Hello and Roll Tide!

Fall camp is in full swing and coaches’ decisions continue to get more difficult. Unsuspecting students have jumped into competitions while injuries have muddied the waters as well. Below is camp intel and introductions of new faces involved in these position battles. Let’s go!

Camp Intel:

  • Keelon Russell has officially won the position battle and was named starting Quarterback.
  • Jackson Lloyd was officially named the starter at left tackle, by OC Ryan Grubb.
  • Mal Waldrep is forcing a competition at left guard with Will Sanders. Will played several snaps with the first team last year as a rotational piece and was a heavy favorite to land a starting job. The staff has been very vocal about Waldrep’s growth, and he is trending as the day 1 starter.
  • Transfer Jayvin James seems to be pulling away in the battle for right tackle over transfer Nick Brooks.
  • With injuries to AK Dear and EJ Crowell at running back, true freshman Trae’shawn Brown has emerged as a candidate to handle snaps in their absence. He has made big plays both running and catching the ball in the two scrimmages so far.
  • Sophomore Luke Metz is rising at middle linebacker and could be the second starter alongside Caleb Woodson. Junior QB Reese would be a rotational piece at the position.
  • Chuck McDonald filled in for a banged up Red Morgan at Husky, indicating that he will most likely be the primary backup at the position.
  • Derek Meadows shined in the second scrimmage, taking advantage of WR snaps while Noah Rogers and Lotzier Brooks are out. Lottie’s injury is not serious.
  • Noah Rogers is ahead of schedule with his recovery. While a timeline was not given, he did participate in practice.
  • Jeremiah Beaman exited practice with an injury, opening competition for a depth role on the defensive line. Steve Bolo Mboumoua is expected to have a role on the line, and this injury should provide him with additional opportunities.
  • 5-star true-freshman Jireh Edwards had surgery on his arm right arm and will miss the start of the season.

New Faces in High Places:

  • Keelon Russell – By now, all Bama fans are aware of Keelon, but do they really know him? The sophomore from Duncanville, Texas was the #2 overall recruit in the 2025 class after being named the Gatorade High School National Player of the Year. He is the highest rated recruit to ever attend Alabama, surpassing Bryce Young. Similar to Bryce, Keelon scrambles with the ability to keep his eyes downfield and make a play. He is a dual-threat, with impressive speed. Scouts have compared him to Jayden Daniels. There will be ups and downs, but he should be a highly productive SEC quarterback early in his career.
  • Mal Waldrep – Waldrep, a sophomore, is not new to the program this season, but likely hasn’t been discussed much. He is an in-state product from Central Hich School in Phenix City, AL. Waldrep started at left tackle in high school at a 7A program. At 6-5 324lbs, Waldrep naturally moved inside to the guard position. He looks to push for the starting role.
  • Trae’shawn Brown – Trae’shawn had a great Spring and now with AK Dear and EJ Crowell sidelined, he’s stepped up in Fall camp and could see early action. A 3-star from Huntsville, TX, Brown was not on many teams’ radars. Alabama was the only Power-4 school to offer Brown a scholarship and he seemingly committed out of nowhere in December. Coaches have praised his play this fall, including his pass protection. Brown’s talent may force them to find opportunities for him this season.
  • Luke Metz – A sophomore, Metz played all 15 games last season on Special Teams. Standing at 6-3 235lbs, Metz has the build of a traditional middle linebacker. Metz is an instinctive player who can close gaps quickly and blitz effectively. Despite this, Metz only received a 3-star rating from the recruiting websites. Metz attended Mill Creek high school in Hoschton, GA, where Caleb Downs attended. He is just another example of Alabama taking talent away from Georgia.
  • Jayvin James – Alabama marks the third school for this rising senior. After playing high school football in Pompano Beach, FL, James committed to Akron. James won the starting job his sophomore year and used the experience to transfer to Mississippi State. Jayvin eventually won the starting job at State, playing 856 snaps at left tackle. His SEC experience gives James an edge competing for the right tackle role at Alabama.
  • Nick Brooks – Brooks was a 4-star tackle from the state of Georgia and committed to Texas for his freshman year. As a freshman, he played in 5 games, starting 3: Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Mississippi State. Brooks entered college at 6-7 345lbs but cut down to 333lbs this offseason with Alabama. His size and athleticism will keep him in the battle with Jayvin James even though his experience is lacking.

As always, reach out with any questions or comments that you may have. If you know anyone who wants to join the newsletter, send their info my way! Lookout for my Week 1 preview. Roll Tide! -Jake