Alabama football is almost here. The Crimson Tide opens the season Sept. 2 against Middle Tennessee State.

Like nearly every other team in the history of college football, Alabama lost plenty of talent during the offseason. Mostly due to the NFL Draft, the Tide have plenty of holes to fill.

With less than two weeks until the season begins, here’s a look at some underclassmen who are candidates for breakout seasons in 2023.

Caleb Downs

Alabama’s lineage at safety through Saban’s tenure is well-known, with names like Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Landon Collins, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jordan Battle rolling through Tuscaloosa on their way to the NFL. As one of the top recruits nationwide in the 2023 class, true freshman Downs could be the next one up.

He’s already earned high marks from Saban.

“He’s done great,” Saban said during spring practice. “He’s got lots of maturity for a young guy, smart, understands football. Really conscientious about making sure he knows what to do and going out on the field and doing it. So he’s had a really good spring and really has added a lot to the secondary with the way he’s played. He’s a good player.”

Downs, who joins the Tigers from Mill Creek in Georgia, stands six feet tall and is listed at 195 pounds, has a family history of football success. His father, Gary, was an NFL running back, his uncle Dre Bly was a Pro Bowl corner and his brother, Josh, plays wideout at North Carolina.

He’s facing competition in the defensive backfield, but Downs will likely find a way to make an impact this season.

Earl Little Jr.

Another young defensive back, Little was the No. 12 cornerback in the 2022 recruiting class according to the 247Sports composite. Like Downs, Little has NFL pedigree after his father, Earl Sr., played as a safety for the New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers.

Little, now a redshirt freshman, was dealing with an injury at the beginning of the 2022 season, but eventually got on the field against Mississippi State, Austin Peay and Auburn. Fellow Alabama defensive back Terrion Arnold touted Little both in the spring and during preseason camp.

“Earl is a great playmaker, great teammate, great guy,” Arnold said. “I’ve seen a lot of different things. I would say the No. 1 thing I’ve seen out of Earl is his maturity. He doesn’t get too high, doesn’t get too low and he just continues to come in here and work every day.”

Little was a cornerback in high school. Saban mentioned in spring that he had been seeing some reps at the star position.

Wherever he plays, Little has the potential to make an impact. He had a solid performance on A-Day, making four tackles and grabbing an interception for the white team.

Kadyn Proctor

Alabama’s left tackle spot is an open competition at the moment. Whether it’s true freshman Proctor or redshirt freshman Elijah Pritchett, the spot opposite JC Latham will likely be filled by a youngster.

He earned praise from Tyler Booker, one of the Tide’s more experienced offensive linemen.

“Kadyn’s been developing really well,” Booker said. “He has all the physical attributes that you want in an offensive lineman here at the University of Alabama. The thing with Kadyn, he just has to put the technique together. That’ll come along with camp. Fall camp is about development — physically, obviously, but we’re also developing a mindset that we’re going to run the ball on you and be dominant.”

Proctor was the top offensive tackle in the 2023 class according to the 247Sports composite. He joined the Tide from Southeast Polk in Iowa.

He is listed at 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds.

Elijah Pritchett

Another competitor at left tackle, Pritchett played a bit last season while preserving his redshirt for the Crimson Tide. He saw time against Austin Peay and in the Sugar Bowl against Kansas State.

The 6-foot-6, 312-pound tackle will look for an even bigger role this season, potentially even as a starter. Booker pointed at him as a lineman who could develop into a larger position in 2023.

“I’ve seen a lot of progress from Elijah Pritchett and the rest of the guys that play tackle here on the offensive line, and that’s due to the mindset,” Booker said. “Everybody is competing to play. It doesn’t matter if you’re in that starting five or not.

“I’m literally proof of, if you’re ready to play, you’re going to play. If you’re good enough to play here, you’re going to play. I was the sixth man last year. Development is key and big for everybody, and Pritchett has done a great job developing.”

Pritchett was a four-star recruit on the 247 composite out of Carver in Georgia. He was ranked as the No. 5 offensive tackle in his class.

Ty Simpson

Alabama still hasn’t declared a winner in its ongoing quarterback battle. Jalen Milroe and Tyler Buchner are still competing with the redshirt freshman Simpson, who was a five-star prospect coming out of high school.

It’s very possible Simpson might not win the job ultimately. However, if he can get on the field, the Tennessee native has the tools to make an impact.

More: Nick Saban: Alabama football must ‘Make the best’ of extended QB battle

Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 203 pounds, size isn’t a concern for Simpson. Neither is his ability to win games, after he quarterbacked Westview High School to a Tennessee state championship on the way to being named the Volunteer State’s Gatorade Player of the Year.

He was also an Elite 11 finalist. The 247Sports composite ranked him the No. 3 quarterback in the class of 2022.

Simpson is an accurate passer, having completed four of his five attempts at the college level thus far. He isn’t the runner Milroe is, but does have the ability to escape and pick up yardage if need be.

“He can move,” Saban said of Simpson during spring practice. “He’s a good athlete. He can make plays with his feet. I think Jalen is probably really special when it comes to that because of his speed. But Ty does it really well. He’s a good athlete. He can run. He ran the ball a lot in high school. He’s tough, and he makes pretty good decisions when he’s running the ball.”