TUSCALOOSA, AL. — Kalen DeBoer could finally feel “it.” The first-year Alabama coach has been in Tuscaloosa since January and he’s heard plenty about the feeling of being a part of the Crimson Tide, but Saturday’s spring game reinforced that idea in a new way.
“Seeing the guys come on the walk of champions,” DeBoer said, “just seeing that and feeling the energy and the excitement of what it would be on a Saturday, that was a lot of fun. And being in the locker room, just the excitement.”
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A new coach came with a new format for A-Day: offense versus defense instead of splitting the roster up into respective teams — a byproduct of not having necessary depth at a few positions including offensive line and defensive back. The scrimmage still produced a competitive ending with the offense (Team White) defeating the defense (Team Crimson) by a 34-28 score. It was the quintessential “tale of two halves” cliche with the offense jumping out to a 31-0 lead followed by a defensive run of 28-3 down the stretch (defensive scores included three-and-outs, turnovers, missed field goals, etc.) for a balanced display. Most importantly, there were no new injuries.
Saturday’s display was a melting pot of the old regime under legendary coach Nick Saban, who addressed fans throughout the day, including at a permanent team captain ceremony at campus site Denny Chimes, addressing the Alabama team itself in the locker room and being honored on the field pregame. Those moments gave way to DeBoer leading the team out of the tunnel and orchestrating the spring game. With spring practice officially over, the current players feel completely bought into the new era.
“It’s special to have (DeBoer) here because of who he is as a person,” said quarterback Jalen Milroe. “You want to play for a coach like this. How personable he is, he has positive reinforcement behind the criticism as far as getting us better. I’m super excited to play under coach DeBoer.”
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There’s been a different feel within Alabama’s program this spring from extended media access, player availability, music at practice and more. Linebacker Deontae Lawson, sporting the No. 0 for the first time in Alabama history, went into detail about DeBoer’s transition after the A-Day game.
“I think he cares about his players,” Lawson said. “He tells us that we’re all in this together all the time, it just makes you want to compete for him. You’re just able to open up and be yourself, not just on the football field but off the field. As a player, you just want to play hard for him.”
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On the field, there were a few standout moments and performances. Running back Jam Miller was named MVP for his performance of eight carries for 83 yards and two touchdowns and receiver Germie Bernard hauled in three catches for 122 yards. On defense, true freshman linebacker Justin Okoronkwo totaled 11 tackles, fellow linebacker Jeremiah Alexander had seven tackles and freshman defensive back Red Morgan recorded four tackles and two QB pressures.
A detailed film study of the game will reveal more concrete details about the final spring practice, but for now, here are five A-Day takeaways:
Each quarterback had their moments
According to the stat sheet provided by Alabama Athletics, here’s how each quarterback fared:
• Milroe: 3-for-9, 100 yards
• Ty Simpson: 7-for-12, 102 yards
• Dylan Lonergan: 8-for-12, 67 yards
• Austin Mack: 6-for-9, 33 yards
Milroe, Simpson and Lonergan led touchdown drives in their opening possessions and did so in different ways — Milroe utilized deep ball passing, finding Bernard for a pair of long gains that set up touchdowns while Simpson and Lonergan moved the ball via underneath routes. Milroe was the victim of several drops as well.
Milroe had a particularly strong connection with Bernard, who had 88 of Milroe’s 100 yards. The Washington transfer displayed a full arsenal from catching ability, speed and yards after catch on Saturday — he’s going to be a featured part of the offense in the fall.
“He’s been special for us,” Milroe said. “Germie’s a competitor. He’s been a good leader in the room, he’s got knowledge of the system and he’s a veteran.”
The throw, catch and run
Via @BamaYoutube https://t.co/WkZd9kgFq0 pic.twitter.com/HDXPjDqiS8
— Kennington Lloyd Smith III (@SkinnyKenny_) April 13, 2024
Simpson received a few first-team reps but Milroe took the majority. He entered spring as the returning starter but still operated as if it was this time last spring when he was an unproven commodity.
“I’m starving,” Milroe said. “I have goals set for myself, short term and long term, to do in order to be the best quarterback in the country this year. I’m passionate, I’m starving to be great and it’s going to come from preparation this offseason. I’m super excited for the challenge ahead.”
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Pushing Milroe every step of the way is Simpson, whose performance on Saturday was the latest in a string of impressive scrimmage performances. DeBoer noted after the game that Simpson has full command of the offensive concepts and continues to improve.
“He’s just been consistent,” DeBoer said. “He’s accurate, knows when to put touch on the ball, he’s got good awareness. I think all of the quarterbacks did a better job of pushing the pocket at the right time, that’s something we’ve been emphasizing. (Simpson) had a good feel in all of those ways.”
It was notable that Lonergan seemingly operated as QB3 on Saturday, and got some work with the second team. The competition between him and Mack, who was tough to evaluate live given the personnel on offense and defense with the 3s and 4s, seems healthy going into summer.
Running backs are a clear team strength
One of the prevailing storylines throughout spring practice was how impressive the running back room looked, and that group lived up to the bill on Saturday. Miller was the headliner as game MVP but Justice Haynes added a touchdown from the red zone and redshirt freshman Richard Young had a strong day with a series of tough runs in which he broke several tackles. He finished the day with seven carries for 29 yards and a touchdown.
Richard Young did not want to go down. 😤😤
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) April 13, 2024
“Those three are special,” Milroe said. “Jam runs downhill with passion, he’s a physical back. Justice has great flexibility and he’s agile and is always in the weight room working. Richard is the young guy in the room but he’s trying to build and be the best version of himself. All three are pushing each other.”
The first play of A-Day featured Miller and Haynes in the backfield with Milroe, a run play that saw Miller explode for close to a 20-yard gain — the fact that both of them were “starters” and exclusively worked with the first team illustrates the confidence in the top two guys. However, Young made a statement as well and will be tough to keep off the field in some capacity.
The running back room is set with five scholarship backs with freshman Kevin Riley arriving in June. When asked about what this group is aiming to achieve this fall, Miller didn’t mince words.
“We’re going to be the No. 1 running back (group) in the country,” Miller said. “Trust me.”
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Where does Alabama’s offensive line stand?
As expected, center Parker Brailsford did not participate in A-Day but DeBoer is steadfast that Brailsford will rejoin the team soon. On a positive note, starting right guard Jaeden Roberts did play with the first team throughout Saturday. The rest of the starting line (left to right) went as follows: Elijah Pritchett, Tyler Booker, James Brockermeyer, Roberts and Wilkin Formby.
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It wasn’t a full work day for Roberts who rotated with redshirt freshmen Olaus Alinen and Roq Montgomery at first-team right guard. Both Montgomery and Alinen played multiple positions across multiple teams — Montgomery played center and guard with the second team and Alinen played guard and tackle.
Elsewhere on the second unit, the initial second team line went as follows (left to right): Naquil Betrand, Alinen, Joseph Ionata, Montgomery and Casey Poe. But lineups fluctuated throughout Saturday as a lack of depth forced players into different positions. The scholarship number within that room will be addressed in the spring portal window — for now it’s a good opportunity for development.
“It’s what we needed to do out of necessity,” DeBoer said. “You do see a difference with the execution when one or two new guys are inserted, there’s just another level of communication. These are the moments you want to do that. Come this fall, into the season you want to have been able to look back and and count on these moments where those guys were inserted and had to do some things where it was different groups.”
Outside of the playing field, former player Kadyn Proctor was spotted and photographed as a spectator. It’s been speculated that he will return to the team when the spring transfer window opens on Tuesday.
Former/future Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor spotted at A-Day pic.twitter.com/hXzTv7mX7Y
— Cade Hampton (@cadebh13) April 13, 2024
An injury update on two defensive starters
Linebacker Jihaad Campbell and defensive lineman Jaheim Oatis dressed but did not participate on Saturday. Oatis has been limited for the duration of spring practice while Campbell’s injury was more recent. He wore a non-contact jersey in practice this past week and was held out as a precaution.
In a game-like week, both would’ve pushed to play but there wasn’t a need to rush either on the field given they’re known commodities. DeBoer noted after the game that both are on track recovery-wise.
“If we had another week, for sure if we had two weeks, I think they would probably be both really close to being ready to go,” DeBoer said. “They’re right where we expected to be based on what they each have, which are completely different types of injuries.”
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In their absences, Tim Smith started along the defensive line with Tim Keenan III and Jah-Marien Latham; James Smith and Damon Payne Jr. got extensive work at defensive tackle as well. At linebacker, senior Justin Jefferson got the start alongside Deontae Lawson.
“Just understanding what we’re doing,” Lawson said of Jefferson’s improvement from last season. “He’s already faster than (any linebacker) that I’ve seen, he’s coming in meeting with the coaches every day to make sure he has everything to play the best that he can. I’ve been enjoying it.”
Where does the battle at kicker stand?
Three kickers got work on Saturday on kickoffs and field goal situations: scholarship kicker Conor Talty, a redshirt freshman and walk-ons Upton Bellenfant (junior) and Reid Schuback (senior). Each player got one field goal attempt — Bellenfant connected from 23 yards out, Schuback connected from 27 yards out and Talty missed an attempt from 46 yards out, which gave the defense two points.
DeBoer described the position as an “open competition” after the second scrimmage. Expect that to continue into fall camp.
(Photo: Gary Cosby Jr. / USA Today)
