As the Crimson Tide continue to move forward in the preseason, several players have stood out and are fighting for playing time.
Alabama held its second scrimmage yesterday morning, and we’re starting to get a better idea of the Crimson Tide depth chart.
While head coach Kalen DeBoer didn’t outright say there is a leader in the quarterback race between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack, people are starting to talk.
Both Pete Nakos and Chris Low of On3 are expecting that Russell will be named the starter before the season starts. According to Nakos, Russell had opened practice with the first-team and managed to stand out positively.
It’s not a knock on Mack’s game, as Nakos reported that Mack had played well. But Russell was the one who has separated himself from the pack.
Outside of the quarterback competition, several position players also stood out.
Wide receiver Derek Meadows reportedly had a very impressive day, with DeBoer singling him out in his post-scrimmage press conference.
"I thought today was a really good growth day for [Meadows], with competitive catches in particular,” DeBoer said. “Using that big body to go up and make some plays. You're not going to catch them all — ball placement, the defender you're going against — but I like the way he's battling, and he's really growing."
Earlier this week, we mentioned how college football legend Aaron Taylor was impressed with true freshman running back EJ Crowell. However, Crowell didn’t participate in scrimmage as he’s still recovering from an ankle injury.
One concerning tidbit though, comes from Alabama’s scrimmage recap video, where you can clearly see Crowell, donning his #13 jersey, wearing a walking boot at the beginning of the clip.
Elsewhere in the running back room, Trae’shawn Brown continues to be a shining star.
“You just feel more and more comfortable with him out there,” DeBoer said. “Honestly, I felt pretty good about him as a ball carrier based on what we saw this spring… And you can see he’s a smart guy; it matters to him. So, he’s definitely not noticeable in a bad way out there. He’s going out there and making plays and continuing to progress.”
Along with Brown, Kevin Riley went off for a 70-yard touchdown run. Nakos reported that he should not be overlooked in this offense.
On the defensive side of the ball, Nakos reported that defensive lineman Terrance Green's name continues to get thrown around.
This is Green’s first season in Alabama, after spending three years in Oregon, and it’s expected that he’ll have a productive season.
Earlier in the offseason, Green was named to the Preseason All-SEC second team.
Alabama still has a few weeks to sort out its depth chart, but the second scrimmage offered another glimpse at which players are beginning to emerge.
The quarterback competition remains the biggest storyline, though Russell isn't the only player generating buzz as the Crimson Tide gets closer to Week 1.
