Happy Monday, everyone. Today is Kerry Goode’s 60th birthday, and looks like he had quite a party on Saturday.
Former Alabama RB Kerry Goode celebrating his 60th birthday as he should - in style. pic.twitter.com/ui1TKORDjH
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) July 26, 2025
He continues his decade long battle with ALS, and seems to be in great spirits. Happy Birthday, Kerry.
Football practice starts this week!
Michael Leboff of the New York Post thinks Alabama is undervalued.
Given how his first season in Tuscaloosa went, it’s no surprise that everybody
ADseems to be lukewarm on ‘Bama in DeBoer’s second season.
The AP preseason poll won’t come out for a few weeks, but Alabama will likely be sitting right around fifth behind Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, and perhaps Penn State and/or Oregon.
That would match the betting market and public sentiment, as the college football world needs to be convinced that DeBoer is the man for this job.
While the winds of uncertainty that are swirling around DeBoer may seem like reasons for bettors to abandon ship, they’re also presenting a rare opportunity to buy low on ‘Bama in a season that sets up quite well for them on paper.
Aside from DeBoer, the biggest question mark for Alabama will be under center, where dual-threat QB Ty Simpson is the projected starter.
A few previews are starting to drop.
Formby looked improved when he saw action late in the season, and coaches have said he continued the trend through spring practice. His development will be key for the Crimson Tide, especially with a new quarterback to protect, one without the speed of Jalen Milroe.
“The offensive line is where it really starts,” DeBoer said. “Really six guys that are strongly in the rotation with a lot of others that are up-and-coming, developing quickly, that I can see competing for spots as the season goes along as well.”
The competition seems to be at left guard, where UA must replace Tyler Booker. Returnee Geno VanDeMark and Texas A&M transfer Kam Dewberry will battle for the starting spot. Can one of them fill the shoes of the departed first-round NFL Draft pick?
Fast forward to this year, and not only has Alabama added future size to the room in Derek Meadows (a 2025 freshman) and current five-star commitment Cederian Morgan (a 2026 freshman), but it also added Horton, a 6-4, 209-pound redshirt junior who transferred in from Miami.
In three seasons for the Hurricanes, he played 835 snaps with six starts, 101 targets, 71 catches, 797 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Obviously, a huge chunk of that came in 2024 with Horton acting as Miami’s third or fourth receiver, depending on how you look at it. He has the ability to win contested catches downfield, but he brings even more to the table, especially over the middle of the field on in-breaking routes.
Last season, Alabama’s run defense gave up too many yards on the ground — almost 138 yards per game, allowing over 150 yards five times. That’s not the standard we expect from Alabama. Their defense used to control games by dominating the line of scrimmage and making life tough for opposing running backs.
Now, leaders like Deontae Lawson and Tim Keenan have to bring that physicality back.
Jefferson will play a huge role for the Crimson Tide this year, with Jihaad Campbell off to the Philadelphia Eagles. He’ll take over the other inside linebacker role opposite Deontae Lawson, a position of strength for UA last year.
Lawson is coming off an ACL injury that ended his 2024, and Jefferson has never been a full-time starter. Behind them, Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green will provide the depth.
A plus for the group is the leadership from the Tide’s one returning team captain.
“I walked into a meeting, looking for a coach actually,” DeBoer said at SEC media days, speaking about Lawson. “I walked in. It was him holding a meeting with the linebackers I guess yesterday morning. Listened for about 30 seconds. I knew that meeting was in a good position. Coaching it like a coach. When you have guys on the field that are like him, that understand the depth, the details, you know you’re headed in the right direction and have a chance.”
We’ve covered a lot of that this offseason, but it’s all on point. There is reason for optimism around the QB position, but it’s an unknown. Until we see the offensive line play together, that will be a question mark as well. In fact, both lines need to be better if this team is to compete for a national title. The wide receivers showed a ton of promise last season and Williams’ talent jumps off the screen, but can they become a truly great unit? At linebacker, is Lawson fully healthy and can anyone fill the large shoes left by Jihaad Campbell?
We will soon find out.
Colin Gay writes that Tayden Kaawa ain’t scared of having another QB in the class.
“What he has that a lot of other guys don’t have is that long-term outlook and the patience that it takes to see the fruits of your efforts,” Reynolds said. “A lot of quarterbacks will make an adjustment for a week and they expect massive results… But Tayden will stay the course and keep working at it.”
That’s what Alabama is getting, Reynolds said. Kaawa is not afraid to work. He trusts the process and knows what the grind will get him.
It’s what Kaawa said he’s going to have to do as one of two quarterbacks in Alabama’s 2026 class.
“No matter where you go, you are going to have to compete,” Kaawa said. “I don’t mind competing with another quarterback coming in at the same time as me.”
Last, comedy is always best when there is some truth to it. And almost every one of you reading this has this person in the family. Some of you may even be this person.
Fabulous.
That’s about it for today. Have a great week.
Roll Tide.
More from rollbamaroll.com:
- A legend hangs them up — Tua Tagovailoa enters the 2020 NFL Draft
- Jumbo Package: Decision Day
- MONDAY UPDATE: Alabama Crimson Tide NFL Draft Junior Tracker
- Devonta Smith announces his return to Alabama in 2020
- Tua Tagovailoa and Nick Saban to hold press conference at 11am CT Monday
- Predictions: Will they stay or will they go?
- Watch: NFL analyst breaks down Rashaan Evans’ role in critical goal line stand vs. Patriots
