Breakdown of Alabama 2023 roster after portal window closes
Alabama’s 2023 roster is mostly set.
Two significant deadlines passed this week to help solidify the Tide’s roster: Monday was the final day underclassmen could enter the 2023 NFL draft, and Wednesday was the final day of the NCAA’s 45-day window for undergraduates to enter the transfer portal.
Two Alabama players have entered the portal since Saturday in wide receiver Tyler Harrell and inside linebacker Demouy Kennedy, the 13th and 14th scholarship players to enter the portal since the start of the season.
Another portal window will open April 15-30, and graduate players can enter the portal at any time, but Alabama’s offseason roster shuffling is largely done. That includes five underclassmen entering the NFL draft and 28 incoming freshmen signing their letters of intent in December.
Alabama could add a 29th by national signing day Feb. 1 in five-star cornerback Cormani McClain, whose lengthy recruitment process continues, and it could decide to add additional players through the transfer portal. So far, the Tide has remained conservative with the portal, only adding Maryland tight end CJ Dippre after making five total additions last offseason.
As it stands Thursday, here is Alabama’s roster of scholarship players for 2023:
Quarterbacks (4): Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson, Eli Holstein, Dylan Lonergan
Notes: The competition between Milroe and Simpson — and possibly the two freshmen — will be the major story of spring camp and potentially fall camp.
Running backs (5): Jase McClellan, Roydell Williams, Jamarion Miller, Justice Haynes, Richard Young
Notes: McClellan and Williams will both be seniors in 2023 and could play big roles, although Alabama added two highly-ranked freshmen in Haynes and Young.
Wide receivers (12): Ja’Corey Brooks, Jermaine Burton, Kobe Prentice, Isaiah Bond, Kendrick Law, Malik Benson, Emmanuel Henderson, Thaiu Jones-Bell, Shazz Preston, Jalen Hale, Jaren Hamilton, Cole Adams
Notes: Brooks and Burton found their groove toward the end of the season and had one of their most productive games in the Sugar Bowl, although they will have to adjust to a new quarterback in 2023. Prentice and Bond emerged the most of Alabama’s 2022 freshmen, although Law and Preston remain from a group that lost Aaron Anderson the portal. Hale joins as one of the nation’s top-rated freshmen receivers, while Benson is a junior college transfer who arrives with more experience.
Tight ends (7): CJ Dippre, Robbie Ouzts, Miles Kitselman, Amari Niblack, Danny Lewis, Elijah Brown, Ty Lockwood
Notes: Dippre comes from Maryland, where he played under former Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley. He is the presumed favorite to replace Cameron Latu as the starting tight end. The most talented receiving option at this position might be Niblack, although his playing time was limited as a freshman in 2022.
Offensive linemen (13): J.C. Latham, Tyler Booker, Seth McLaughlin, Darrian Dalcourt, Elijah Pritchett, Terrence Ferguson, James Brockermeyer, Jaeden Roberts, Kadyn Proctor, Miles McVay, Olaus Alinen, Wilkin Formby, RyQueze McElderry
Notes: This assumes Dalcourt returns for the fifth year available to him under the NCAA’s COVID-19 waiver for 2020. He has not yet publicly announced his plans. Alabama has three presumed starters in Latham, Booker and either McLaughlin or Dalcourt at center. It will need to figure out the other two spots after considerable offseason turnover and with a fairly large class of five freshmen joining, including five-star Kadyn Proctor.
Defensive linemen (15): Tim Smith, Jaheim Oatis, Justin Eboigbe, Jamil Burroughs, Jah-Marien Latham, Damon Payne, Monkell Goodwine, Anquin Barnes, Tim Keenan, Khurtiss Perry, Isaiah Hastings, James Smith, Edric Hill, Hunter Osborne, Jordan Renaud
Notes: Eboigbe has signaled on Twitter that he remains at Alabama for what would be a fifth year, although his 2022 season ended prematurely because of a neck injury. Alabama lost Byron Young and DJ Dale to the draft but still has several experienced players at a deep position.
Outside linebacker (8): Dallas Turner, Chris Braswell, Quandarrius Robinson, Keanu Koht, Jeremiah Alexander, Keon Keeley, Yhonzae Pierre, Qua Russaw
Notes: It seems safe to assume Turner and Braswell are the top two options here following Will Anderson’s departure. The bigger question is who is the top player to rotate onto the field with them. Alexander was a five-star recruit in 2022, and both Russaw and Keeley arrive as a five-star members of the 2023 class.
Inside linebacker (6): Deontae Lawson, Jihaad Campbell, Shawn Murphy, Kendrick Blackshire, Ian Jackson, Justin Jefferson
Notes: Alabama might be a little light on numbers after Kennedy entered the portal, but it adds an experienced junior college player in Jefferson. Lawson seems safe to pencil into one starting spot with the other less certain.
Cornerback (8): Kool-Aid McKinstry, Terrion Arnold, Jahquez Robinson, Earl Little, Trequon Fegans, Antonio Kite, Desmond Ricks, Jahlil Hurley
Notes: McKinstry should man one starting spot; the question is who starts at the other one. Arnold had a shot last season and could again, while Little could be an option among Alabama’s 2022 freshmen. There is also Ricks, an incoming five-star freshman, and the possibility of McClain. Alabama could also shift some players around in its secondary as it cross-trains players at safety or to play star.
Safety (7): Malachi Moore, Kristian Story, Devonta Smith, Jake Pope, Caleb Downs, Tony Mitchell, Brayson Hubbard
Notes: Moore could have a chance to start at safety at a position that seems relatively unsettled after three years of Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams. As a freshman, Downs could see immediate playing time as one of the nation’s top recruits, but this will be a position to watch through the spring.
Kicker/punter: Will Reichard, James Burnip, Conor Talty
Notes: Reichard reversed course and returned for a fifth season, which could delay Talty, the incoming freshman kicker, from seeing the field.
Mike Rodak is an Alabama beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @mikerodak.