milroe, which was not available in the spring game, from both coaches and players.
Run back: Brian Robinson, Roydell Williams, Jase McClellan, Keilan Robinson (also wide receiver), Trey Sanders, Kyle Edwards, Camar Wheaton *
Robinson, who was not available to play on Saturday, is the starter, but there is a deep group of players playing behind him. Williams, a sophomore, received positive reviews this spring. Sanders, when he recovers, has the talent to get on the field.
Broad receiver: John Metchie, Slade Bolden, Javon Baker, Traeshon Holden, Agiye Hall, Xavier Williams, Thaiu Jones-Bell, Ja’Corey Brooks, Christian Leary, JoJo Earle *
Both Metchie and Bolden are expected to be part of Bill O’Brien’s offense; the question is which less experienced recipients stand up next to them. Baker and Holden played with the first team offense on Saturday, but it was Hall who stole the show along with the second team.
Stiff points: Jahleel Billingsley, Cameron Latu, Major Tennison, Robbie Ouzts, Caden Clark
Latu’s strong spring should get him on the field in two tighthead groups, such as those who started the game for O’Brien’s white team on Saturday.
Offensive tackles: Evan Neal, Kendall Randolph, Damieon George (also waiting), Tommy Brockermeyer, JC Latham
Neal moves to left pack this season, his third position in three seasons, opening the right pack spot. Randolph got the start on Saturday, while George also got screenshots there. The two five-star freshmen, Brockermeyer and Latham, could also make pressure this summer.
Offensive guards: Emil Ekiyor, Javion Cohen, Damieon George (also tackle), Tommy Brown, Pierce Quick, Amari Kight, Tanner Bowles, Terrence Ferguson, Jaeden Roberts *
Ekiyor missed the spring due to injury, and Cohen and George begin Saturday’s game. Brown and Bowles have alternated in the protection mix, and Quick – also this spring – can compete this summer. Kight and Ferguson played with the second team on Saturday. The waiting area opposite Ekiyor is one to watch in August.
Centers: Chris Owens, Darrian Dalcourt, Seth McLaughlin, James Brockermeyer
Owens returns for a sixth season and offers some experience in the middle of the attack.
Defensive lineouts: DJ Dale, LaBryan Ray, Phil Mathis, Justin Eboigbe, Byron Young, Tim Smith, Jah-Marien Latham, Jamil Burroughs, Monkell Goodwine, Stephon Wynn, Braylen Ingraham, Damon Payne *, Tim Keenan *, Anquin Barnes *
Dale plans to start for the third season at the nose guard, with Ray, Mathis, Eboigbe and Young all seeing significant playing time at the end of last season. Smith is the name of the younger group, with coaches telling the ESPN broadcast that he has the best chance of replacing Christian Barmore as an interior designer.
Outside linebackers: Christopher Allen, Will Anderson, Drew Sanders, Chris Braswell, King Mwikuta, Quandarrius Robinson, Keanu Koht, Dallas Turner *
Allen and Anderson form a terrific starting duo, with Braswell showing up with three bags in the game on Saturday. Sanders, who was not available to play on Saturday, saw playing time last year as a first-year.
Line up: Christian Harris, Jaylen Moody, Shane Lee, Deontae Lawson, Demouy Kennedy, Jackson Bratton, Ian Jackson, Kendrick Blackshire *
Moody’s is the favorite to replace Dylan Moses, with Lee – who was unavailable to play on Saturday – healthy this season. Lawson, a freshman, got the start of defending the first team on Saturday, but is being teamed up by other young players to fight for a role this summer.
Corners: Josh Jobe, Jalyn Armor-Davis, Ga’Quincy McKinstry, Marcus Banks, Ronald Williams, Brandon Turnage, Jahquez Robinson, Devonta Smith *, Khyree Jackson *
Armor-Davis deserved the start of the first team on Saturday, but McKinstry’s five-star talent is likely to get him on the field sooner rather than later. Williams, a JUCO transfer last year who missed time with a broken arm, started with McKinstry in the second team with Banks.
Star / Money: Malachi Moore, Brian Branch
Moore was sidelined this morning due to injury, but he and Branch should see the field again this season as core pieces in the secondary series.
Safety: Jordan Battle, DeMarcco Hellams, Daniel Wright, Kristian Story, Terrion Arnold *, Kadarius Calloway *, Kaine Williams *
Hellams took over for Wright late last season and appear to be the favorite to start with Battle. Alabama will get a flood of talent at this position this summer, with Arnold as a top-50 prospect.
* first-years are expected to join the team this summer
Mike Rodak is an Alabama reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.