Alabama football is still over five months away from its first game of the 2025 season, but preparation is well underway for the matchup with Florida State. The Crimson Tide completed three spring practices, before pausing for spring break.

On the defensive side, the Tide is entering its second season in defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s system. Although the group went through some growing pains in 2024, it looked solid by season’s end, finishing among the nation’s leaders in takeaways.

Alabama will need a new crop of players to step up in 2025. As spring break continues, here’s a look at five players who could have breakout seasons.

Jordan Renaud

Renaud hasn’t played much through his first two seasons at Alabama, but the defensive lineman has earned praise this spring. Renaud joined the Crimson Tide as a four-star recruit in 2023 and played in 12 games this past season.

Wommack mentioned Renaud, who finished 2024 with 14 tackles, among players who were stepping up on the defensive line. UA defensive end LT Overton provided a glowing review as well.

“He’s definitely stepped up his game, for real,” Overton said. “He was one of those young guys who had to play behind me and (Jah-Marien Latham) last year, but just seeing him transition and that maturity level, just that rising, I can just tell he’s gonna be a great leader coming up.”

James Smith

With Tim Smith off to the NFL Draft, Alabama will need some players to step up on the interior defensive line this season. Smith appears to be in a prime position to do so.

Smith had 20 tackles and a sack last season for the Crimson Tide, with four of the tackles and the sack coming in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan. His performance in that game made coaches take notice.

“I think you saw some guys that started taking steps in the bowl game against Michigan,” Wommack said during the first week of spring practice. “I thought certainly, obviously James Smith had a great game and is going to take a more central role for us moving forward.”

Bray Hubbard

Hubbard made major strides last season as a sophomore for the Crimson Tide, taking over at safety when Keon Sabb was injured. Sabb returns this season, but Hubbard will look to take a bigger role in the secondary with Malachi Moore gone.

Hubbard played well in relief last year and could grow into one of the SEC’s top DBs. He said during the first week of spring practice that he was taking a more active role as a leader in with the Alabama defense.

“Stepping up in the weight room,” Hubbard said. “Doing things on and off the field, guys on the field, encouraging them to be their best. Young guys, old guys too, pushing each other each day. Just making sure that we’re doing everything as right as we can, in our control, to make sure that we’re maximizing everything we can do.”

Cam Calhoun

Alabama’s secondary is a bit banged up this spring, with Sabb and Domani Jackson out with injuries. At cornerback, that’s opened up reps for some newcomers, including Calhoun, who transferred in from Utah this season.

Calhoun played in 11 games for the Utes in 2024 after starting his college career at Michigan, and had 21 tackles, an interception and led Utah with nine pass breakups. He’s also brought a fire to the DBs group, according to Wommack.

“He’s got a little — he’s from Cincinnati, and those Cincinnati guys, if you’ve ever recruited that area, they’ve got a little something to them, you know what I mean?” Wommack said. “He plays with a good energy. He plays with a mindset of attacking the ball and brings some juice to our group. We’re a relatively quiet secondary, for the most part, so it’s kind of nice to have another guy out there that plays up in people’s face.”

Nikhai Hill-Green

Alabama needed some help at edge, with Que Robinson out of eligibility. Enter Hill-Green, who transferred to Alabama this offseason from Colorado.

Hill-Green made 82 total tackles for the Buffaloes, and earned second-team all-Big 12 honors. Wommack said after his signing that Hill-Green’s experience could be huge for the Crimson Tide.

“He’s played a lot of snaps,” Wommack said in December. “When we got him in there, and had meetings with him, talked ball with him during his official visit it was very evident how smart of a ball player he was, how good of a communicator he’s gonna be.”