By Mark Pszonak
With spring practices ongoing or about to start at most schools, this will be an opportunity for coaches to answer some questions before summer camp. For Alabama, here are three:
1. Will Ty Simpson solidify his hold on the starting QB job?
With Jalen Milroe gone and no transfer additions arriving, Alabama is set to ride into the 2025 season with Ty Simpson, Austin Mack or true freshman Keelon Russell. But this is Simpson’s battle to lose, and it starts this spring. The Tide don’t need the quarterback competition to linger until the summer so a strong showing by Simpson now will go a long way in establishing some confidence in the offense.
2. Will DT James Smith finally begin to reach his true potential?
Smith always seems close to breaking out but has yet to do so. Will this spring be his springboard to a huge 2025 season? His best game of the 2024 season came against Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl when he finished with four tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. The problem is that for the season Smith only totaled 20 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack. The potential is there for Smith to become a star, but the time is now for him to show it consistently.
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3. With a new quarterback, which running back will step up to help the offense?
Whoever the new quarterback will be in Tuscaloosa, he will need the help of a strong running game to ease some of the pressure. The problem is that the Tide’s leading rusher last season was Jalen Milroe, while the third leading rusher (Justice Haynes) transferred to Michigan. That leaves Jam Miller as the likely lead back after he rushed for 668 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Two other backs to keep an eye on are Richard Young, who showed flashes in 2024 as a true freshman, and transfer Dre’Lyn Washington (Louisiana), who didn’t necessarily excel last season in the Sun Belt Conference with 478 yards and five touchdowns. One of them needs to make the most of this opportunity
